Clancy of the Undertow

Clancy of the Undertow
Written by Christopher Currie
LGBTQI, Coming of Age
Published November 16th 2015
288 Pages
Thanks to Text Publishing
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★★★★★
We’re sitting there with matching milkshakes, Sasha and me, and somehow, things aren’t going like I always thought they would. We’re face to face under 24 hour fluorescents with the thoroughly unromantic buzz of aircon in our ears and endless flabby wedges of seated trucker’s arsecrack as our only visual stimulus.

In a dead end town like Barwen a girl has only got to be a little different to feel like a freak. And Clancy, a typical sixteen year old misfit with a moderately dysfunctional family, a genuine interest in Nature Club and a major crush on the local hot girl, is packing a capital F.

As the summer begins, Clancy’s dad is involved in a road smash that kills two local teenagers. While the family is dealing with the reaction of a hostile town, Clancy meets someone who could possibly, at last, become a friend. Not only that, the unattainable Sasha starts to show what may be a romantic interest.

In short, this is the summer when Clancy has to figure out who the hell she is.
Clancy is a small town girl who longs for escape, to free herself of stereotypes and live, not just survive. When Clancy's father is witness to a fatal accident involving two of the golden children of Barwen, suddenly the entire town turn against them. The police are investigating the accident, the Underhill's are drifting further apart and the sixteen year old is struggling with her own life, interested in Sasha who's the girlfriend of the local hot head who is making Clancy miserable. A lifeline comes in the form of new girl Nancy who has joined the teen Nature Club that is Clancy's only means of escape and the two form a tentative and rocky friendship, both navigating the waters of finding their first friend.

With her position at the local beauty counter under jeopardy due to her fathers assumed guilt, Clancy now finds herself with time on her hands. She's been roped into older brother Angus' latest harebrained scheme, finding an allusive big cat that supposedly roams the local area. Until Sasha takes an interest. 

Blinded by her devotion to a girl she barely knows but from afar, Clancy is willing to be the person Sasha needs her to be. Normal. With her family barely holding together and the prospect of her father being charged, her turbulent friendship with Nancy and the endless abuse and vandalism, it's all too much for Clancy. Something has to give. 

Kelly's Thoughts

Clancy is a remarkable young woman, the voice of the Australian teen who never quite feels as though she fits into our world. She's strong, sassy but also scared of her town finding out that she's gay, especially her judgmental peers who already see her as an anomaly. Her father works for the local council where his backache has left him with the mundane position of directing traffic through roadworks. Until one night when two local teens run off the road in a fatal accident and Clancy's father is guilty before charged. I absolutely loved the Underhill family. They felt incredibly realistic and a real representation of our family unit. They love one another but live their own lives quite independent of one another, their mother trying to maintain a sense of normalcy while the accident is being investigated.

Clancy isn't struggling with her sexuality, she's aware that she is in fact gay but feels as though she'll be judged and tormented by her peers. And sadly, it's probably a real representation of what can occur in small towns where gossip reins free. Older brother Angus was a lovable idiot. University drop out, layabout and looking at ways of making money by exploring conspiracies and tall stories. Their dynamic added a lighthearted element through banter and teasing one another the way only siblings can. As Clancy's father pulled away from his family, it seemed that Clancy's character could see the same isolation in her father that she also experiences. Listening to the Cricket in their shed and bonding over melted ice cream, their relationship was truly lovely. Seeing her father reconnect with his teen daughter in the face of adversity was beautifully poignant.

The barely there romance was more of an idolised crush. Sasha's character was little more than the token attractive girl, but only made interesting due to Clancy's feelings for her, to which she seemed to exploit to suit her own interests. I appreciated that it wasn't a dramatic of love and that the author bravely had woven a romance that was flawed, awkward and made readers connect with Clancy on an even deeper level. It was emotional and Christopher Currie should be applauded for exploring not only diverse relationships, but the heartbreak of potentially unrequited love when so many other authors prefer happier endings.

The most startling aspect is how Clancy's voice was captured. It felt as though the reader was thrown into Clancy's world of what could be seen as bogan culture and small town prejudice. For those who are unaware of what a bogan is, it's a uniquely Australian term which is described as an uncouth or unsophisticated person, regarded as being of low social status.

The Final Verdict

Christopher Currie has captured the spirit of an Australian teen struggling to find her feet within judgmental, small town prejudice. Anyone having grown up in Australia will see themselves within Clancy's plight. She's relatable, likable and an incredible young woman who lends her voice to the underdog of our nation. Or in Aussie slang... She's fucking unreal mate.

Kelly is a part time crime fighter, a dairy connoisseur and possibly the best dancer the world has ever seen.


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30 comments

  1. Oooh I'm looking forward to this now. I was (unexpectedly) sent a copy and when I read the blurb was all 'I dunno if this is my thing' but it sounds like it might be! I always find it weird to read about...well...us, Australians...in fiction, but I'm trying to get better at it (mostly failing, but still trying!)

    Thanks for sharing Kelly :D

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    1. The synopsis really doesn't do this one justice Wattle, but it's so poignant and uniquely Australian. I doubt they'll be many Australians who don't see themselves in Clancy. My heart ached for her.

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  2. Ah I love this review. Clancy sounds beautifully complex. I love how deeply you connect with her, and the exploration of being gay in a small town.

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    1. It really was lovely Mawa. There's something incredibly magical when it comes to reading Aussie young adult fiction. i find it's always realistic, raw and relatively drama free too. I adored this one..

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  3. Glad you enjoyed this. I've only heard very good things about it!

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    1. It's such a brilliant read, I hope you can pick up a copy soon and experience it for yourself.

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  4. I've already got this one on my TBR and am looking forward to reading it even more now. :-) Great review, as always :-) :-).

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    1. Thanks Sarah and I can't wait to see what you think of it!

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  5. I'd like to speak with an Australian accent one day XD Maybe if I watch enough Australian bloggers and TV shows?? Seriously though. Also, why are your headers ALWAYS so gorgeous omg <3 Clancy is an interesting name (like a ship of Clare and Nancy) and she sounds like a wonderfully complex character. Loved your review, Kelly <3

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    1. Thanks Nirvana. We'll have to start up a class of how to speak Australian in seems. Like, I cranked up the old Holden and went a few clicks down to the library this arvo, it was chockas down there bloody oath!

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  6. I'm so glad to hear you liked it! I have this one on my TBR right now and can only hope I appreciate it as much as you did.

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    1. I hope so too poppet. Can't wait to see what you think of it!

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  7. UGH, bogans. Lol. I live in Western Sydney so I've encountered my fair share of them ;) Yet another reason I'd hate to live in a small town. But this sounds amazing!! Everyone keeps comparing it to The Flywheel so I definitely have to read it.

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    1. I live in bogan city too poppet. I figure if you can't beat them, then join them. In fact, I'm sitting here in my single, stubbies and thongs as we speak. I haven't read Flywheel as yet, but Clancy of the Undertow is amazing! I can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  8. This sounds like an intriguing read. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Great review! :-)

    My recent post Review: The Girlfriend Request by Jodie Andrefski

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    1. Thanks Poulami. It was one of my resolutions this year, to read much more Australian young adult fiction from all walks of life.

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  9. Lol love the Aussie slang! Thanks for the overview of this one, I got it from Text Publishing and was wondering what it was about. I'm glad it's diverse and it's about a girl struggling against bogan culture. Lovely review!

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    1. You really need to read this one Jeann. It was so wonderfully written and Clancy's voice was captured perfectly. Most Aussies will see aspects for themselves in Clancy and her plight.

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  10. Hmm, this sounds like an interesting book and I definitely don't read enough Australian lit -- and haha, I love your summary in Aussie slang XD

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    1. Everyone needs to read more Aussie fiction Alyssa, but this one really is incredibly lovely.

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  11. ah there it is! Love this review, Kelly. :) it's probably a book that I'll never find in my bookstore...but who knows? I could be lucky.

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    1. Might be a while before you see it in a bookstore over there, but it's available as an eBook on Amazon and well worth the read Joy.

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  12. This sounds like a beautiful, moving book! I haven't heard of this one before, but definitely keen to check it out. Thanks for sharing Kels x

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    1. Joy, you need this book in your life. It's been one of the strongest character voices I've heard in Aussie young adult. Clancy is an amazing and resilient young woman that you can't help but champion. It's just a brilliant read.

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  13. This sounds really well done! thanks so much for sharing. I really need to find a way to read more Australian novels.

    -Lauren

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    1. Thee really is something wonderful about Aussie fiction isn't there. It doesn't create drama, but places realistic characters in situations that most of us can relate to on some level. Small town gossip and prejudice, feeling on the outer, family struggling both emotionally and to make ends meet in some cases, it's real. Such an incredible read Lauren and hope you can pick up a copy soon.

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  14. Ah, I am so interested in this novel! I found out about it towards the end of last year, and I was pretty excited, because there is a dearth of diverse novels in the Australian book industry, and an even greater lack of LGBTQIA+ novels. So it's great that this one turned out so well!

    It sounds like there's a big emphasis on family in this book, which I love. Sometimes the importance of family, and the relationships between family members, are kind of glossed over in YA, so it's great that this book managed to write about those two things really well.

    I hope I can grab a copy of this one! Great review, Kelly <3

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    1. I think when it comes to Aussie young adult fiction, the emphasis on family is usually pretty prevalent. And it's not glossed over either which I think endeared me even more to the storyline. The hard struggle of families trying to make ends meet, the small town prejudice and Clancy's own struggle navigating her first crush and scared what others may of her sexuality. It was so beautifully written and raw. I can't wait to see what you think of this one Chiara, I can almost guarantee it'll become an instant favourite.

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  15. This sounds so good! I love that fact that you're always reviewing books that aren't heard of here in the states. I've been looking for books outside of the popular circle, and looks like I found it, and since you rated it 5 stars, I definitely have to add this to my list of books to read this year. Thank you for always sharing some good Aussie fiction :)

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  16. Lovely review for a lovely book, Kelly. You so beautifully wrote about this book. I always find interesting stories set in a small town where the main character tries to find themselves and be free of judgment. I actually didn’t know what “bogan” was.

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