Jellybean

Jellybean

Synopsis

First published in New Zealand in 1985, Jellybean is one of Tessa Duder's best-loved children's novels, and tells the beguiling story of a lonely girl, Geraldine, nicknamed Jellybean, whose unconventional single mother is uncomfortably different from all her schoolmates' mothers.  Her mother is a professional musician but she's not something cool like a singer or a rock star - she plays in the city's orchestra and occasionally in a piano trio in restaurants.

Jellybean is often left to her own devices, or in the care of babysitters, and feels lonely and neglected.  When a stranger comes into their life and she finds that he is someone from her mother's past, she begins to wonder if he is her mysteriously absent father.

Jellybean also learns what she really wants and that some things are so important to who you are that you have to make some challenging choices.  And the hardest lesson of all is that sometimes you might want to hide away, but what you need to do is take your courage in your hands and be prepared to stand up and be seen.

Published internationally in several editions, an Americal Library Association Honour Book for 1986, and a finalist in both adult and children's premier literary awards in New Zealand at the time of its release, Jellybean is a poignant and timeless tale that has been out of print for nearly twenty years.  HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand are delighted to be able to revisit her enchanting story, described by critic Diane Hebley as an 'exquisitely crafted' novel which achieved the 'rare distinction for a children's novel' of being shortlisted for the Wattie Award for fiction in 1986.

About the Author

Tessa Duder has listened to orchestras and played the piano since childhood.  Trained as a journalist, she began writing in her thirties, following a brief but enjoyable career as a pianist with a light music trio and when the youngest of her four daughters went to school.

Tessa's literary career spans 28 years in which time she has  published nearly forty books: novels, short stories, plays and non-fiction.  Internationally acclaimed for her multi-award-winning Alex Quartet and Tompson trilogy and two picture books, A Book of Pacific Lullabies and Carpet of Dreams, her awards include the Margaret Mahy Medal, the Meridian Energy Katherine Mansfield Fellowship, the coveted Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award, Artist to Antarctica in 2007 and an honorary PhD in 2008.

Tessa is also a journalist, editor, non-fiction author and biographer, with Margaret Mahy: a writer's life.

Tessa's most recent book, a collection of Margaret Mahy's poems, illustrated by David Elliot, The Word Witch: The Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy, has been received with stunning praise and was an instant bestseller.

Tessa lives in Auckland, not too far from her daughters and two grandchildren.

For more information about Tessa Duder, visit her web site: www.tessaduder.com.

Review

This is a great book about a young girl who lives alone with her mum - who is really different to all the other mums.  I think it's great that her mum is a musician but I can see why Jellybean would like her to be more normal.  It can't be very nice not having her mum home every night to tuck her into bed.

I found this chapter book not too difficult to read and really enjoyed the story - so much that I didn't want it to end.

My favourite part of the book was when Jellybean gets trapped in the orchestra pit!

I was a bit surprised by the ending and really hope that Tessa Duder writes a second book about Jellybean's adventures in England where she gets to meet her dad and to see all the amazing places her parents have performed in.

 

 

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