Click

By Linda Sue Park, David Almond, Gregory Maguire, Tim Wynne-Jones, Deborah Ellis, Eoin Colfer,Roddy Doyle, Nick Hornby, Ruth Ozeki, Margo Lanagan.

Wow! Ten of the best YA authors took on the challenge of writing a collaborative novel to support Amnesty International. This novel in ten successive stories is the result, and a gripping page turner it is.

The book opens with a “jump story” by Linda Sue Park, easily the best of its kind I have ever read. Maggie’s grandfather, George Keane, known as “Gee”, a famous international photojournalist, has died. He has left her and her brother enigmatic gifts that are to steer and inspire their lives. The chapter is rich with details of Gee’s travels--the pictures he took, the stories he told his grandchildren--and best of all, is loaded with possibilities and puzzles. The next author must continue the narrative, but not necessarily from the same perspective, location, or even the same time frame. All chapters are titled with a name. They are portraits of people whose lives intersected with Gee’s. But they are also an additional layer of detail for our picture of the photographer’s life.

What is most astonishing about this book, is how tightly woven it is for such a schizophrenic project and how clearly each author’s individual stylistic voice can be heard through the words. Click is especially exciting for anyone interested in, learning about, or teaching writing.
Royalties benefit Amnesty International.

Reviewed by Vivian