By Winnie Deng

Title: Finding Grace
Author: Alyssa Brugman
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Rating: 9/10

Even being only a newcomer in the book-writing scene, already Alyssa Brugman has created a gloriously entertaining and heart-warming story about tasting love, finding grace and getting a life. This intriguing, compassionate and unexpectedly funny story revolves around the bond which recent high-school graduate Rachel develops with the mysteriously silent Grace. Despite being only the first novel to be published by Alyssa Brugman, already, Finding Grace has received critical acclaim being short-listed for the 2002 NSW Premier’s Literary Award and the 2002 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Children’s Book of the Year Awards: Older Readers. Through Rachel’s gloriously eccentric perspective, I immediately loved this book for its delightfully humorous nature and peculiar style adding even more suspense and interest into the plot.

When Rachel is offered a live-in job looking after the brain damaged Grace, by the mysterious Mr Preston, she accepts, assuming it as ‘easy peasy’. But what follows is an incredibly humorous journey in which Rachel undertakes as she explores university life, the meaning of love and gains an abundance of knowledge. Rachel shifts from her initial resentment to the zombie-like Grace, through to understanding Grace’s past and finally appreciating her with affection, respect and hope. When she discovers Grace’s ‘spooky box’, Grace’s glamorous past life unfolds around Rachel and as she befriends more and more of the bystanders who once took a part of Grace’s life, the closer Rachel is to finding Grace, and the deeper their bond becomes.

Rachel is the central character and considering her personality, she is perfect for the protagonist. Rachel brings to the novel her opinions and idea of the world, of fate and destiny, and it is her contributions which make the story all the more appealing. But she is also constantly surrounded by people just as mystifying with interesting attributes, and it is through Rachel’s enlightening perspective we understand those people and their desires more clearly. Mr Preston was among the posh, arrogant lobby of rich businessmen but suddenly turned into ‘one of those really rich fellows giving back to the community’. He has a particularly curious relationship with Grace especially for a lawyer but seems to have a profound interest and protectiveness over Grace. Unlike Grace’s feral sisters who seem to be intent on robbing as much as they can from Grace. But underneath all the grasping and rapaciousness, Rachel discovers that these seemingly superficial sisters have certain feelings and beliefs and do in fact care for one another.

Kate has always been a good friend of Rachel - who introduces her to a social life, leads her to the outskirts of nerdism, as well as aiding Rachel in learning about of fate and destiny. Then in comes Hiro – as Rachel knows him as – with whom she had her first taste of love. And of course, Grace herself. Snow white Grace. Zombie, lizard-eyed Grace. Brain-damaged Grace with the lovely house in which Rachel now lives in. Rachel initially resents Grace for her condition, but as time passes and she uncovers Grace’s secrets, her glamorous past life, Rachel realizes that Grace actually had a life before the tragic incident which led to Grace’s downfall. And how did Mr Preston come into all of this? How did the tragedy occurr to Grace? What was Grace really like? Questions are forever surfacing in Rachel’s mind.

There are a number of significant themes in the novel but it mainly deals with a search for identity. Rachel seeks her destiny but before realising it, chance encounters and new friendships have enabled Rachel to accept herself and increase her sense of self worth. Amongst all the caring and searching for Grace and deciphering all the bits and pieces of Grace’s story, she’s also creating her own as the story progresses because the more she learns, the wiser she becomes, and the closer she is to completing her own rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood.

Friendship is another important aspect of the novel and is explored thoroughly as Rachel socialises more. Her friendship with Mr Preston is rather peculiar as their bond extends to the point where he appears to be a fatherly figure towards her. Just as curious is the relationship between Mr Preston and Grace. His devotion to Grace outweighs the devotion a normal close friend would be willing to offer. Rachel’s own alliances with Kate and new friends introduced by Kate deepen as Rachel begins to appreciate herself more and realizes that even though she might be considered quirky or nerdy, there are people who enjoy being with her and acknowledges her for who she is.

And finally, there is a fourth theme in the book which teaches us of appreciating differences. While at first, Rachel too had a distaste for Grace’s condition, a sense of endearment had formed between the two. Criticisms are often when outsiders treat Grace as a weakling and with pity. Finding Grace educates us that human beings, even animals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

Alyssa Brugman has used various techniques which ultimately culminate into a comical and gratifying novel. The first thing the reader would notice is the cover: its bright, colourful mixture of red, white, blue and black with the abstract graphics is instantly suggestive of an uplifting atmosphere. The story is told in first person so we can delve into Rachel’s insightfully witty mind as well as clarify our understanding of Rachel as a person. Proverbs and idioms such as “birds of a feather flock together” are frequently used to add humour. The language often associates with teenage slang and the author’s use of dialogue contributes to what makes this novel so humorous. Rachel’s musings are constantly presented providing a profound insight into Rachel’s personality. Brugman also uses a variety of interesting metaphors to contrast reality with Rachel’s peculiar sense perspective on the world. For instance: the use of nature to describe characters such as Rachel vs. Sparrow, and her friend Amanda as a Rosella. And the initial description of Grace’s garden as somewhat overgrown but begins to be replenished with vegetation during Rachel’s time with Grace.

So what becomes of a recipe so extravagantly diverse in its themes, its stories, its emotions, its tragedies, its joys, that it is filled to the brim until a scrumptious product takes its place? Ultimately, a novel like to many others with themes so like reality is produced yet written with an exuberantly, innovative, new persona. There is no single resolution to each of the stories told, but we finish the story feeling uplifted by its delightfully fresh tone as told by Rachel, a character we come to know as quirky, witty and optimistic. The story has covered many aspects of the emotional spectrum, bound to bring laughter for its joys, a teary eye for its tragedies, and a broad grin for its triumphs. Finding Grace would appeal most to female teens and younger adults but others are also welcome to be fully captivated by this novel enriched with moving but insightful ruminations of life as seen by Rachel and as inspired by Grace.