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59 pages 1 hour read

The Things She's Seen

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2018

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Book Brief

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Ambelin Kwaymullina, Ezekiel Kwaymullina

The Things She's Seen

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

208

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Australia • Contemporary

Publication Year

2018

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

Lexile Level

HL590L

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Super Short Summary

The Things She's Seen by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina is a young adult novel about an Aboriginal Australian girl who helps her detective father solve a mystery. The narrative interweaves themes of grief, identity, and social issues, exploring the interplay between the seen and unseen, life and death, and truth and memory.

Mysterious

Melancholic

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.1

5,649 ratings

65%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

The Things She's Seen by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina is praised for its imaginative storytelling and lyrical prose, offering a powerful exploration of grief and identity. The unique blend of mystery and supernatural elements captivates readers. However, some find the narrative style challenging. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read with a distinctive voice.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Things She's Seen?

A reader who enjoys The Things She's Seen by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina likely appreciates introspective, surreal narratives akin to The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. They revel in stories blending mystery, Indigenous culture, and elements of magical realism, favoring character-driven plots and emotional depth.

4.1

5,649 ratings

65%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Character List

Beth Teller

The ghost of a 15-year-old Aboriginal girl who narrates part of the story while wearing the yellow dress she wore when she died, works to support her grieving father.

An Aboriginal teenager with a supernatural ability to exist across different realities, narrates her story through first-person verse, and is known primarily by her last name.

Beth’s father, a senior detective grappling with his daughter’s death, known for his commitment to justice and racial equality.

An Aboriginal girl whose spirit helps other victims, she was taken by the antagonists and transformed into a guide for the novel's captives.

Beth’s warm and caring aunt, known for her brightly colored clothing and lively personality, who grapples with guilt over the events of the car accident.

The chief of police and a friend of Alexander Sholt, depicted as nervous and immature, involved in unethical activities.

A wealthy businessman involved in sinister activities who has donated to local causes; his death is central to the unfolding mystery.

Book Details
Pages

208

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Australia • Contemporary

Publication Year

2018

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

12-18 years

Lexile Level

HL590L

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