Here is the blurb:
When my dad dropped us off at the front gate, the first things I saw were the rose garden spreading out on either side of the main driveway and the enormous sign in iron cursive letters spelling out LAURINDA. No 'Ladies College' after it, of course; the name was meant to speak for itself.
Laurinda is an exclusive school for girls. At its secret core is the Cabinet, a trio of girls who wield power over their classmates - and some of their teachers.
Entering this world of wealth and secrets is Lucy Lam, a scholarship girl with sharp eyes and a shaky sense of self. As she watches the Cabinet at work, and is courted by them, Lucy finds herself in a battle for her identity and integrity.
Funny, feisty and moving, Laurinda explores Lucy's struggle to stay true to herself as she finds her way in a new world of privilege and opportunity.
First of all, it took me the awhile to realise that the book had its very own style. Not only was the story written in a form of a letter but also the chapters are divided according to term (that’s right…Term One, Term Two etc.), which I thought was pretty creative.
Second of all the book sheds light on a different viewpoint that is not only highly controversial in the now (as it talks about refugees and their place in Australia) but also a viewpoint that not all of you will completely understand. Some of you might even judge Lucy; you might disapprove of her comparing her life with that of her popular, rich friends. This view might even be confronting to some of you but it is very accurate and very real.
Lucy Lam is a migrant, living in a small modest town of Stanley. She went to a catholic school, Christ Our Saviour, where she was treated as an equal. People laughed at her sharp-wit, and didn’t question her when she had them sit on the floor to eat when she had them over for dinner. However, at Laurinda she is treated as someone that is underprivileged and poor. Which Pung discusses in the book. She describes it when Lucy looks at her surroundings and questions how she could’ve lived here all this time and didn’t mind the ‘tackiness’.
Lucy struggles through keeping her identity and having a voice in a place of privilege and entitlement, something, which a lot of people can relate to. She gives the readers a view of the ways of western world though a different set of eyes. It was a beautiful, engaging and refreshing book to read.
Would definitely recommend this too anyone who is 13yrs or older
Happy Reading, Aditi