9780330426060 Fiona Wood Pan Macmillan Australia 2010
Those of you who read my reviews, may have wondered, do I ever review a book I don’t like? The really clever ones amongst you may have deduced the answer already. The answer is No. I don’t. Ever.
Why? The answer, for me, is easy. If you don’t have anything nice to say, say nothing. (This has proven to be a wise thing to know)
This may have led some of you to believe that I must LOVE every book I read. NOT TRUE. I wish it was. The truth is, for every book I review here, I may have read as many as TEN I didn’t like enough to review. As a reviewer, I have a personal criteria a book must meet, in order for me to review it at all. A checklist if you like.
Funnily enough, prior to now even, I had called that checklist Six Impossible Things. I kid you not. So when I learned that a book had been titled SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS, I had a little giggle fit and mentally added said book to my TO READ PILE.
When I picked up said book to read it, I was hopeful (I am nothing if not optimistic) that this book might meet the checklist of Six Impossible Things. That checklist, for those of you who were wondering, is as follows: A Book Must Make Me…
1) Laugh. Im talking snort coffee out my nose kinda laughing here. Hopefully more than once.
2) Cry. Yup. I love it when a book can make me cry, for the right reasons, not just because it was THAT bad.
3) Empathise. VERY important. I NEED to be able to empathise with a character in order to love a book.
4) Yearn. I love nothing more than a story that is so beautifully written that I YEARN to live within the pages.
5) Re-Evaluate. A truly great book, will make me think. It will make me re-evaluate my own life, belief’s, way of thinking, living, etc.
6) Love. Im that reader folks. I once answered a staff profile question that asked ‘My first love was…’ My answer? Fictional. I need to love something, preferably all things, about a character or characters in a book.
So. Thats my checklist guys. Even I will admit, its a tough one. But, what can I say. My standards are high. As they have a right to be, considering the calibre of some of the Authors I am privileged enough to read.
So, having said that. Six Impossible Things- Fiona Wood. TICKED EVERY SINGLE BOX AT LEAST TWICE!
A unique, wonderful and refreshing novel from (yet another) BRILLIANT Australian Author. Fiona Wood has done an amazing job. I will not tell you anything more about this gem of a book, except for this. GO BUY IT. READ IT. LOVE IT. RIGHT. NOW.
Please 
POST SCRIPT- I cannot believe I forgot to add this the first time! Six Impossible Things would make a fantastic class novel for Year 7′s and 8′s. It works across all reading and engagement levels and is rich with topics for discussion and consideration.
I have high standards for books too–mostly that if I can still remember EVERYTHING that happened for months (and even years) to come, then it’s a 5 star book because it hasn’t left my mind at all
(and of course, it has to make me emotional–happiness is preferred but if it makes me cry because the story is beautiful and bittersweet, so be it!)
I’ve heard wonderful things about SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS. I wish it was already available here in the US but I’ll just have to wait…or maybe I’ll give myself a Christmas present through the book depository. We’ll see
mum must have forgotten the old; if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it at all, lesson.
i am without a filter.
i am glad you are out there in the world to balance out my crazy.
also: we have never talked about your checklist before (how is this possible?). but i whole heartedly agree! great checklist.
Tye, just wanted to say thanks for loving books so much and being such a dedicated educator and librarian. I utilise your site as a trusted resource on a very regular basis and would also like to thank India and your students for their contributions. It is so good to be able to read reviews from the perpectives of the intended target audience. Once again, thank you for your dedication and passion. Love your work x
Jacqui, thank you SO much! Your comment actually made me a little teary and I have to say it certainly made my day! I am very flattered that you use the site so often. I love the student reviews too
It must be said, that without dedicated book sellers like yourself, our kids wouldn’t have such access to these wonderful books. Its the care and consideration YOU take in choosing what to put on your shelves that makes my job so easy
You are a star!
Laughing, Miss Nicole, its your lack of filter that makes YOUR reviews so awesome! I have said it before and I will say it again, I WISH I could write reviews like yours! I love them.
I think we have talked about my checklist…Im sure we have. But it was way back round that kitchen table all those years ago in my other house
I completely agree! There are so many books that I still carry the storyline and characters in my memory. That is the mark of a great book. This book, is most definitely one of those! My advice, don’t wait! Get yourself a copy stat! You wont regret it
I love your list of Six Impossible Things
This looks like a great books, can’t wait to read it too.
Thank you so much Ari!!! It is an amazing book!!! I am superuberpositive you will LOVE IT!!!
Cant wait to read you review!