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Only Ever Always

Penni Russon

$27.99

Paperback

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English
Allen & Unwin
01 August 2011
WINNER: 2012 NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature

Who dreams the dreamer?

Claire lives in an ordinary world where everything is whole. But inside Claire is broken. The silvery notes of her music box allow her an escape from her grief into a dream-world, into Clara's world.

Clara's world has always been broken. She finds broken things to swap at the markets; she walks the treacherous route past the brown river where lone dogs prowl; she avoids the seamy side when she can, but with powerful people pulling the strings, it's not always possible.

Which world is real?

Claire's and Clara's paths are set to collide, and each has much to lose - or gain.

Original and poetic, this captivating novel explores dreams, grief, friendship and love through a brilliantly constructed dystopian fantasy world.

'Like the sound of the little loved music box that is so pivotal to the story, Penni Russon's Only Ever Always is both deeply touching and strangely eerie, leaving the reader with a mixture of warmth and apprehension, yearning and wonder - about death, life, language, art,dreams and childhood. Fascinating and absolutely memorable.' - Ursula Dubosarsky
By:  
Imprint:   Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication:   Australia
Dimensions:   Height: 198mm,  Width: 128mm,  Spine: 14mm
Weight:   172g
ISBN:   9781741750447
ISBN 10:   174175044X
Pages:   180
Publication Date:  
Recommended Age:   From 12 to 16 years
Audience:   Children/juvenile ,  Young adult ,  Children / Juvenile ,  Preschool (0-5)
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Penni Russon was born in Hobart, and spent her childhood roaming around on a small mountain. Eventually she had to grow up, and she moved from Tasmania to Melbourne to study classics, archaeology, women's studies and contemporary literature. She writes, edits and teaches creative writing, and lives in outer Melbourne with her husband and three children.

Reviews for Only Ever Always

Like the sound of the little loved music box that is so pivotal to the story, Only Ever Always is both deeply touching and strangely eerie, leaving the reader with a mixture of warmth and apprehension, yearning and wonder--about death, life, language, art, dreams and childhood. Fascinating and absolutely memorable. --Ursula Dubosarsky, author, The Word Snoop


  • Commended for Children's Book Council of Australia Awards: Book of the Year - Older Readers 2012.
  • Commended for Young Adult 2012 (Australia)
  • Winner of Aurealis Award for Excellence in Fiction: Best Young Adult Novel 2011.
  • Winner of Aurealis Awards 2011 (Australia)
  • Winner of CBCA Book of the Year 2012 (Australia)
  • Winner of NSW Premier's Literary Award Ethel Turner Prize 2012.
  • Winner of Western Australian Premier's Book Awards: Young Adult Fiction 2012.

See Also