Antipodes

Why would an old adult read a young adult book? Antipodes is the answer! It looks like a story about growing up but it is about life-long human values. Is constant striving for competitive goals the way that you want to live your life...or are there alternatives that are better, healthier and produce happiness? Bacon sets her story in beautiful New Zealand. It is the values of New Zealanders that challenge the heroine, Erin, to rethink her own. New Zealand turns her life upside down. She has reached the antipodes, the other side of the world. This beautiful tale of growth charmed this adult reader with its message of renewal. Erin is on a journey we should all attempt wherever we are. And can we have a shout-out for this excellent cover image? Antipodes all the way!

I just finished this wonderful book by Michelle Bacon. It’s thought-provoking, well paced, and an incredible introduction to New Zealand life and culture. Bacon is great at crafting a plot that keeps you turning the pages, as you slowly learn more about the difficult personal life that brought our protagonist Erin to New Zealand for her senior year of high school. The reader cheers on Erin as she learns to adapt, and figures out her own desires and hopes for the future. A really satisfying read overall!

A wonderful book! Well written and lead to some great book club conversations! My teenage daughter loved it as well!

First Thought After Finishing: I want to go to New Zealand, stat!I love books with foreign settings, and I’ve always been intrigued by the beauty and lifestyle of Australia and New Zealand. I was excited to dive into Antipodes and experience a different way of life vicariously through Erin’s study abroad experience. Needless to say, this book everything I didn't know I wanted and needed at the moment.Erin has her future all planned out. Clinch a swimming championship, be a fabulous cellist, get into Columbia, become a doctor, have a great life. Under the watchful eye of her powerful mother, Erin has worked her entire life to reach this dream. But new swimming students and one drunken night derail Erin’s plans. To save her college applications, Erin’s parents send her to study abroad. The new plan is simple: find something to wow Ivy League colleges. Instead, Erin discovers that sometimes you have to travel around the world just to find yourself.At the beginning of this book, I did not care for Erin very much, despite (unfortunately) seeing a great deal of my former self in her. Despite having the opportunity to fix her mistake, she was focused only on what had gone wrong in her life and her parents’ worldview, which translated into being rather snobby toward and judgemental of her host family and those around her. However, it doesn’t take long for Erin to start to realize how life is different in New Zealand—slower, more relaxed. This calm gradually rubs off on Erin, and she starts to reevaluate what is really important in life.This is a true story of self-discovery and proof of why travel is so important. She meets new friends—Jade, Marama, and Hank—who help to show her how life can be different. Honestly, I loved all of the New Zealanders that Erin meets. Her kiwi friends are the kind of friends everyone wants—welcoming and supportive without expectations. Her host family, despite having to learn how to get along with her, is warm and loving, and her younger sister is adorable. I especially enjoyed Hank’s life philosophy and hope that I am able to keep the words in mind as I move forward."New Zealand was changing her--or revealing parts of her she didn't know existed."Erin’s journey resonated a great deal with me on a personal level. The lush, rich descriptions of the New Zealand landscape almost do justice to what must be breathtaking views. I cheered as Erin started to find her own voice and found something that made her truly happy—it was almost enough to make me want to go rock climbing, until I remembered that I’d likely die in such an attempt. Still, anyone who has ever had to rediscover themselves, break away from expectations, or simply wants to be transported will find something to love about this book.Most Memorable Aspect: The New Zealand setting. I’m in love with all of the scenery described!

I enjoyed the book overall. It flowed nicely and gave you a great feel for the culture of New Zealand. The story was a journey and coming of age for Erin.When you start the book Erin is not your favorite person. She is horribly snobby and rude to her host family. They are nothing but loving and kind to her. Towards Hank she looked down at him like he was nothing. She acted like she was better than everyone else and she wasn’t. Over time and as you see the flashbacks of her last year and what precipitated her ending up in New Zealand you understand more why she was as she was but it doesn’t help you swallow her attitude any better.What we see as the story goes forward is Erin learn about herself and that she is unhappy. In New Zealand there is no pressure and she is able to evaluate herself and where she wants to be. She starts to look and explore life and really live it. She doesn’t worry about being the best or brightest only in finding her joy and living her life to be happy. It is Hank, her host family and new friends that have her realize this. That she needed change and needed to discover or rediscover herself. She was doing things to fulfill a resume and not because she enjoyed them. In New Zealand she learned about herself and what she enjoyed. She found a balance between life, competition and happiness. She found love and peace with her host family and found a romance with Hank.The story is a great exploration of this young girl’s hopes and dreams. Of her discovering friendships, love, family, peace and happiness while doing it in a wonderful location. We learn about New Zealand along the way. We learn about what brought Erin to New Zealand and how much of a douche her ex Ben was. How judgemental everyone back home were. We learn about Erin and her feelings but also see her blossom and find her way. Her and Hank were opposites but worked together well. he helped her to see things from a different perspective and respected her. She loved him for not judging her but seeing the real Erin.The story was entertaining and wonderful. A journey of one girl to rediscover who she is and what she loves while exploring a new place and relationships between family, friends and a boy.