Jasper Jones

Jasper Jones is a 2009 novel by Fremantle-based writer Craig Silvey. It has won and been shortlisted for several major awards, and was selected by the University of Canberra as its inaugural UC Book of the Year for 2013.[1]

Plot

Protagonist Charlie Bucktin is a thirteen-year-old boy living in the fictional rural mining town of Corrigan in Western Australia. His character reflects that he is somewhat socially awkward, being uncoordinated in a town that places high value in sporting ability. He is a relatively intelligent boy – a trait which causes other students to resent him. His best friend is Jeffrey Lu, a Vietnamese boy who, along with his parents, experiences racial discrimination throughout the novel. On a summer evening in 1965, Charlie has an unexpected late night visit from fourteen-year-old Jasper Jones, an outcast in Corrigan due to his mixed White-Aboriginal heritage and rebellious lifestyle. Jasper takes Charlie to his private glade in the bush where a terrible crime has taken place.

Characters

Charlie Bucktin: The 13 year old protagonist and narrator of the novel. He is intellectual rather than athletic. This makes him somewhat of an outsider in Corrigan, where sporting ability is highly valued. He aspires to become a writer, and reads notable books during the course of the novel, including Pudd'nhead Wilson and To Kill A Mockingbird. These books are the source of much of Charlie's inspiration and guidance. Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird is a father figure whom Charlie looks up to for support and encouragement when times get difficult in the struggle of Jasper's tangled web, to which Charlie is an unwilling witness.

Jasper Jones: Half Aboriginal Australian and half white, Jasper is an outcast in Corrigan. He is fourteen, but Charlie states that Jasper looks much older. He is the town's scapegoat, and the first person to be blamed for any kind of trouble. He hence has a bad reputation, and is blamed for crimes he does not commit. Jasper's father is physically abusive and has an addiction to alcohol. This prompts Jasper to steal for food, as there is no money left in the house. Jasper's mother died when he was young, and Jasper tells Charlie he does not remember anything about her. Jasper regularly smokes cigarettes and drinks alcohol.

Eliza Wishart: Charlie's romantic interest, Eliza is described as intelligent and slightly resembling Audrey Hepburn. She is the younger sister of Laura.

Laura Wishart: Eliza's older sister and Jasper's love interest.

Jeffrey Lu: Charlie's best friend. He is a year younger than Charlie but has skipped a year in school because of his intellect. Charlie admits that Jeffrey is smarter than he is because of his Vietnamese heritage, Jeffrey often experiences a lot racial discrimination from the other cricketers.

Mad Jack Lionel: The town's scapegoat. Kids regularly take things from his property, such as rocks, to prove their bravery. Taking a peach from his tree is the highest achievement. Jasper blames him for Laura's murder after discovering the word "sorry" carved into a rusted car door on his property. Lionel often calls out to Jasper, trying to get his attention.

Awards and nominations

The novel is published in the UK by Windmill Books.[7]

Film adaptation

The film rights for the novel were sold to producers Vincent Sheehan and David Jowsey.[8][9] Screenwriter Shaun Grant and Silvey co-wrote the script.[10][11] Director Rachel Perkins started filming in October 2015.[12] The film stars Toni Collette (as Ruth Bucktin), Levi Miller (Charlie Bucktin), Aaron McGrath (Jasper Jones), Hugo Weaving (Mad Jack Lionel), Angourie Rice (Eliza Wishart), and Dan Wyllie (Wes Bucktin).[13][14][15]

References

  1. ↑ University of Canberra, UC Book of the Year, archive
  2. ↑ Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of American Library Association (ALA)
  3. ↑ Indie Book Awards, Australian Independent Bookseller, archive.
  4. ↑ "Australia's Mark Twain wins book of the year", Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), archived.
  5. ↑ Australian Book Industry Awards, archived
  6. ↑ Winton, Silvey on Premier's book short list”, by William Yeoman, The West Australian, August 12, 2010, archived.
  7. ↑ Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, Windmill Books, archive
  8. ↑ ScreenDaily, archived 07 October 2015
  9. ↑ Screen NSW (the NSW government's key funding body for the NSW screen production industry), "Funding Approval Details", archived 07 October 2015
  10. ↑ "Jasper Jones (2016) Full Cast & Crew", IMDb, archived 21 January 2016
  11. ↑ Shaun Grant, "From Snowtown to Jasper Jones, an insider's view of the art of adaptation", Sydney Morning Herald, published 4 December 2015, archived 7 December 2015
  12. ↑ "Rachel Perkins' Jasper Jones is cast and ready to film in WA", SBS, archived 07 October 2015
  13. ↑ “Toni Collette Joins the Cast of Jasper Jones”, Porchlight Films, archived 07 October 2015
  14. ↑ “Incredible cast brought together for the film adaption of the iconic Australian novel, Jasper Jones”, Film Ink (Australia), archived 15 October 2015
  15. ↑ Hugo Weaving, Toni Collette join all-star cast of Jasper Jones, Sydney Morning Herald, Linda Morris, 18 October 2015, archived 24 October 2015

External links

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