On Becoming Georgie

How many times have you heard adults complain that their children or grandchildren don’t read? In one case, it was the grandmother of an English teacher!
How does one encourage reading in children? In many cases, they have been put off by the set reading matter at school. How many times can the actions of all the characters in Hamlet be analysed? And yet, there was nothing more that young children generally liked than a bedtime story, be it read from a book or told from Grandad’s imagination. What happened when they became preteens and teenagers? How does one encourage reading? Example and content are the answers.
Most young adult fiction that appeals seems to fall into two popular categories – fantasy and that based on life. “On Becoming Georgie” by Jane Fry, falls into the latter. High School presents quite a hurdle for many teens, even those who are quite confident in the academic world, but throw in a few other problems and life is not so easy. One needs to find one’s team. What lengths will a teen go to so acceptance is granted? Teen hormones are raging. All in all, life is not simple.
The author is a former high school teacher. Her inside knowledge is evident in her description of the school cross country, and the differing attitudes of various students towards it. The sporting jocks take it seriously; the “also rans” make it a fun occasion.
Georgie is born with an unseen disability, until her many absences from school have her relegated to the “dummies” class. There she has a chance to catch up on all the schooling she has missed, and where she meets fellow classmates who will help her mature. Basically, she is a sensitive 15-year-old, not just in herself, but sensitive to the problems of those around her. Most high schoolers will encounter several of these problems at some stage of their high school careers.
Two students in her catch-up class are examples of the current problem with racism in this country. No mention of the anti-Jewish syndrome, but the age-old set against First Nations people and anyone from another country who finds it hard to fit in because of language difficulties is obvious. The anti-LBGTQI situation also raises its ugly head, with the way it can split families.
One topic touched on which concerns students is climate change, and the influence parents have on their attitude to this. Georgie is frustrated when she hears her fellow students parrot what obviously they have heard in the home. Home life can be so different for individuals. Some have high expectations placed upon them. Some suffer from helicopter parenting. Others play second fiddle to a parent’s new partner. Some spend their lives in hospital with death being their only escape. Georgie encounters all of these situations through her peers as well as her own life.
It is usually at high school where students have their first encounter with drugs. Georgie helps her policeman father clean up a drug ring when her grandmother’s good nature is preyed upon. Definitely an example of taking advantage of the elderly, if not elder abuse.
This book encapsulates the life of many a highschooler; a book that will resonate with most teenagers.

On Georgie is a book full of relationship. It opens our eyes to the complexity of teenage life with all the issues they face within their own world and even outside. How even a supposed ‘safe” community is affected by undercurrent of antisocial behaviour. This is something that even parents and carers need to be aware of in the lives of their teenagers. To allow teenagers to explore their environment and yet still be confident to touch base with them as they navigate their experiences.

Georgie should be admired for her openness to all her peers, the awareness that they do have different experiences of their own and bring these with them to the relationship. Georgie shows empathy in her approach to dealing with them moving forward.

It is a great read for YA and would be a valuable resource in all schools, primary and secondary, alternate and tertiary (future educators).

On Becoming Georgie was not my normal genre of reading material. Having said that I found the book a refreshing change. I felt the writer showed great understanding and empathy with the characters and highlighted the many challenging issues facing young people today. Certainly thought provoking and open to group discussion.

The issues of immigration, questionable multiculturalism, fitting in, peer pressure, crime links to financial gain, expectation of parents, friendships/illness/death and aging, fossil fuels, recycling and climate differences of opinion, sexual identity and +/- tolerance were all covered at some time woven into character profiles in a believable way. Georgie at times seemed too “wise” but then children who have faced ill health, prolonged hospitalisation and their own mortality, can be wise beyond their years. Like a jigsaw puzzle all of the pieces, especially individual behaviours fitted into place with understanding and a contented ending. This time of life- early teens- is becoming more troublesome as the traditional family unit and cultural units expectations change in the years this book was written. Many topics were aired, even if the reader agrees or not, it is a great thing to open the discussion door - especially in classrooms!

On Becoming Georgie gives us an insight into the difficult and different choices a teenager has to make in order to fit in the sometimes frightening world, whilst dealing with illness, bullying, discrimination, drugs around him or her.
Having a background in the judiciary I recognised particularly the difficulty of sorting out what seem to be facts and jumping to conclusions based on wrong assumptions. Also the book shows, and Georgie finds out that behind attitudes - such as what seems to be selfishness, bravery and pride - there is self doubt, anxiety and sadness.
The book, though probably meant to be read by mostly young adults, can be enjoyed by many like myself, a grandmother of five. Very recommendable.