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The novel is set in wattle Beach. It is a story about a 15-year-old boy named Carl Matt who faces many challenges, from supporting himself and his younger brother Harley financially, to being responsible for his general welfare in their new town, Wattle Beach, after their mother abandoned them.
The main characters are Carl and his family, the supportive Duncan family, Justine and the irresponsible Aunt Beryl.
In the beginning, Carl is neither independent nor confident, but gradually his character strengthens with the help of close friends and family. Despite facing many obstacles throughout the novel, Carl remains a diligent worker and a caring person.
The novel emphasizes the importance of human compassion and unity. The novel portrays a vivid of an osprey's return to nature, which parallels Carl's struggles and his overcoming of these obstacles. Through the osprey's freedom, Carl is able to experience the true joys of liberation and independence. The author uses descriptive words to capture the essence of the moment highlighting the true beauties that exist in life.
I greatly enjoyed this book, and found it very inspirational. Being a teenager myself, Carl's character appealed to me, as I was able to directly relate to the turmoil's of a teenager's life. I admire Carl for his bravery and pursuit of his ambitions in spite of numerous challenges. The book explores themes and ideas important to human life, and the language, style and techniques used make it suitable for people ages 14 to 16. There, I highly recommend this book and strongly believe that other readers will enjoy it as much as I did.