WINNER OF the australian association of family theraphist book award 2022 for younger readers. Shortlisted - western australia premier's book awards 2022
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS… SO THEY SAY.
After losing her father in a car accident four years earlier, eleven-year-old Maddy is trying to navigate her way through life without her biggest hero; her dad.
Her guilt over what she believes was her part in his death leads Maddy on a quest to take one thousand snapshots of moments in time and with people she loves, wishing she were able to share them with him.
This leads her to an encounter with djidi djidi, a willie wagtail who reminds Maddy that there is hope, even when life seems difficult.
A story of a search for belonging and a fear of abandonment in a world of ever-changing emotions.
Maddy will make you laugh, cry and cheer for her as she takes you through her journey.
It’s picture perfect!
“A wonderfully written and considered story by a very talented author who knows youth well and respects his story craft and his characters with true expressions…a beautiful book...” Karen, Indiebook Reviewer.
Judges’ Comments from Western Australian Premier’s Prize for Writing for Children 2021
This insightful, thought-provoking story is remarkable for the authenticity of its characters and the empathy of its insights into the complex emotions that an intelligent but trou8bled eleven-year-old can experience in her relationships with peers and adults. Through the clever use of photography as a narrative device, it traces convincingly the stages of this pubescent girl’s growth towards fuller maturity.
My 11 year old daughter is currently reading One Thousand Snapshots.
She is engrossed in it.
As an avid reader she is looking for books that stretch her and have a story that is worth following. She sometimes gets halfway through books and bails out because the story is not engrossing.
This is not the case with Steve’s book.
Steve is a genuinely good fella too. The concept of buying the author as well as the book is one I subscribe to and look forward to whatever projects Steve is working on next.
Will Braid
ne Thousand Snapshots follows eleven year old Maddy who’s father has died in a car accident. Since then she has created a ‘like wall’ (literally on her bedroom wall) where she pins photos of stuff she likes.
Throughout the story we see Maddy deal with friendship issues, accepting her mother’s new boyfriend, bullying and the guilt and grief she faces over losing her father.
Maddy is a really likable character who is fun, friendly and strong. She plays footy and is really down to earth and mature, confiding in her mother as she deals with her life.
Well done Steve Heron on this fabulous book! Such a fantastic story with well developed characters.
Highly recommended this one!
Sarah Cole
CBCA READING TIME REVIEW
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a thousand pictures are worth a million words.
So begins One Thousand Snapshots, a heartwarming story of a young girl navigating grief and loss in a world of confounding emotions. Convinced she had some part to play in the death of her father a few years earlier, eleven-year-old Maddy sets out to take one thousand photos of moments in time, wishing she could share them with the people she loves. Along the way, she encounters a djidi, a willie wagtail that instils hope, changing the course of her journey.
A quote and sketch of a photo set the tone for each chapter, with text messages woven throughout. Seen through Maddy’s eyes, the action and characters will ring true to young readers, though at times, her inner dialogue veers to telling (Maybe I’m worrying too much. I haven’t been my bubbly self lately) not showing.
An uplifting middle grade story with a laudable goal: to empower children to navigate life’s challenges, grief, and loss to name just a few issues, while safeguarding their emotional wellbeing.
Did you know the collective noun for willie wagtails is an impertinence? I love that.
Reviewed by Maura Pierlot
