Book Club Review: Tom Houghton by Todd Alexander

Here it is: the first review from the Student Edge Book Club! Read a member's take on Todd Alexander's Tom Houghton and share your thoughts below.

The notion of the protagonist who "isn't like the other kids" is well explored in contemporary literature.

"Chosen ones" such as Harry Potter & Katniss Everdeen - not to mention the "manic pixie dream girl" archetype - bombard us left, right and centre.

However, this is where Tom Houghton finds a life of its own.

Author Todd Alexander provides a refreshing take on the “average” boy with his title character, growing up in Seven Hills in Western Sydney; a location far from the world of Hogwarts or the Capitol, yet just as endearing as enchanting.

Tom is a twelve-year-old boy yet to conform to his peers, struggling to find himself in the chaos of the schoolyard, but who ultimately discovers a form of escapism familiar to many: cinema. As Tom becomes enraptured in the life of actors and actresses of the cinematic golden age, he forges a new and glamorous identity for himself: as Thomas Houghton Hepburn, the doomed brother of the legendary Katharine.

Tom suddenly feels destined for greatness and longs to escape the life he feels trapped in. His misguided belief that by adopting a new persona - that of a long-dead celebrity - will gain him the respect of his peers that he so craves will be poignant to many young readers.

Yet, as fantasy and reality begin to merge for Tom, the world around him becomes darker, and his misdirection is revealed seemingly too late to stop his life from spinning out of control.

Alternating between young and old Tom - an actor himself now - the discovery and rediscovery of childhood proves to be as difficult and confronting for the reader as it is for Tom himself.

Twelve-year-old Tom's journey to acceptance is heart-wrenching; the naivety and optimism that fuels him is so starkly contrasted to the regret and animosity that fills older Tom.

As older Tom’s life starts to follow the familiar footsteps of his idol, he attempts to recount and reassess his childhood, and his life, finding it increasingly difficult to differentiate between reality and fiction.

Alexander’s interplay of young and old Tom reinforces the effects of bullying but also the importance of self-awareness. Through his touching and emotional recounting he is able to connect with readers young and old, and encourages introspection in ways not seen for quite some time.

4/5

Congratulations to Greta for writing last month's winning Book Club review. Greta scores a $200 Simon & Schuster book bundle for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest Book Club selection. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!