Fifteen-year-old Emma is woken up by her dad’s nightmares. Again.
On Friday evenings they go running at East Point Reserve to escape. Escape the ripples of grief that still chase them three years after her mum’s death; escape Emma’s autism diagnosis; escape her dad’s work as an emergency room doctor.
At school, Emma has won a spot on the beach volleyball Sports Institute program. The spot that her best friend Summer desperately wanted. And Summer’s family are moving to the other side of town. Their friendship has kept Emma going since her mum’s death but now things are changing between them – and change isn’t something Emma can outrun.
Review
There is a lot to love about Raelke Grimmer’s debut novel. One of those is the strong sense of place. I’m finding that I love it when a character exists in a specific context, and not just a vague anywhere-town. White Noise is very much grounded in Darwin; though I have never been there, Grimmer’s descriptions of the heat, the food, and the atmosphere help place Emma’s story in context.
I also enjoyed Emma’s relationship with her father. It’s a nuanced depiction of a loving and supportive relationship where the adult is doing his best but also struggling with his own mental health. I finished the book thinking about how everyone needs someone who gets them and is tireless in advocating for them. There is also their shared grief, which hangs over both Emma and her father but affects them in different ways. I thought the story did a lovely job depicting how grief is indeed a wave that comes and goes.
Another thing that I loved about this book was the portrayal of Emma’s experience as an autistic person, including her shutdowns, her sensory needs/experiences, and the “you don’t look autistic” type of ignorance that she encounters. On top of all this, she is navigating significant shifts in the important relationships in her life, whether it is with her best friend, Summer, or a possible love interest. It is a nuanced portrayal and highlights the little things that can add up to become overwhelming for neurodivergent young people.
I genuinely enjoyed the above elements, but I found myself feeling a step removed from emotionally connecting with Emma. I don’t think this is the fault of the writing, but rather it lies with where I am in life and the stories I currently gravitate to. Teenage and older readers who want a contemporary Young Adult story with all the above topics, plus storylines about changing friendships and navigating a romantic relationship, will enjoy this book. I look forward to seeing more of Grimmer’s work in the future.
Thank you to UWA Publishing for the review copy.
Review by Priscilla
Novel Feelings 