The Angel Of Barbican High
Michelle A Taylor

UQP: 
Young Adult Fiction 2001

182p pbk $16.95

ISBN: 0-7022-3251-3

The story The Angel Of Barbican High is written by Michelle A Taylor. It is a passionate and exquisitively written verse novel. The story is about an 11^th year student, Jez, who is studying at Barbican High. Jez loves her new life in Brisbane, but things begin to change when her boyfriend, Nick, dies.

Jez feels uncomfortable and uneasy when she sees all those happy lovers having fun; touching and sharing their emotions with each other. She wishes her Nick would be with her. She cries and mourns. As gloomy days pass by she soon seeks comfort. She starts writing letters to an imaginary Angel. The angel becomes a very important part of Jezs life.

The story goes on with Jezs emotions and relationships, secrets and confrontations going on. She struggles and tries hard to stop a terrible secret from taking over

Natasha, Year 9, Canberra, ACT

The year Jez moves to Brisbane and starts Year 11 at Barbican High, everything finally falls into place for her. She makes friends, goes to parties, meets Nick It is the first year Jez feels loved and supported by her friends, and with a soul mate boyfriend whom she cares about more than anything else, nothing can destroy her happiness. But the following summer, a terrible accident shatters her world, and it is Jez who is left struggling to pick up the pieces. Can Tommy and the angel save her before her grief and lies tear her soul apart?

The Angel of Barbican High is a poignant young adults novel that touches the reader on a personal level through its passion and gripping honesty. Written in verse, the raw emotion conveyed is often beautifully overwhelming, and the short, sharp phrases make for an easy yet compelling read. The novel confronts many issues that plague todays young people, such as depression and youth suicide, and for this reason, it is one to which teenagers can easily relate.

Powerful and intense, The Angel of Barbican High weaves beautiful language into an intriguing story line, reaching to the heart of pressing youth problems with skill and emotion. I think it is important for all teenagers to read a novel such as this, as it provides answers to dilemmas that we may easily someday have to face ourselves. 

Celia, aged 15, Canberra, ACT

The Angel of Barbican High, written by Michelle A. Taylor, is about Jez and her experiences at the high school after her boyfriend Nick dies.  It goes through all her trauma and finally her seeking the help of an angel.  From then on the angel is her lifeline.  Tommy a loner, who spends his days in the library, comes into her life in order to tutor her in maths.  At first hes using her for popularity and shes using him for maths, but it soon turns to more.  It appears Jez is gradually recovering from Nicks death, until she finally cracks.  About to take her own life Jez is saved by Tommy with the help of her angel.  Jez and Tommy then discover that they need each other.

The book is in the category of young adult fiction.  I believe though that this book was not designed for people my age, and better suits people who are about sixteen and up.  Not only is it very complex, being a book of poems, but its about a seventeen-year-old girl who is in Year Eleven.  At first the poems are quite annoying, but you get used to them.  Most books are about the main character of characters thought.  This book, however, is also told by what the main character writes.  To add to the confusion it is also told by two different people.  It is a good book, but if youre going to read it, youll need to be patient.