One Dead Seagull
Scot Gardner

Pan 2001

158p pbk  $14.95

 0-330-36273-9            

Wayne has a crap life.  His Mum and Dad have hated each other since they broke up, he loves this girl called Mandy but she doesnt like him back, and theres the tough guys who have it in for him and his mate, Den.  Life couldnt get any worse. Then Wayne has an accident and loses his hand.

This story sounded very interesting from the blurb but thats about as good as it gets unfortunately.  Lots of promise but it turns out just a very ordinary piece of writing, which is disappointing.  I found the characters were all bland and boring, with no depth to them, and they seem to be based all on one stereotype of teenagers.  Even the main character, Wayne, doesnt get away from being a victim of poor characterisation.  To me, Scot Gardner tries too hard to make the novel cool but fails in every aspect, and relies way too much on stereotypes to get teenage readers to identify with his characters, which only makes it harder to identify with them.

This novel will appeal to people who dont like interesting stories, interesting characters or long books.  The book is intended for 15 to 18 year olds and high school students.  Its easy to read but only because it gives the reader nothing to think about.  The language is appropriate for its intended age group, but the character dialogue is nothing like the intended age groups.  The style and layout of the book assists the reader and makes it easier to read.  Its definitely a read alone book. I recommend this book for people at high school who are looking for something to fall to sleep to.  

Scott, aged 15, Canberra, ACT

Scot Gardner has kick-started his career as an author with this excellent teenage-comedy novel for young adolescents. Wayne Armond, our protagonist, is at that tender age of discovery, daring and raging hormones and his world is turned more upside-down than it already is when his life takes some very interesting and sometimes distressing turns.

To begin, the much-loved school principal retires, leaving a complete oaf in charge of the school. At the same time, Wayne is very taken with the sweet-smelling Mandy but alas, nothing is to happen, since Wayne finds love in his best friends sister, Kerry. Of course this isnt before he goes to a party, gets into a few fights, is tormented by the prospect of his parents getting back together, and finally loses his hand in a nasty brick-saw accident.

Admittedly, the guy has to go through a lot for a good story to be delivered, but the right ratio of anguish, bliss, blood, sex, pot, music and beauty give the reader an entertaining, although brief, insight into the life of the One-hand Wonder. But the book is about teenagers, for teenagers, and doesnt hold back. The vocabulary used and the general style of expression is not unlike the schoolyard babble of now, and the issues explored, such as the discovery of ones sexual self, drugs, love and lust, friendship, and pain, are very relevant to the youth of today.

This is a good light read with a comical edge, which Id recommend to 13-16 year olds. Gardner shows, through Wayne, that you arent the only one with tight parents, girl problems, homework, and school thugs to worry about. Everyones going through it. Even Wayne

Louise, Year 10, Canberra, ACT

One Dead Seagull is written by Scot Gardner and published by Pan Macmillan Australia. Throughout the book you read about Wayne, and follow him in his journey of this short period of his life that you are exposed to. One Dead Seagull is a romantic and adventurous book that all teenagers will enjoy because of the storyline that stops at nothing. It gives you a real insight to what really goes through some people's minds.

As the book lets you travel through the ups and downs of a typical teenage boy;s life, you realise even though Wayne's life seems to keep going in the opposite direction that Wayne wants, Wayne continues to accept what comes his way. This book is a serious comedy which takes you where no other book has been, and let's you journey into one person's mind who never has a dull moment in his life.

I recommend this book to any teenager, or even young adult, that has ever thought that they weren't good enough or thought that they had no meaning in life. One Dead Seagull takes the words out of your mouth and shows you, it's not all bad. This book will definitely make you read until you get to the end. The quirky twists will keep you hanging as you are drawn into a life so similar to you high school years.

A book you can relate to, no doubt.

 Lucy, aged 14, Canberra, ACT

One Dead Seagull is a promising first novel from author Scot Gardner. The book tells of the experiences of Wayne, an adolescent who has to deal with some very painful happenings, both physical and emotional: losing a hand, keeping out of trouble, the thought of his divorced parents getting back together and choosing between the girl he has always desired and his best mate's sister. He makes a few rash decisions, like all teenagers do, but in the end everything turns out to be fine.

A most brilliant and hilarious short novel, it speaks the language of young people. It is so descriptive a book, told from a male point of view, that it lets the females of the world truly comprehend what teenage boys go through.

The combination of comedy and male emotion is such that it would make an excellent shared text for year ten classes and upwards.

I found this novel intriguing as I have never read a book that exposes a male's feelings so well. The fact that the author is also male makes the story all the more convincing. Although I had no problem with the text, I could see how a more innocent person might find a few aspects of the novel a bit intense. I would recommend this novel to people with open minds and of about the age fifteen. If you like comedy then this book is ideal. Nine stars out of ten.

This novel, One Dead Seagull, by author Scot Gardner is for young people who would easily relate to the story which deals with some of the problems teenagers face today: family, friends, their love life, school and just everyday life.

The main character, 15 year old Wayne Armond, learns to handle joy and disappointment in his life. Through his struggles to adjust to rejection, love, fear and loneliness he comes to terms with who he really is. With him falling for a girl who loves someone else, his parents fighting and his best friend having a worrying health problem, times get tough but Wayne convinced it's not over until it's over.

The author did a fantastic job in making the story very believable by making Wayne face everyday issues just like ourselves and other teens. His day to day experiences are true to life and the way Wayne responds to them is very convincing. Throughout the novel many conversations take place which helps the reader understand the characters and how they really felt. These techniques make the story seem so real. There was nothing I didn't like about the book. All in all, I thoughrt the novel was a well written story with a believable and exciting plot. It should be enjoyed by all teenagers.

Laura, Year 8, Canberra, ACT

One Dead Seagull is about a 15 year-old boy named Wayne Armond. His parents are divorced and he lives with his mum in a flat in Chisholm. His mum was a nurse in Chisholm Hospital, but now she just works in the office. His dad is a builder or repairman.

Wayne's best friend is called Dennis, and at school, Wayne and Den are picked on by Griz. It was Griz who made Wayne lose his hand in the school holidays, when Wayne was working for his dad, using a brick saw. Griz turned off the hose that wets the dust, to stop it getting into your eyes. Dust got into Wayne's eyes, his hand slipped - and that was that.

In the next holidays Wayne went away with Den's family, and that's when he got together with Kerry, Den's sister.

I can't tell you what happens at the end - you'll have to read it for yourself, but I thought the story was great. It's suited for more mature readers, as it has some coarse language and some love scenes in it, but I gave it 9 out of 10.