Description
Cora Lane gets tongue-tied, is often ignored and would rather hide in the library than step onto a stage. However, when her parents decide to renovate an old theatre in small-town Tasmania, Cora realises this is the perfect opportunity for her to reinvent her personality. Enter Cora 2.0, stage left.
When Cora quickly slips back into her old ways and has once again made friends with the librarian rather than kids her own age, she feels lost. Frustrated she’s not the person she wants to be, she shares her deepest feelings with her imaginary pen pal. The last thing she’d expect is for her letters to go missing. And now, the real Cora Lane is about to go public, but is she ready?
Review
Cora and her family have recently moved to a new town, Caroline Creek, and a new house, which is the run-down old theatre, that was one the pride and joy of the town.
Cora is determined that she will be different to the Cora of old, who lacked confidence and was always second guessing herself. This is her chance at a new start, and a new Cora!
But Cora soon realises that this is easier said than done! She finds herself falling into her old ways, and with everything going on at home, including the pressure and tension between her parents, she doesn’t really know where she fits.
Cora has been secretly writing letters to Clair de Lune, the famous singer who was connected to the theatre, as a form of therapy, laying out exactly how she feels about everything that is going on around her. But when her inner-most feelings start to appear publicly, Cora’s world seems to be imploding around her...
She does start to make friends and thinks that maybe her friendship with Elle could be all that she ever wanted. But can she really trust her?
This is a wonderful story about fitting in, being yourself, and realising that even the people who seem to have it all together have self-doubt and secrets too. It is a story about family, friendship, growing up, accepting change, and having the courage to accept yourself.
It will be best enjoyed by students in upper primary to lower secondary.
