Angel's Gate

Crew, G. (1993). Angel’s gate. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Plot summary: Sixth-grader Kimmy Marriott does not expect much excitement in his small town of Jericho, Australia. His days are filled with school, his artwork, and encounters with his older sister, Julia, and her boyfriend, Bobby O’Meara; his nights are often spent in Julia’s room as a result of the nightmares that plague him. Kimmy’s fear only increases when some dam workers find the body of Patrick Flannagan, a gold miner, and his two “wild” children go missing. Kimmy lives in terror of the children, a fear that is only heightened by the stories that the alternately loving and callous Julia tells him, until one of them is brought to stay with his family. As he gets to know Leena, and is charged with keeping her residence a secret, he stops fearing the children themselves and starts worrying about a potential reappearance of their father’s murderer. Now Kimmy wants Leena’s brother, Micky, to be found before anything happens to him, but with much of the town looking for Micky—mostly to benefit themselves—Kimmy is not at all sure that the boy will stay safe. Finally, when Kimmy goes on a New Year’s camping trip with Bobby, they find Micky and bring him back to the Marriott’s house to stay. But Patrick Flannagan’s killer is still on the loose, and Kimmy must dig deep to find the courage to face him when he appears on one viciously stormy evening, when only Kimmy and the two children are in the house. Kimmy exerts a bravery he never knew he had, and the murderer is caught while the children remain safe; Leena and Micky are taken care of, and Kimmy stops having his nightmares.

Genre: Mystery

Suggested age range: 12 and up

Annotation: Gary Crew, an Australian writer living in Queensland, has crafted an exceptional, character-driven mystery in his Angel’s Gate. Written in Kimmy’s voice, the novel has all the elements of a good whodunit, but Crew adds another layer with his complex and realistic characters. Sensitive, creative Kimmy demonstrates many tween characteristics, including simultaneous desires to be adult and to be cared for, and brazen, sassy Julia is both the best and the worst of older siblings. Crew smashes through “wild child” stereotypes in his depiction of two children who, while largely uneducated, are devoted to one another and exhibit few of the violent tendencies so often ascribed to that group. Due to the text’s adult themes and occasional instances of profanity, this book is not appropriate for younger tweens; in addition, some readers may need explanation of the cultural/geographical differences made apparent in the text. Kimmy has his summer in December and January, some characters are referred to as “aborigines,” and there are idiomatic words and phrases scattered throughout, all of which provide an excellent opportunity for introduction into Australian culture if readers are given the chance to discuss them.

Subjects/themes: Mystery, Murder/crime, Wild children, Family, Relationships, Secrets.

Awards:

• 1994 Australian Children’s Book of the Year Award (Won)
• 1996 Edgar Awards (Edgar Allan Poe Awards) (Nominated)

Reviews:

• Booklist (October 1, 1995)
• Kirkus Reviews (August 15, 1995)
• School Library Journal (October 1, 1995)
• Voice of Youth Advocates (April 1, 1996)

Character list:

• Kimmy Marriott – A sixth-grade Australian boy; he is artistic, gets scared easily, and is very interested in the wild children.
• Julia Marriott – Kimmy’s 15-year-old sister; she is soon to be sent off to boarding school, dates Bobby O’Meara, and alternately cares for and frightens Kimmy.
• Doctor and Nurse Marriott – Kimmy’s parents; they run a medical office in their home, and the wild children are left in their care.
• Leena and Micky Flannagan – Two young teenage wild children; they are found after their father’s death and placed in the care of the Marriotts.
• Patrick Flannagan – Leena and Micky’s father; he is murdered.
• Bobby O’Meara – A 17-year-old farm boy; he dates Julia and is kind to Kimmy.
• Ben Cullen – A young constable who abuses his power.
• Pa Cossey – An older man who does yard work for the Marriotts.

High-interest annotation: Kimmy Marriott’s life takes an unexpected turn when his family takes charge of a recently found “wild child”; he has to overcome his fear in order to connect with the girl, help find her brother, and discover who murdered her father—all before the murderer discovers where she is and comes after her and the family protecting her.