Promotional Information

After the magic... what happens then?

About the Author

Penni Russon is a freelance editor with a special interest in books for children and teenagers. She studied Children's Literature at Monash University and then Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT. Penni began her writing life as a poet, and has now published numerous titles for children and teens. She has taught Creative Writing at Melbourne University, conducts workshops at schools and is a popular public speaker for young people and adults. She lives in Melbourne. Melissa Eccleston has appeared in various theatre productions in Australia and Ireland. Television appearances include SeaChange, Blue Heelers and The Bill. Her film credits include Dead Letter Office and several short films in Melbourne and Dublin and voiceovers for television and radio. Melissa is a writer, singer and Celtic storyteller.

Reviews

"Will capture teens' imaginations ... A fast-paced plot and a surprise ending will leave readers eager for the conclusion of this trilogy."
*School Library Journal*

"Melissa Eccleston narrates gingerly – as if she and the characters of this book walk an indistinct line between reality and magic, order and chaos. In contrast, her character portrayals are solid. The heroine, Undine, who works to control her magical powers, visits her father, Prospero, in Corfu. Both have strong voices that represent their strong wills. Trout, Undine's best friend, has a questioning tone, which is perfect as he's uncertain about almost everything – from his burgeoning feelings of sexuality to his observations of the universe. The beautiful Max has a dual personality as she flirts with Trout and, more dangerously, courts Magic. A listener favorite might be Eccleston's cameo of Undine's eccentric, squeaky-voiced 3-year-old brother."
*AudioFile Magazine*

Russon's first novel Undine ends with a character thinking that Shakespeare was 'heartless' to leave Miranda of The Tempest in her brave new world. In this sequel we observe Undine, a contemporary Miranda, finding her way in a world she could destroy if she so chose. After almost killing her best friend, Trout, Undine has promised her mother to suppress her newly found magical inheritance and try to live as a regular student. Her father, Prospero, disagrees with this promise and invites her to the home of his parents, Corfu. What happens there is extraordinary and strange. Central to the first novel was Undine's existence on the border of adulthood, which gave a satisfying shape to bigger questions of change and destiny. Here Undine is still seeking answers about self, but duality rather than transformation is the focus,. Everything is twice represented-islands, the sea, lost (and found) fathers-while science and magic mix and break apart. Anyone reading this book will enjoy the striking settings, characters and powerful imagery, though it is best to have read Undine. However what to make of the meaning is another matter. I, for one, am still puzzled by the epilogue. Kerry White is a bibliographer and a major contributor to The Source, an online resource. C. 2005 Thorpe-Bowker and contributors

The heroine of Undine sets out to visit her father (whom she located in that novel) in Breathe by Penni Russon. Undine has promised her mother that she won't use her magic, but her best friend, Trout, has grown restless under the frustration of his unrequited love for Undine. Has he put them both in a precarious position when he welcomes the attentions of a young woman who seems to know a lot about the two friends? (HarperCollins/Greenwillow, $16.99 368p ages 14-up ISBN 978-0-06-079393-7; Feb.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

"Will capture teens' imaginations ... A fast-paced plot and a surprise ending will leave readers eager for the conclusion of this trilogy." -- School Library Journal
"Melissa Eccleston narrates gingerly - as if she and the characters of this book walk an indistinct line between reality and magic, order and chaos. In contrast, her character portrayals are solid. The heroine, Undine, who works to control her magical powers, visits her father, Prospero, in Corfu. Both have strong voices that represent their strong wills. Trout, Undine's best friend, has a questioning tone, which is perfect as he's uncertain about almost everything - from his burgeoning feelings of sexuality to his observations of the universe. The beautiful Max has a dual personality as she flirts with Trout and, more dangerously, courts Magic. A listener favorite might be Eccleston's cameo of Undine's eccentric, squeaky-voiced 3-year-old brother." -- AudioFile Magazine