Review ‘Starberries and Kee’ Cate Whittle
A novel of far-reaching ideas and future prediction which looks from our careless past to a positive future where climate-change has radically reshaped the way people, animals and plants of the world live and thrive. I smiled at the concept of share cars, a great idea but I think it will be another century before it catches on.
Described as Solarpunk genre (see below) so much is lost yet so much is gained in the way of solidarity, community and compassion. Hard work, healthy food, clean water, fresh air, caring and sharing and generally making-do. All shaped through dire necessity due to past global pollution, neglectful land care and disregard for consequences, although the story has no recriminatory tone and looks to future sustainability.
Young Wren is a boy of the mountains, living with mentor Old Man and learning the ways of Nature until it is time for him to leave on a quest. Kee, his totem black cockatoo follows him. Young Hannah and old Libby have to leave the Street in the City in which Hannah was born and raised; a necessary yet bitter-sweet time for all three characters as they begin the prospect of a new stage in their lives.
On arrival at South Hills Pod, Hannah walks into her new shared bedroom noticing posters on the wall “photos from Before” a time we currently take for granted, like Libby’s jam-making skills. Unfortunately Melanie, the other occupant of the room, is rude and unwelcoming. Settling in becomes a challenge for Hannah, she likes art and does her school work online while longing for her old home and friends. South Hills homes are built partially underground (think Hobbit) cooler and not as claustrophobic as it sounds.
Around Hannah and Libby’s new share home there are ponds and hectares of covered produce gardens with shade sails and monthly market days at the Gathering-Place.
Page 67 ‘Starberries and Kee’ Cate Whittle 2023
“Like the home-garth, the garden was in a huge amphitheatre terraced out of the hillside facing north.”
Meanwhile, wild-child Wren is also having a rough time. He cannot understand the strange things he sees and the weird food he sneaks from the food growing domes. He calls Hannah’s new place “wombat-people’s camp”. Suddenly their two paths collide, there is a secret pledge, and a heart-racing life-threatening drama unfolds.
Author Cate Whittle has written a speculative fiction novel for middle grade/YA readers which is approachable and relatable. My preconceived idea of Wren was cleverly altered. He has bush knowledge and yet clear speech for someone raised in rugged mountains. Perhaps a story untold? Adults are kept to a minimum, friendships are made and broken, personalities clash, and families struggle to find a happy medium when mean Melanie adds to Hannah’s homesickness.
The environmental concept is outstanding and the setting is brilliantly realised including chapter 18 and the wonderful cameo when Kee is revealed to a crowd which brought happy tears to my eyes. Living in South Hills Pod would be hard work, but when past duties are shirked that’s what is needed in the future. Also tall trees for wild birds and a safe environment for every family!
❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward
SOLARPUNK EXPLAINED—A serious yet optimistic explanation—“Solarpunk is a subgenre of speculative fiction and a collectivistic social movement that envisions the progression of technology alongside the environment. While the ‘solar’ prefix signifies the term’s relation to solar or renewable energy, the ‘punk’ suffix groups it with other aesthetic sci-fi subgenres like cyberpunk, dieselpunk and steampunk.” I think Cate Whittle’s book has “The solarpunk aesthetic which depicts…a society where the climate crisis has been resolved or is being approached with camaraderie.”
From Brennan Whitfield, 05 January 2023
https://builtin.com/greentech/solarpunk
P.S. I will let you find out the meaning of Starberries and Kee 😉 GBW.
Thoughts Become Words 