A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove
Encyclopedia
A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove (1996) is a novel by Australian author James Moloney
. The novel features the life of a 15-year-old boy, Carl Matt, and his dysfunctional family
.
Carl is initially withdrawn; he does not convey his worries about his missing mother, nor the anxiety that he feels over his rebellious younger brother, who is constantly in trouble. However, during the course of the novel he learns to "open up" and share his feelings with those who care about him.
In the end, it is discovered that Kerry Matt died in a bus accident when she was trying to get home to her children, Sarah, Harley and Carl. Once this is unearthed, Aunt Beryl runs off in true Matt spirit to join her boyfriend, Bruce. Because Carl has nowhere else to stay, Joy Duncan invites him to come and live with them at Wiseman's Cove with his brother, Harley, who has already claimed the Duncans as his surrogate family.
Their sister Sarah left them and flew to another country to get a chance at her own life.
Kerry Matt -Kerry Matt is the mother of the main protagonist, Carl. She is also the mother of Sarah, (Carl's older Sister) and Harley, (Carl's younger Brother). Throughout the novel, It it said that Kerry usually leaves her kids behind for more than a day. But when she left again she never came back.
Harley Matt -
James Moloney
James "Jim" Moloney is an Australian children's author who has written more than 30 books including The Book of Lies, The Gracey Trilogy, and A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove, which won the Australian Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award in 1997...
. The novel features the life of a 15-year-old boy, Carl Matt, and his dysfunctional family
Dysfunctional family
A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehavior, and often abuse on the part of individual members occur continually and regularly, leading other members to accommodate such actions. Children sometimes grow up in such families with the understanding that such an arrangement is...
.
Plot summary
When Carl's mother, Kerry, disappears, he and his brother, Harley, are sent to Wattle Beach to live with their aunt. During his stay at Wattle Beach, Carl works on a barge alongside Skip Duncan, an old colleague of Carl's grandfather. Carl does not know that his grandfather was involved in an accident that killed Skip's 10-year-old son, Graham.Carl is initially withdrawn; he does not convey his worries about his missing mother, nor the anxiety that he feels over his rebellious younger brother, who is constantly in trouble. However, during the course of the novel he learns to "open up" and share his feelings with those who care about him.
In the end, it is discovered that Kerry Matt died in a bus accident when she was trying to get home to her children, Sarah, Harley and Carl. Once this is unearthed, Aunt Beryl runs off in true Matt spirit to join her boyfriend, Bruce. Because Carl has nowhere else to stay, Joy Duncan invites him to come and live with them at Wiseman's Cove with his brother, Harley, who has already claimed the Duncans as his surrogate family.
Their sister Sarah left them and flew to another country to get a chance at her own life.
Characters
Carl Matt - Carl Matt is the protagonist of "A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove". Carl is 14 years of age and is described as a low self-esteemed and obese child. He is the second eldest of the three Matt siblings (Sarah, Carl and Harley). Carl's mother, Kerry, abandons him and his two other siblings, this makes him feel neglected and at the same time worried for his mother's well being as she is nowhere to be found. Throughout the story, Carl struggles through many obstacles, however with the help of his new friends soon to meet, he is able to grow and become more confident about himself and towards others.Kerry Matt -Kerry Matt is the mother of the main protagonist, Carl. She is also the mother of Sarah, (Carl's older Sister) and Harley, (Carl's younger Brother). Throughout the novel, It it said that Kerry usually leaves her kids behind for more than a day. But when she left again she never came back.
Harley Matt -