Novel Activities: The Winds of Heaven by Judith Clarke

1. Give a brief summary of the plot in about ½ to 1 page. Tell the story and describe what happens at the end.
‘The Winds of Heaven’ is about the lives of two contrasting girls, Clementine Southey and Francesca Lancie. It portrays their bond of friendship and sisterhood through love and faith and describes their life experiences starting from the beginning of their childhood to their adulthood. Although they have opposite personalities, they have wild imaginations and by having this simple similarity, it is this that keeps them standing firm and bonded. While Clementine envisage the taste of ambrosia at Griffiths Tea, a location that the train passed by, Fan dreams of magical countries in the Blue Hills. Together they promise each other that one day their dreams will come true. Whilst Clementine’s family background is privileged and stable, Fan’s family is unstable and separated. However, it is Clementine who is the shy, ordinary and typical girl and Fan who is confident, beautiful and unique. They are separated because they live in two very different societies; Clementine in the city whilst Fan in dusty Lake Conapaira. These circumstances leave them unbearable as they long to see each other again after each couple of years. As the story continues to the girls’ teenage lives, there are bigger decisions and responsibilities to take upon. When they become adults, things have changed dramatically; Fan ends up marrying a fellow just what her mother had dreaded for her to, carrying two children all by herself as her husband left her for no good reason. Clementine had grown more mature both physically and mentally, although she still has the same wild imaginations. She also got herself a boyfriend, Gary. In the end, when Clementine finally realises the fakeness in her relationship with Gary and what she really wanted to do all along was to visit her cousin, it was all too late because Fan had made her decision to enter Heaven, leaving her children with her neighbour and sister.

2. Explain the significance of the title (3 or 4 sentences). Authors do not choose a title randomly. Usually the title is symbolic in some way.
The significance of the title, ‘The Winds of Heaven’, means a sudden occurrence of blowing wind, according to Francesca’s descriptions in the book. I personally believe the author created this title from her own creativeness. For example, the sudden strong wind could be caused for the transformation of clouds into different shapes. Hence, the people below can feel the strong current and also see the amazing transformation of clouds.

3. Describe the setting and genre – time period, location, etc. (5-10 sentences)
The sceneries are set in Australia; one in the dusty outback, the other in the modern city. The time period starts from 1952 during the women’s childhood to 2009 when Clementine grows old and rephrases the story of Fan. The genre is realistic fiction as it portrays the five senses strongly; sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. It conveys the strong feelings of Clementine and Francesca by descriptive words and metaphorical phrases. In addition, Clarke made the novel relate to real life people and feelings in an extraordinary manner.

4. Write a few sentences about each of the main character(s). Answer what you like or dislike about them and why they are worthy of praise and/or criticism.
Both Clementine and Fan are extremely romantic dreamers. Although they contrast in their personalities and characteristics, they share the same caring values and unique interests. For example, Francesca is a young, confident, warm hearted girl while Clementine, on the other hand, has low self esteem and is influenced by mean girls at school. However, she is very thoughtful toward others and is a very determined girl who is willing to do anything for her loved ones. Although the two girls were determined that Francesca would always be confident of who she was and chase after her fascinating dreams, they realised, when they grew into young women, that no one is perfect and everyone has their weak spot. I dislike the fact that Francesca and Clementine had parted and she Fan wasn’t living a life she wanted.

5. Write a paragraph identifying what caused a major change in the main character and explain how the character changed. These changes may have been due to a choice, a conflict, a display of some outstanding trait like courage, or even a result of events that occur during the novel.
Francesca Lancie changed dramatically from the results of events that occurred as she grew into an adult. The girl who use to be confident, bright and beautiful became an ordinary tired, typical mum. One change was the golden plaited hair Fan always had and that Clementine always admired. A second change was that the bright spirit had vanished and left her just like any other typical woman. Thirdly, Fan no longer had hopes and dreams and without these two major obstacles, she was a different person. As the marriage ended up as a failure just like her mum’s, she was left loveless and had to carry their child alone.

7. Choose one sentence from the text and tell why this sentence embodies the theme of the story. Illustrate the theme/sentence using text images that you feel bring the theme to live.
On page 193, “…Sometimes I feel like I didn’t get through into the world properly, like other people. I left a bit behind, up there.” I really like this sentence because it explains Fan’s problem quite frankly.


8. Write a general review of the book. Would you recommend the book? Why or why not? Would you have changed any element of the story (plot, characters, setting, resolution, conflicts, point of view, etc)?
‘The Winds of Heaven’ is about Clementine Southey rephrasing the lives of Francesca Lancie and herself. It portrays a real life situation where stereotyping, bullying and depression occurs to a normal teenager. Both Clementine and Fan knows that Fan is seeking for something left out of her soul but they do not know what it is until she made a fatal decision at the end of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading sensible and mature stories. Part of me wants Clementine to save Fan just in time from suicide but part of me thinks that if she didn’t die, then the novel wouldn’t be as moving and stimulating.

Biography of Judith Clarke

Judith Clarke is an educator, librarian, lecturer and writer. She attended the University of New South Wales in 1964 and Australian National University in 1966, graduating both with honours. Clarke writes solemn novels relating to real life about conflicting crises, aiming her stories for young adults and teenagers.  She writes in an incisive poetic prose with great compassion, using mature themes.  

The talented author was born on August 24^th, 1943 in Sydney, Australia. When she was only four years old, she had not attended school yet but had attempted to ‘write’ a book by scribbling symbols like long wavy lines. She even created chapters about a tale of a doll’s adventure. During Clarke’s early life, she never saw herself as becoming a writer for her career. It was a hobby she started doing and as stated, “…All of the kids in my neighbourhood were boys, and though they let my sister and I play with them, they pinched our marbles and comics and bashed us up. Writing stories was less dangerous."

Clarke’s first successful, published novel was The Heroic Life of Al Capsella; which also turned out to be the first book of the Al Capsella series, set in Australia. Al Capsella, a teenage boy, is like any other typical fourteen year old kid who wants to be cool and fit in with the crowd. However, he finds his attempts worthless with his embarrassing parents blocking his way towards success. Al’s parents are loving and caring, but can be unusual and rather odd. All the boy wants is for them to be normal and ordinary like most of his friends’ parents but he soon realises that being normal may not be a completely positive thing after all. This novel shows how Judith can really relate to a teenager’s perspective and feelings. Night Train, yet another well written novel that proves Clarke’s ability to relate with young adults’ behaviour in depth, is about a depressed teenage boy, Luke. The intelligent teenager, who is somehow failing his studies at school, enters depression from the lack of love and acceptance he needs from his family; except his youngest sister, Naomi, who is the only person left that understands his situation. Luke begins to wonder if he has gone insane when he hears the sound of the night train passing by during midnight, because no one else seems to hear it. Clarke sets this story for young adults who can truly comprehend the protagonist’s teenage life issues, relating to depression and suicide. Another story, a more contrasting plot, is the haunting mystery novel, Starry Nights. It is about a teenage girl, Jess, whose family was happy and normal until they move to a new house. Jess’s sister, Vida has become excessively obsessed with the wide varieties of magic, and her brother, Clem has become unusually reserved. The children’s mum becomes sick and the now suspicious girl senses someone invisible stalking her. Jess is willing to solve the peculiar mystery on her own.

The inspired writer had earned many awards. A few of these included New South Wales Premier's Award shortlist, Editors' Choice designation, Booklist, Best Book for Young Adults designation and American Library Association for The Heroic Life of Al Capsella. For Night Train, she also earned the Victorian Premier's Award for Young-Adult Novel, and Honour Book designation, CBCA.

In conclusion, Clarke has written two series, 12 novels and 4 collections since 1981 and her latest book is ‘The Winds of Heaven’. She has an amazing ability to convey complex emotions, particularly relating with young adults and writes with great compassion. Judith imprints legacies mainly for teenagers behind her writings; as her novels really let the readers absorb in the enchanting stories. During the late life of the romantic writer, Clarke married an anthropologist and had a son, Yask, two years later after she received an advanced degree from the Australian National University. She is still alive, continuously being an award-winning, incisive, poetic author.

As One Who Having Wandered All Night Long

I have always been a romantic dreamer. I was two when I first fantasised about something memorable and realistic. Gigantic castles with armed guards, raining treats, fairy floss clouds, a never ending supply of toys and a huge bed made of millions of feathers floating just slightly above the soft clouds. When I was five, I found out the perfect title to my repetitive, yet ever still extraodinary mysterious dreams. It was also the name of the first picture book I read. Heaven. I was amazed and curious to find more about the magical world living right above us.

Although everyone knew me as the "Space Cadet" who was only interested but in heaven all my life, no one supported my strong belief; not even my best friend. When we both turned sixteen, he would always say to me in that sarcastic tone, "you should get on with your life and be searching for a hot chick, not day dreaming about where you're going to end up after you die." I still wasn't convinced to give up. I guess most of my strong motivation comes from the past of my childhood memories. Both my parents were killed in a violent earthquake when I was only 3 months old. Luckily, I was protected under the most firm section of the roof in a corner where it held steady. My aunt had found me and raised me since then; I loved her like my own mother. As soon as I was able to comprehend, she told me the unfortunate story and said to me in her gentle voice, "don't worry, dear, your mum and dad is up there in a peaceful place called Heaven, watching over us, especially you. They are your guardian angels and they will always be there for you no matter what happens." I believed her as much as I believed myself.

Three years later on my Birthday, I found myself holding a piercing blade pointing towards my heart. It was the worst and most sickening New Year I've ever had. My best mate, and only friend, had suicide because of depression. As if this didn't drive me crazy enough, my aunt passed away the following week. On the very day I wanted to suicide, I discovered I had cancer from the coughing of blood, great loss of hair and my unusal over tired body every day. My tolerance lost the battle. I was alone. I was depressed with no one to look after me, no love, no money, no food...not even a warm smile anymore. And I was going to die. I wanted to die immediately. There wasn't any point in living anyway since I'd have to die sooner of later and my life was technically lifeless.

A week later

As I travelled up the last of the steep slopes up the majestic mountain, I thought about my decision carefully for the 19th time in the peaceful silence of the wildlife. I felt confident, proud and grateful. I was glad I didn't kill my unbelievably fast skipping heart on my Birthday. I was grateful as my tolerance eventually reutrned and I decided that I should give myself one last chance to enjoy the true meaning of life and find my way to my dream. Goal:Travel up a mountain that could reach the clouds. Die there. That was my goal. Dumb but worth it. I came to the conclusion that my parents must've had a serious and sensible reason to take away the most important people left in my life. And now they're taking me away too. No. They knew my time was up and wants to send me up there for some incredible good reason...well, it better be. No... I'm certain. it is. With this conclusion, I believed I could still spend my time wisely while I still have the chance to stay on Earth before I bid farewell. I wanted to see Heaven from this magnificant planet...and so I did. I remembered the painful days of my journey up to Earth's Heaven nearly made me give up...but I was determined and with the help of more and more breathtaking scenes coming into view as I climbed higher, my motivation grew stronger. The flora and fauna made my head spin 360 degrees. I was simply amazed by such beautiful nature and that made my legs keep on moving automatically. When I finally reached the mountain top, I couldn't breathe. No, it wasn't because of my illness. It was the World. No one could ever describe how stunning Earth's Heaven was. No...it was just like MY Heaven from the very first time I visited it in my dream 17 years ago. I could tell I was wide eyed for a very long time with my strainging eye muscles and without even reaslising, tears as large as golf balls ran down my cheeks uncontrollably. It was incredible. And I'll never forget that moment when my whole body froze on top of that mountain. I cherish it. I reached my goal, found my dream, died then entered a new world on that very day on that unique habitat filled with sparks of life...And here I am now...in Heaven.

The End

Ballad: SCARY TEACHER

You hear the footsteps of her heels,

The room is loud with screams and squeals,

Suddenly, the class is hushed,

A gush of wind is rapidly rushed,

Into the silent, eerie atmosphere,

Of faces showing great, shocking fear.

Finally the shark reacts,

And breaks the egg in a violent crack,

Get out your homework or I’ll whip you butts!

The shoal of fish is separated in a bold cut.

Now the lesson of doom has begun,

So will the torturing to be done,

For there is no place for you to run,

One daring try and the devil comes,

And you will never, ever experience a moment of fun.

The sound of yells, slaps and cracks of whips,

Can be heard even over the sound of an ongoing clip,

But thankfully the clock is there,

To save everyone from their despair,

And as a sharp, deafening buzz is announced,

No one fears their predator no more,

Ignoring the sound of her terrible roar,

Escaping from the horrifying creature,

Just that one and only, scary teacher.

The Other Side of Truth-PEEC Paragraph

Sade feels bad about hiding the truth because she is starting to feel guilty when some people in London have been trying their best to help her and Femi. Evidence of this is when she thinks about people becoming refugees (p78). She then wonders if telling a lie is what's right for her to do. Yet, if she tells the truth, that means putting her papa in danger. At the moment, Sade feels a little guilty since she is not telling the complete truth when people are being nice to them and yet, she has no choice. Sade is stuck in a situation where she has to decide whether telling the truth will bring the best outcome or just make everything worse ad put her papa in danger.

Angel Guardian

Silence and peace. The angel stood there like a beautiful, glowing statue. The sun was shining on her as if she owned the spotlight. Amazingly, the clouds she stood on with her bare feet were solid and as soft as a fairy floss. There were no other angels around her as Alicia closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air, preparing to depart Heaven for the underworld. Everyone else was still asleep in their light, floating, feather beds when the angel awoke to commence her important mission. The enormous, magical pair of wings spread out widely off Alicia's back and gracefully, she lifted her arms, slowly raised her foot in mid air...and let herself fall forward.