White Noise (Raelke Grimmer, UWA Publishing)

White Noise is the captivating debut YA novel by Darwin-based author Raelke Grimmer. Fifteen-year-old Emma’s mum died three years ago, and she and her emergency-doctor father survive in a monotonous, accepted routine. Despite experiencing ‘shutdowns’ that leave her bedridden, Emma throws herself into beach volleyball training for the Sports Institute program. Add a burgeoning relationship with an older student, Elliot, and unexplained aloofness from her best friend, Summer, and Emma is left overwhelmed and confused. The humid Darwin weather is tangible, languid and heavy as we struggle along with Emma, suffocating in her grief. Emma is a richly drawn character, and her teen anxieties are compounded by her autism diagnosis, which is presented credibly and distinctly without being didactic or performative. Her friends are understanding and protective, especially when Emma is subjected to ableist behaviour from Elliot and his mates when they misunderstand her lived experience of being neurodivergent. Grimmer deftly handles an achingly moving story about loss and teenage confusion with nuance and confidence. The short, staccato prose conveys substantial depth of meaning and the recurring analogy of grief and tidal waves is particularly affecting. White Noise is an assured and wonderful debut and a welcome addition to any high school library for teens aged 14+ and fans of Helena Fox’s How It Feels to Float and Cath Crowley’s Words in Deep Blue.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Marissa Kyriakopoulos lives in Naarm and is a bookseller and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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