Introduction
Opening statement.
Under-age drinking, drink driving, families in crisis and struggling with old and new friendships. All told through the eyes of a seventeen year old! What in ‘the story of Tom Brennan’ is not relevant to today’s young adults?
Thesis
Education Queensland should not be considering the removal of the novel ‘The Story of Tom Brannan’ as the story will certainly resonate with teenagers of today and there is no doubt they can identify with many of the social issue and themes raised in the story. Under-age drinking, for example, is a problem in Australian society today and car accidents involving young people feature regularly in the media.
Overview of three themes
Drink driving and under-age drinking is at the core
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The story deals with these issues in the first person through seventeen-year-old Tom Brennan’s eyes. Starting again in a new town and at a new school, how can Tom even begin to rebuild his life when his mother won’t get out of bed, his father is struggling to hold the family together, his sister is threatening to spill the family’s secret, and he can no longer play rugby with his beloved Mumbilli team? They remain a united family, even though they are faced with an extremely complex situation. Joe, Tom’s father, is pulled in many directions but seems to be able to keep calm at all times. He tries to keep Tom interested in rugby, and is very supportive of his wife Tess, who has become almost catatonic from the grief of Daniel being sent to gaol. Tom’s uncle Brendan is also very supportive to everyone in the family. Brendan helps Tom to recover emotionally, as he not only helps him becoming interested in training again, but treats him like a close friend. Because of Brendan’s help, Tom is able to become fit and see that his life is not over and that he has a future that includes playing rugby, romance and maybe even a holiday in Nepal. The story tries to show how if a Family can stick together if they are faced with tragedy or crisis, despite their different ways of dealing with the crisis, can work together to resolve the issues they