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Alex is written by New Zealand author Tessa Duder and set in Auckland in the late 1950’s. The book has become one of the most popular New Zealand teenage books ever written.
It is a story of success and survival. Alexandra Beatrice Archer is looking to qualify for the 1960 Rome Olympics. But there remains a serious threat by the name of Maggie Benton. Alex is forced to overcome reporters, piano and ballet lessons, school productions, hockey games, a broken leg, pubity, schoolwork, exams and tedious hours of swimming training. She is drained of self esteem at the death of her boyfriend and swimming partner who has inspired her
throughout her swimming career. Then Maggie’s boastful mother almost disqualifies her, but both Maggie and Alex find themselves in black blazers for Italy 1960.
Since she showed signs of success at nine years of age, Alex was an Auckland junior swimming star, attracting media attention and becoming the topic of gossip and rumour throughout the city. She was often described as resembling a male - a tall tank with wide shoulders, interests uncommon to most girls of her age, and a tendency to embrace other girls by way of hugging in a friendly manner to confort sadness or to congradulate victory. She was
friendly with Maggie, despite the ideas expressed by journalists that they were foes and enemies both eager exclusively for their own success. Their competitiveness under water represented in no way their opinions of each other. Maggie, with more consistent results, was the more popular of the two, supported by her boastful and keen mother who played dirty and spended extravagantly for her success, and therefore showed dislike to Alex for creating such competition. The focus of Alex’s life, and of this book, is the battle to succeed
against Maggie and qualify of Rome.
The journey of Alex, a New Zealand teenager wanting an occupation in lay, potrays a strong message of determination and self-decipline. It has a theme based upon the philosophy that everyone should strive to do their very best and never give up, despite the obstacles that stand in your way and the opinions others around you express. It presents the rewards of hard work and effort, and acts as a possible inspiration to those who read it. It has proved a memorable and powerful story and a strong message and theme, expressed through the
description of a teenagers road to success as she strives to make it to the Olympic Games.
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