One Whole And Perfect Day By Judith Clarke

Exploring the life of an ordinary girl and discovering her emotions is the main theme in the novel One Whole and Perfect Day, by Australian author, Judith Clarke. The book, aimed at young adult readers, portrays an important moral message that advances the readers knowledge of growing up. Irritating and stressful problems arise in this novel, which are faced generally by the main character, Lily. She experiences changes throughout the novel as she overcomes the challenges of maturing to an adult. Possessing a personality that can come across as controlling, Lily strives to take a stand and voice her beliefs.

Published and printed in 2006, One Whole and Perfect Day is quite a modern novel, therefore making it a story that is relevant to today. To many young adults, in particular young women, this book would be somewhat a replica of their current life. As explained in the first chapter “Plenty of kids had single-parent families; Lily knew that, just as she knew it wasn’t the absence of a father, or even the smallness of their family […] which marked them out” (pg. 2). Although this book is fictionally based, it still provides an insight to a life other
A social problem that she felt uncomfortable about. “Sitting with Tracy Gilman and the other girls at lunch and recess, Lily could take part in the conversations; she could sound like them […] yet inside, where it mattered, Lily felt like a fraud” (pg. 36). Lily, wanting to become like the other girls, generated a rational idea to fall in love, “Fall in love? Ridiculous! But as [Lily] hurried down the corridor she saw Daniel Steadman and their eyes caught […] (Blurb). Throughout the book, Lily learnt from this experience and undertook a journey through new and ambiguous emotions that broadened her understanding of love. A moral message experienced by the majority of youth within