The Ashbury / Brookfield Books
Dreaming of Amelia (or The Ghosts of Ashbury High, in the US and Canada) is the story of Amelia and Riley. They’re bad kids from the bad crowd at bad Brookfield High, and they’ve just transferred to Ashbury.
Brilliant, mysterious and probably evil, they have the rich kids at Ashbury spellbound. But just who are Amelia and Riley? Tantalisingly aloof, they are somehow managing to have an extraordinary impact on all the HSC Ashbury students, and the staff.
Told through memoirs written as part of the gothic fiction elective in the HSC English exam, Dreaming of Amelia is a story about ghosts, secrets, madness, passion, locked doors, femme fatales – and that terrifying moment in the final year of high school when you realise that the future’s come to get you.
Awards
SHORTLISTED
New South Wales Premier's Literary AwardsHighly Commended
Prime Minister's Literary AwardsWhat others said about Dreaming of Amelia
``A book that makes you want to read until one in the morning, gasp in delight at the new plot development, and carry on reading. A book of sheer brilliance.``
Teen Titles Book Review Magazine``An irresistible novel about bad kids ... this will keep you more than entertained.``
The Sunday Age``This novel is an absolute gem - the sort of book you really can't put down.... anyone who has lived through the HSC recently - as a student or parent - will appreciate how brilliantly this book captures that final year of school with all its fear, angst and hope.``
Family Circle Magazine``Moriarty knows her characters intimately. She knows how to hold the reader's attention and keep them guessing to the end with her clever, sharp prose and subtle innuendo.``
Good Reading Magazine (5 stars)