The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie

Lately, I have taken to sitting in the window seat in the corner of the library, gazing out the window at the people walking by, unaware, or reading a good book. Having come across the name of the author Jaclyn Moriarty, I only remembered one word: reverie. I immediately sought out the book The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie, and immediately got lost in reverie among the pages. This whimsical novel about high school, musings, and murder, set in Australia, tells the story of Belinda "Bindy" Mackenzie, a proactive, intelligent, and inadvertently pretentious Year 11 girl and her issues with her Friendship and Development, or FAD, group. As the pages turn, the story delves into Bindy's past, conspiracies, and the struggles of high school.

Now, let me give you my brief history with this book: In the sixth grade, I faced many of the same social issues as Bindy, despite being several years younger. I was socially crippled due to five years in a small private school, and often took refuge in the school library. Even when forced to be in the company of others, my nose was always buried in a book. Eventually, one of the books I came upon was The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie, and I instantly related to this quirky character. Looking back on it now, I still see the similarities: social awkwardness (although not to such an extreme), an overwhelming desire to succeed, and perhaps even a bit of the pretention. However, I can also laugh at the sheer comedy of such unoblivious social faux pas.

To sum it up, this book is a great read, and I highly recommend it.

(Warning: The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie gives the reader a tendency to think in short, clipped sentences and get lost in reverie)