THE STAND IN BY A J RUSHBY AND PUBLISHED BY SCHOLASTIC AUSTRALIA

The Stand In is a contemporary YA novel about family, appearances and loyalty not only to yourself but to others. Lena is a top student at an exclusive boarding school where her fees are paid by the man who protects both her and her mother. He is a criminal business man from the same village in Poland as her mother and her aunt, who feels responsibility to provide for them in payment for a favour that saved his life.

 Lena’s mum and her sister, who Lena is named after, had tried to escape poverty and been lured to Amsterdam with promises of jobs and a better life. Sadly, this was not the case and as a consequence they found themselves pregnant and in danger. Lena’s aunt and her baby died and her mum and baby Lena were rescued by Marek Krol and taken to London. When mum’s health deteriorated he moved her to Brentonwood Hall where she could be looked after and paid Lena’s school fees at a school nearby.

 A new girl, Millie, starts at the school and she is shocked when she meets Lena. She says she is the spitting image of her friend Saskia and arranges a meeting between the two girls. By this stage Lena is worried about more than looking like a random girl. Their benefactor has been extradited back to Poland and she doesn’t know how long her mother’s care is paid till. She must make some money so her mum stays safe and well.

 Saskia, who is the daughter of a scary London based gangster Bram Tassel, suggests a business arrangement to Lena. Lena will impersonate Saskia at some family gatherings while she goes off to have some fun elsewhere. She will be paid very well to be Saskia’s stand in and the thousands of pounds will pay for Lena’s mother’s care.

 And so begins a series of social occasions that create a delicious, watching a train wreck kind of atmosphere. Can Lena manage her business relationship with the self-centred, manipulative Saskia? Is she up to something and how far will she go to get her own way? A J Rushby creates a great juxtaposition of characters here. Both girls have troubled family lives and the criminality of their male protectors is a factor that is dealt with very differently by their two very contrasting personalities. The tension and implied violence in this YA novel grow to a crescendo as the reader nears the end. Will everyone survive the catastrophic trajectory Saskia has set them on? The twist at the end not only adds to the stakes, but enhances the differences between the girls. It’s a thoroughly good read.

For Ages: 14+ years

Number of Pages: 288

Published: October 2022 Scholastic Australia

Themes: Family, violence and loyalty.

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-stand-in-a-j-rushby/book/9781761290558.html