Framing Freedom by Susie Bennett tells how Lara Hargrove wields her camera as if it is key to unlocking the captivation of the wonders in life. Confined to a wheelchair, but never to her dreams, she rolls into an adventure that forever alters her perception of ‘freedom’.
The story is written by a disabled author, so there is a realistic feel to the main character, Lara, based on the author’s own experiences. This is key for any good book – real characters for the reader to engage and empathise with.
The main character of Lara is one that has a strong emotional resonance – and definitely shows growth along the way, as she wrestles complex motivations and conflicts as they come her way. Original elements with a moderate story development make the plot of this book overall satisfactory. Although the dialogue, and the story, do repeat a fair bit, this makes for predictable conversational patterns. Dialogue does contain subtext and emotional layers, aiding how we understand Lara and her position.
I award 3.5 stars.
1. Character Development – 4 Stars
Clear character arcs and growth. Complex motivations and internal conflicts. Strong emotional resonance. Characters feel authentic and engaging
2. Pace – 3 Stars
Moderate pacing with some balance. Some narrative momentum. Acceptable but not particularly compelling
3. Dialogue – 3.5 Stars
Distinct character voices with functional dialogue that moves the plot. Some natural conversation. Moderate emotional expression. Predictable conversational patterns, with subtext and emotional layers.
4. Plot – 3.5 Stars
Original elements with a moderate story development. Some interesting narrative elements. Predictable but comprehensible.
