The Boy from the Mish

CBCA's Shortlist Older Readers 2022

By: Gary Lonesborough

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Paperback | 2 February 2021

At a Glance

Paperback
288 Pages

Age
14+

Dimensions(cm)
20.5 x 13.5 x 1.5

Paperback

RRP $19.99

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A funny and heart-warming queer Indigenous YA novel, set in a rural Australian community, about seventeen-year-old Jackson finding the courage to explore who he is, even if it scares him.

'I don't paint so much anymore,' I say, looking to my feet.

'Oh. Well, I got a boy who needs to do some art. You can help him out,' Aunty Pam says, like I have no say in the matter, like she didn't hear what I just said about not painting so much anymore. 'Jackson, this is Tomas. He's living with me for a little while.'

It's a hot summer, and life's going all right for Jackson and his family on the Mish. It's almost Christmas, school's out, and he's hanging with his mates, teasing the visiting tourists, avoiding the racist boys in town. Just like every year, Jackson's Aunty and annoying little cousins visit from the city - but this time a mysterious boy with a troubled past comes with them… As their friendship evolves, Jackson must confront the changing shapes of his relationships with his friends, family and community. And he must face his darkest secret - a secret he thought he'd locked away for good.

Compelling, honest and beautifully written, The Boy from the Mish is about first love, identity, and the superpower of self-belief.

About the Author

Gary Lonesborough is a Yuin man, who grew up on the Far South Coast of NSW as part of a large and proud Aboriginal family. Growing up a massive Kylie Minogue and North Queensland Cowboys fan, Gary was always writing as a child, and continued his creative journey when he moved to Sydney to study at film school.

Gary has experience working in Aboriginal health, the disability sector (including experience working in the Youth Justice System), and the film industry. He was Bega Valley Shire Council Young Citizen of the Year, won the Patrick White Young Indigenous Writers' Award, and has received a Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowship. The Boy from the Mish is Gary's debut YA novel.

Industry Reviews

'Sizzlingly complicated...a sweet will-they, won't-they romance with welcome Indigenous Australian representation. What starts as a slow-burn love story riddled with internalized homophobia blossoms into a beautiful relationship alongside discussions of racism and classism. The first-person present-tense narration offers a sense of immediacy that makes every moment count, from raucous parties to romantic bushwalks. The sights, sounds, and inhabitants of the fictional rural Koori community, which is informed by Lonesborough's own life, are richly rendered. An affirming, textured coming-out story.' STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews, US (US title Ready When You Are)

'Gary Lonesborough handles the characters...with an honesty that brings them to life, telling the story with...sweetness and charm...unexpected and delightful...This heartwarming debut novel will appeal to fans of David Levithan and Becky Albertalli.' Tehani Croft, Books+Publishing

'Authentic, funny and rich in themes to discuss, this book should be on the radar of both general YA readers and every English teacher and school librarian...At its heart, this novel is a gorgeous and compelling love story between two Aboriginal boys. It's the kind of gentle, tender romance that will make your heart swell.' Nina Kenwood, Readings

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