The Boy from the Mish
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4.6 • 29 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
'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.
'The Boy from the Mish is an extraordinary debut novel, and I loved this tender, beautiful story with all my heart. Jackson and Tomas stole my heart, and I'll be thinking about them for a long time.' NINA KENWOOD
'A lightning bolt to the soul. The Boy from the Mish announces a bold, necessary new talent.' WILL KOSTAKIS
'How I wish I had this big-hearted book when I was a teenager. It would've changed my life. Let it change yours.' BENJAMIN LAW
'It is, honestly, a book I've been searching for over my whole career as an editor, as well as all my years as a (queer) reader. I'm not ashamed to say that it made me cry (repeatedly) and awed me with the power of its storytelling.' DAVID LEVITHAN, Scholastic US Editorial Director
'A deftly woven tale that is both a raw, unflinching look at the experience of growing up gay and Aboriginal, and a sweet, truly endearing love story you just can't turn away from. This is Own Voices storytelling at its best.' HOLDEN SHEPPARD
'Honest. Funny. Beautiful. This book is all the things.' GABBIE STROUD
Customer Reviews
An excellent awakening of culture self.
Such a great book. There needs to be more stories from First Nations people. This book really grabs you and you relate so well to the main character, Jackson. You feel for him through his success and cringe along with him with his shortcomings. I, as a non-Indigenous Australian loved reading the good and the bad of growing up Blak in Australia. Seeing Jackson open up about his culture, sexuality and sense of self was truly gripping. I really recommend this to everyone, not just YA readers
This story was fantastic!!
So wholesome, well written and so sweet💖
A Beautiful story
A beautiful and honest book, so well written. Fantastic characters. I didn’t want it to end! So good to hear from a voice we rarely hear from (or fail to hear). Thank you so much! Surely it needs to be made into a film?