That Fry Boy

From a happy go lucky boy being raised in a loving middle class family with the world in front of him, to teen addict and juvenile offender on the cusp of death in a hospital emergency department, James’ memoir That Fry Boy serves as both a cautionary and educative tale of the horrific impact that bullying can have on a young developing mind. The reader is given a rare front row seat into the life of a child who was subjected to years of relentless bullying, along with the devastating downward trajectory that followed as he seeks escape in drugs and alcohol, leading to a ferocious addiction. But just as startling as his spiral into addiction and emotional destitution was, so to is his journey towards sobriety and ultimate redemption. From terrified child and teen drunk, to university graduate and highly regarded community professional, working with the very same kind of troubled youth that James once was. His story is also one of hope against all odds. In a society where bullying is now firmly at the centre of discussion, be it amongst mothers at the school gate through to politicians in Parliament, James’ first hand account, complete with his observation on how the education system and later the justice system failed to address what was at the root cause of his self destruction, could not have come at a better time.


James Fry lives in Berowra NSW


His interests include travel, urban history and drinking too

much coffee.


James has a Bachelor of Social Science (psychology) Graduate Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice. James works as a youth justice conference convenor, a role

that has him tasked with bringing juvenile offenders and their victims together in a restorative justice process on behalf of the NSW Department of the Attorney General and Justice.