The Boy from the Mish

By Gary Lonesborough,

Book cover of The Boy from the Mish

Book description

SHORTLISTED: 2022 CBCA Book of the Year, Older Readers

'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…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Boy from the Mish as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is a heartwarming contemporary story about a gay Aboriginal teen exploring his sexuality and falling in love for the first time, set against the vivid backdrop of a fictional, rural Indigenous community. It’s evocative and heady and compelling. It’s one of those stories that makes you want to reach into the book and hug all the characters and tell them everything is going to be okay. Such an important story from a brilliant new voice in Australian YA.

From Tobias' list on growing up gay in Australia.

I love the novel The Boy from the Mish as it gives insight into how 17-year-old Jackson digs deep to find the courage to acknowledge and explore his sexuality in a small rural Australian indigenous community. It is written in a fresh and engaging way, making the reader empathise strongly with the main character.

From Verity's list on YA set in Australia.

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