Bonesland

Description

Shortlisted for the 2017 Text Prize, Bonesland is an authentic look at the small-town agonies of adolescence that introduces a unique new voice to the LoveOzYA community. A wild ride for young adults through the small-town agonies of adolescence, packed with sex, drugs, love and hip hop. Bones Carter spends much of his time trying to avoid germs and the school bully Chase Barnes. Then he meets Naya Kajang, a new exchange student. Naya is brilliant, black and beautiful - and wants to free the world of prejudice. She thinks Bones is a well of untapped potential. Bones thinks she's a bit lame. But she makes him feel something he didn't think he could. A hilarious and touching debut full of oddball humour and incredible heart.

Brendan Lawley is a writer living in Melbourne. Many of the events depicted in Bonesland are inspired by his and others' experiences growing up in country Victoria. This is his first novel.

`...has the raw feel of authenticity about it...a book impressively full of energy and, unexpectedly, heart.' * Adelaide Advertiser * `Bonesland kept me up until the wee hours. It was a helluva ride...I was in love with Bones from his first breath.' -- Scot Gardner `It's rare we see teenage boys depicted in all their raw glory as we do in Bonesland. Lawley captures all that's repugnant about modern masculinity, but reassures us that young Aussie men are not irredeemable...I can see why this book was shortlisted for the Text Prize. It should certainly spark some interesting conversations.' -- Paula Weston `This amusing, poignant coming-of-age story deftly addresses some of the issues facing today's teens, from mental health to social media, and puts a fresh spin on a familiar message about the value of being yourself.' * Books+Publishing * 'This debut is bursting with quirky humour and incredible heart. You're right there beside Bones as he rides wave after wave of emotion...There's so much to love about this teen and the young author who created him.' * Herald Sun *