A review by nibs
The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I liked it. It was a heartfelt story about family, first love and community. It felt so grounded in reality.
All the scenes with Jackson and Tomas being romantic were so well written and handled - they felt cautious and youthful yet intimate. At times it reminded me of Ari and Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. The characters really felt like teens. 

I like how they showed how important culture and community is to Jackson e.g. the men's group. And the small details like the whole family visiting over Christmas, and that sadness the following day when they're all left and that moment had ended. Also the emphasis of the feeling of loss when Tomas goes home.


The author's note mentions being inspired to write this because he hadn't found any YA stories about an Aboriginal teen coming to terms with their sexuality. This book is a great start and I hope there are more stories in this area to come. 
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