Ready When You Are 12+

About this book

A remarkable YA love story between two Aboriginal boys — one who doesn’t want to accept he’s gay, and the boy who comes to live in his house who makes him realize who he is.

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.

Reviews

Praise for the Australian edition of the novel:

"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

"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

"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