In the dojo, Olive discovers her empowering strength. Outside, she faces her greatest challenge.
Sixteen-year-old Olive has always been an outsider and when her family uproots her from the bustling city to sleepy Buxton, she’s sure her life is over. That is, until she stumbles upon a local karate school.
The dojo becomes Olive’s sanctuary, and her natural talent catches everyone’s eye - especially Boyan, the enigmatic son of her sensei. As Olive and Boyan’s connection deepens, she realises he’s fighting battles of his own.
But just as Olive begins to find her footing, a devastating secret threatens everything she’s built. Now, she must summon every ounce of her newfound strength to fight for her place in a world that seems determined to push her out.
OSU is a gripping, empowering coming-of-age-tale of self-acceptance, resilience, and the transformative power of finding where you belong. In this unforgettable debut, Sensei Sarhn reminds us that the stories we tell ourselves can be our greatest enemy - or our most powerful ally.
Young Adult, Disability Own Voices, Neurodivergent Own Voices, Dyslexic Protagonist, Growth Mindset, Self-Acceptance, Found Family
About The Author
Renowned and highly trusted in the 1990s and 2000s for her striking and distinctive flair as a professional photographer, Sarhn photographed four Australian Prime Ministers, immortalised numerous celebrities, and vividly captured a plethora of sporting legends through her lens.
After retiring her camera, Sarhn followed her passion for martial arts into founding Wollondilly Karate, channeling her desire into making a profound and positive impact on the lives of her students. Imparting invaluable life skills such as strength of character, compassion, respect, self-awareness, focus, courage, determination, discipline, and confidence.
Her commitment to empowering the next generation is now vividly captured in her internationally award winning, debut novel, OSU, where she continues her mission to inspire healthy self-image and resilience in young adults and teenagers.
