It’s a hot summer, and life’s going okay 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, and avoiding the racist boys in town. Just like every year, Jackson’s Aunty and his annoying little cousins visit from Sydney – but this time, a boy named Tomas comes with them.
Tomas is quiet, from a troubled background, and he’s artistic – more into his writing than he is willing to admit. And as both boys let down their guard, and their friendship evolves, Jackson must confront the changing shapes of his relationships with his friends, family and community.
He must face his darkest secret – a secret that could shatter the careful persona he has built for himself on the Mish.
Compelling, honest and beautifully written, The Boy from the Mish is about first love, identity, and the superpower of self-belief.
It’s an evocative novel that begins with a subtle power – in the hushed tones of someone hiding their true identity – before being set alight in a firestorm of passion, bravery and true connection.
About The Author
Gary Lonesborough is a Yuin writer, who grew up on the Far South Coast of NSW as part of a large and proud Aboriginal family.
Growing up a massive Kylie Minogue and North Queensland Cowboys fan, Gary was always writing as a child, and continued his creative journey when he moved to Sydney to study at film school.
Gary has experience working in Aboriginal health, the disability sector (including experience working in the youth justice system) and the film industry, including working on the feature film adaptation of Jasper Jones.
His debut YA novel, THE BOY FROM THE MISH, was published by Allen & Unwin in February 2021. It was published as READY WHEN YOU ARE in the U.S in 2022 by Scholastic.
His second novel, WE DIDN'T THINK IT THROUGH, was published in July 2023.
