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In Times of Bushfires and Billy Buttons
Ethan’s parents are in jail; his aunt works too hard; the new kid, Joshua, has a scar on his arm; a fire storm threatens the suburb, while wildflowers bloom along the school fence.
For Ethan, Audrey and their friends, it’s time to choose what’s important and what to leave behind.
For Ethan, Audrey and their friends, it’s time to choose what’s important and what to leave behind.
210 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 30, 2023
Steven Herrick does Aussie boys who are thoughtful and noble very well.
Shouldn't take these books for granted. They are what we need.
Shouldn't take these books for granted. They are what we need.
June 26, 2024
When seven-year-old Ethan’s drug-dealing parents are sentenced to a long prison stretch, his childless aunt Helen scoops him up and takes him home.
Biggsy adopts Ethan as a friend on his first day at school, and offers to share his panel-beater dad with Ethan, in exchange for the chocolate biscuits in Ethan’s lunchbox. The arrangement works well, right through to their final year of school.
Aunt Helen lets Ethan sleep on the roof on hot summer nights, and shares her dreams of Greek islands far away from their Australian working class suburb on the edge of the city.
Ethan’s life is good, even if his aunt works long hours for not much money.
But when the new kid, Joshua, arrives, Ethan is immediately thrown back into the memories and emotions of his own past of family violence.
At the same time Ethan and Biggsy are trying to work out what makes girls tick, and how to talk to them, even ask one out.
As the summer heat beats down, Ethan and Biggsy wrestle with how to remove Joshua’s violent father from his life, and, equally important, how Ethan can invite Audrey on a date.
An out-of-control wildfire fire showers their suburb with ash, and smoke chokes the streets. Ethan and Biggsy join the student climate action protest in the city. Biggsy’s dad is on a firefighting truck out there somewhere in the midst of the inferno.
A story of the power of friendship, of meeting life’s challenges with bravery and with humor no matter what, and of learning to live with hope. These are characters you will want to have beside you when you face the tough stuff . Highly recommended.
Biggsy adopts Ethan as a friend on his first day at school, and offers to share his panel-beater dad with Ethan, in exchange for the chocolate biscuits in Ethan’s lunchbox. The arrangement works well, right through to their final year of school.
Aunt Helen lets Ethan sleep on the roof on hot summer nights, and shares her dreams of Greek islands far away from their Australian working class suburb on the edge of the city.
Ethan’s life is good, even if his aunt works long hours for not much money.
But when the new kid, Joshua, arrives, Ethan is immediately thrown back into the memories and emotions of his own past of family violence.
At the same time Ethan and Biggsy are trying to work out what makes girls tick, and how to talk to them, even ask one out.
As the summer heat beats down, Ethan and Biggsy wrestle with how to remove Joshua’s violent father from his life, and, equally important, how Ethan can invite Audrey on a date.
An out-of-control wildfire fire showers their suburb with ash, and smoke chokes the streets. Ethan and Biggsy join the student climate action protest in the city. Biggsy’s dad is on a firefighting truck out there somewhere in the midst of the inferno.
A story of the power of friendship, of meeting life’s challenges with bravery and with humor no matter what, and of learning to live with hope. These are characters you will want to have beside you when you face the tough stuff . Highly recommended.
January 31, 2024
This was an extremely powerful book.
I was thinking about it as a possible text for English at some stage. The student characters are in Year 11, but I wondered about for upper Middle School. It does have some issues around family violence and drugs (and prison as a consequence) so think better for Year 8 and above, or later in Year 7 with themes mentioned explicitly to students.
It’s not too long, which is a bonus for more reluctant readers. I think Steven Herrick is very clever in stepping into the shoes of teenagers.
FYI, he was also really entertaining when he came to our school in 2021 – that was a focus on verse poetry for junior school students. He had everyone hanging on his every word.
I was thinking about it as a possible text for English at some stage. The student characters are in Year 11, but I wondered about for upper Middle School. It does have some issues around family violence and drugs (and prison as a consequence) so think better for Year 8 and above, or later in Year 7 with themes mentioned explicitly to students.
It’s not too long, which is a bonus for more reluctant readers. I think Steven Herrick is very clever in stepping into the shoes of teenagers.
FYI, he was also really entertaining when he came to our school in 2021 – that was a focus on verse poetry for junior school students. He had everyone hanging on his every word.
February 5, 2024
Ethan lives in the tough part of town which is overlooked by the bougie estate on the hill. He has some tough family issues to deal with but he's well looked after by his aunt, Helen and his best mate, Biggsy. When new kid Joshua, with fresh scars on his arm, enters the scene from an even dodgier part of town, Ethan is desperate to help, even if it means dredging up demons from his past. This is set against the backdrop of a countryside on fire and the awkwardness of trying to win over the smartest girl in school, Audrey.
This story is raw and awkward and funny. Tough issues done with sensitivity. Suitable for high school, but probably most resonant year 8+
This story is raw and awkward and funny. Tough issues done with sensitivity. Suitable for high school, but probably most resonant year 8+
January 18, 2024
Another amazing book by Steven Herrick. He writes teenage boys so well and Ethan is a great character. I found this to be an emotional read, not just what the characters are going through but the bushfire side of it as well. Definitely well worth a read.
October 10, 2023
Steven Herrick never disappoints - a feel good book about taking charge, helping others, climate change and a lovely romance. Highly recommended.
October 26, 2024
Excellent! Steven Herrick writes so well, and he has a created a very heartfelt story, with fantastic characters in a way that the story will age well.
January 2, 2024
Ethan's drug-dealing parents don't love him, and they spend most of his childhood in jail. Unknown aunty Helen rescues him as a small child, and gives him the love and stability he craves - a long way from his uninvolved parents.
Ethan's 17, in Year 11, and has his eyes wide open - bushfires and climate change; the broken world his generation faces; and the healing power of human decency, collective agency and love. When Ethan reaches out to friends Biggsy, Audrey and Joshua, he is amply rewarded.
A gently-told but multi-layered and uplifting story.
Ethan's 17, in Year 11, and has his eyes wide open - bushfires and climate change; the broken world his generation faces; and the healing power of human decency, collective agency and love. When Ethan reaches out to friends Biggsy, Audrey and Joshua, he is amply rewarded.
A gently-told but multi-layered and uplifting story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews