Tigerfish

by David Metzenthen

Better in here, they think. Safe and sound. No shocks and no surprises. Twenty-one degrees Celsius all year round.

Ryan Lanyon lives in the shadows of a shopping centre on the far side of the city. His brother is a bouncer. His best mate owns weapons. Ariel works in a surf-shop and has never seen the sea. And the tragedies of the past will poison the future – unless someone has the guts to cross the line.

Genres: Young Adult

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2014

About the author

As a child, David Metzenthen was a nature boy; he loved fishing and farm work, exploring the bush, and being outdoors under the stars. He also lived very much inside his own head; feeling that the world was a place of unlimited adventure. He harboured dreams of becoming a cowboy, a fisherman, a farmer, a sailor, or a writer. Instead he left home at eighteen, with a copy of Jack Kerouac's On the Road for company, and hitch-hiked his way around New Zealand. Returning to Australia, David worked as a builder's labourer and advertising copy writer before finding success as a writer of books for children and young adults.

David Metzenthen now lives with his wife and two children in Melbourne and is one of Australia's top writers for young people. He has received many awards for excellence, including the 2000 CBCA Book of the Year Award: Older Readers for Stony Heart Country, a 2003 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Wildlight, and a 2003 Queensland Premier's Literary Award for Boys of Blood and Bone. In 2004, Boys of Blood and Bone also won a NSW Premier's Literary Award and was an Honour Book in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards: Older Readers. His novel Black Water was an Honour Book in the 2008 CBCA Book of the Year Awards: Older Readers, and Jarvis 24 won the CBCA Award for Book of the Year: Older Readers in 2010, as well as being shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Award, WA Premier's Literary Award, Inky Awards and SA Festival Awards for Literature.

Reviews

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Mezenthen does with the voice of his main character and narrator Ryan is nothing short of brilliant. This kid knows his reality. He knows what he doesn't have (privilege and easy success), but he is also very much aware of what he does have (supportive, loving family, a steady best friend, a genuine girl, the best dog in the world & the Western Bulldogs).

Ryan's sense of self is strong, positive and totally sympathetic. His progression through the novel is tense and endearing. There are dark and scary moments, but there are also heart-felt, poignant ones too.

Readers are very soon conscious they are in the hands of an author in control of his story and a master of language and style.

Loved it.

[Christine Bongers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The brilliant authentic voice drew me in, and the quality of the writing kept me reading as the pace of the narrative ebbed and flowed. Ryan Lanyon is a kid from the tough side of town whose innate decency keeps him afloat when the dark undercurrents that swirl around him threaten to pull him and the people he cares about under. Beautiful, redemptive and full of hope. Five stars.

[Deb Omnivorous Reader]

I am discontinuing this one from page 60.

It is a really good YA book, well written and insightful, about a young man living in a 'not so nice' burb in Victoria, Australia.

Unfortunately it is not holing my attention. The blurb on the back (apparently written by someone who had NOT read the book) convinced me this was a dystopian novel. It is not.

It is straightforward, coming of age type, fiction from a teen male perspective. And I am not in the mood.

Penguin should fire whoever wrote the back blurb. This talented author and good book deserve better.

[ALPHAreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Templeton is a concrete jungle suburb in Melbourne, full of hard and loyal characters balancing on the poverty line and watching each other’s backs. Templeton is Ryan Lanyon’s stomping ground – he mostly hangs round Sky Point ‘Knifepoint’ Mall with his best friend, sucking up the summer holidays before school starts again and he has to go back to keeping his head down and avoiding a beating from the local bully boys.

Ryan’s dad knows every tradie in town, the ones who’d prefer payment in beer than cash-in-hand. His brother Slate has just got done with a forty-hours-a-week job at the Arcon pipe factory, and has started a bouncer gig that has his family quietly agonizing over the possibilities of king hits and glassings.

And then Ryan meets Ariel at the Kealoah Surf Store. She’s a country girl whose family lost the farm and are now rebuilding in the big smoke. She has never seen the sea, and her little sister is struggling to come out of her shell in the big, anonymous city.

Ryan and his family welcome Ariel and her sister into their tightknit, have-your-back Templeton community, and together they start helping one another to find their feet and a place in this new world.

‘Tigerfish’ is the new young adult novel from award-winning Australian young adult author, David Metzenthen.

This book reminded me of a favourite TV show ‘Redfern Now’, a drama series that portrays contemporary stories about Indigenous Australians. And while ‘Tigerfish’ is not a story about Indigenous Australians, the connection to ‘Redfern Now’ came from setting – the TV show is set in the infamous and tight-knit Sydney suburb of Redfern. And the same way that that show explores the dynamics of community, however fractured and imperfect, ‘Tigerfish’ and Ryan’s observations of his rough and tumble suburb of Templeton and the city of Melbourne, similarly reminded me of those intertwined stories.

I feel like Metzenthen’s setting is even more important as he explores a poor community rich in spirit and family/community bonds. It’s by no means a sunshiny, perfect suburb – Ryan is tormented at the local school, and the shopping centre has earned the nickname ‘Knifepoint Mall’ for a reason … but Metzenthen really asks readers not to take things at face value, to dig deeper and scrape away the grime.

There are lots of beautiful metaphors and thematic explorations for young readers to think about in this book, but Metzenthen doesn’t write them cloyingly or like a prescribed English text. They come in the form of beautiful girl (the aptly named) Ariel; moved from the country with her family after they lost everything, and now working ironically in a surf shop;

'I don't know anything about surfboards.' She puts her hands in those big goofy pockets and looks me straight in the eyes. 'I've never even been to the beach.' She shrugs, standing under the poster of a guy on a crystal wave. 'I've never even seen the ocean,' she adds. 'Not once. Not in my whole life.' She appears to want to know what I might have to say about that.
I laugh, zeroing in on her face, knowing that this is a freakin' special moment. Already I'm thinking about telling Evan about the new chick at Kealoah who tells me straight-up she's never seen the sea. And he'll like it the way I like it; because a fact like that is a rare thing in a place like this. I feel like kissing the toes of her no-name sneakers that are the colour of plain flour.

Metzenthen won the CBCA Award for Book of the Year: Older Readers in 2010 for ‘Jarvis 24’, which was also written from a young male first-person perspective. And no wonder, when Metzenthen captures it so well, and does so again with ‘Tigerfish’ – all Ryan’s bravado and heart, his secret worries and outward mockeries. He’s quite a tender voice in this rough suburb, and I loved that duality.

If I had any complaints about ‘Tigerfish’, it’s probably that it is very slow going, and if not for Ryan’s authentic voice drawing me in I probably would have walked away for wondering where the actual story and igniting event was … but if you stick with ‘Tigerfish’ and Ryan, you will be rewarded with a gritty gorgeous story full of heart and anger.

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It didn't move along at a ripping pace, but drew me in slowly and completely. The writing was fabulous, and I re-read passages constantly to savour them. Tigerfish has an undercurrent of unease. Just as the characters have around a particular guy at school who was like a walking time-bomb, or when walking at night past dark paddocks where a body was found a year or so before.

The main character Ryan lives with his mum, dad and big brother Slate. Slate is working in the local pipe factory but takes up a job doing bouncer work outside a pub. His parents and Ryan worry about him.

When Ryan meets Ariel (a new girl in town, working in the surf shop)he likes her quirkyness. He soon realises her and her family (a young step-sister, and stepmother) have moved into a run-down house nearby, and he is concerned for them. Especially since there have been sightings of some guy lurking in the shadows at night.

They slowly build a friendship as he looks out for Ariel and her family and discovers what brought them to town. Ariel has had it tough, and is the only thing holding her family together.

This is a story about families, what can happen to them, through no-one's fault and how they cope and carry on with their lives. They live in a tough area, learning when to look someone in the eye, or not, where is safe at night, or not and how to walk away from a confrontation... or not.

I'll definitely be seeking out more of this author.

[Library Geek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book about family, friends, community and hope. Written from a young man’s perspective and set in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, our protagonist, Ryan, shares his life with the reader. Insightful, tender and often contrasted with some of the brutal realities of life in a working class suburb, Tigerfish draws you in and keeps you there ‘til the final page.

Excellent book for any age.

[Bree T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ryan Lanyon lives in a tough western suburb of Melbourne. His brother works in a factory and has just started doing nights as a bouncer, much to everyone in the family’s fear and displeasure. His best friend walks around with a bow and set of arrows at night, just looking for a reason to fire one. And he has a crush on Ariel, a girl from the country who is new to their area and works in a surf shop in the mall when she should be in school.

Ryan spends the days of summer at the local shopping centre, walking his dog or hanging out with his best friend, perhaps his only friend. When school goes back it’s all about getting through the day, avoiding the guy who wants to pick a fight with anyone to make their lives hell and also, football. He’s passionate about his team and makes the trip to see them play and stays until the bitter end when they’re losing. He also spends a lot of time worrying about his brother and what he might be getting up to in his new career as a bouncer in the city and of course, thinking about Ariel and how to get to know her better.

Be like the tigerfish, I say – swim quietly, stay down deep, protect yourself at all times and have your weapons at the ready – whatever weapons they may be (p60-61).

Tigerfish is set in the western ‘burbs of Melbourne, in a fictional town named Templeton. I can guess where it’s based on judging by Ryan’s passionate support of his local AFL football team, the Western Bulldogs and the fact that he mentions where they train at some stage. This means that the book is also set around 25m from where I currently live and although my area is much different to the one described in the book, there are many familiar things and bits and pieces of Australian suburban life that I can relate to.

Ryan is the sort of kid that keeps his head down as much as possible and gets on with life. His parents are not well off but they have enough to get by, attend the odd game of footy and can help out when someone is a bind by knowing basically all the tradies in the area who might do a job for a slab of beer. His older brother Slate was smart enough but coasted through school and now works a job he dislikes in a local factory. Slate has been bulking up a lot lately and Ryan senses quite a lot of simmering aggression in him, something that he worries Slate will give an out by working his nighttime job as a bouncer. The family have visions of Slate being glassed or attacked by angry, drunk patrons and they’d all prefer him to step away from that life, although none seem game enough to tell him this bluntly to his face or if they try, Slate isn’t in a listening mood.

Ryan spends time not at school hanging out at the local shopping centre which is where he meets Ariel. From the country, she’s moved to the city after her family lost everything and they are rebuilding. Ryan works to get to know her and when he finds out she’s never been to the sea, it’s the beginning of day trips, hanging out and drawing Ariel’s younger sister out of the protective shell she has surrounded herself with. The scenes with Ariel and her sister and the way Ryan, his friend Evan and even Ryan’s family adjust to the small girl’s quirks and work with her to make her feel comfortable, were really well crafted. Especially the one between her and Slate, Ryan’s older brother.

I don’t often read many YA stories narrated by a male character and I always find them interesting. Ryan is very low key, he’s quite intelligent but understated – almost like he doesn’t really want to show it. He’s torn between many things in this novel – right and wrong, to fight or not to, to walk away or not to. He shows a maturity and care about other people, particularly Ariel and her family. He organises many things, getting his dad to call in favours or sometimes giving them himself, in order to get things done for her safety that the family can’t really afford. The whole aura around their part of the suburb is one of hopelessness and yet Ryan seems to be a person of hope that there’s good things out there. He looks for the better, both for himself and also for his family and his friends. Especially for Ariel, because you get the feeling Ariel hasn’t had good things in her life for a little while. Ryan’s gestures are simple, but they are very effective.

Tigerfish is both gritty and yet tender as well, a cleverly written novel that portrays a working class suburb that verges on poverty and has its problems with crime and violence but merely provides the backdrop for the strength of friendship that builds between the characters.

[Lara Cain Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tigerfish is the new novel for Young Adults from award winning Australian author David Metzenthen. It follows a young man, Ryan Lanyon, as he meanders through life in the outer Western suburbs of Melbourne. The ‘wild west’ is populated with lost souls and sags under a heavy atmosphere of working class poverty, latent aggression and a lack of hope for a brighter future. Ryan sees things differently, though. He is quietly optimistic; satisfied with a peaceful life and a tasty hot chocolate at the end of the day. He sees the good in people and makes the best of situations, making him an engaging narrator in a bigger story about dysfunctional families, warring teens and moral dilemmas.

When Ryan meets Ariel, the ethereal new girl at the local surf shop, it’s love at first sight. At least, it’s ‘love’ in the beautifully teenage sense of butterflies in the stomach and a slow burn that builds eventually to a mutual affection. Ariel’s family has moved to the big smoke after their lives were catastrophically rearranged by a flood in their rural home. Looking every bit the mermaid, Ariel has never seen the sea until Ryan arranges a day trip for her and the little sister she cares for, Kaydie. Tigerfish shows us how small acts – a trip to the beach, a shared hot chocolate – can be true gifts to someone who wouldn’t otherwise experience them. In many ways, this is a story about the little things that add up to a life, in a particular urban context. Ryan’s gently observant manner shows the reader that you don’t necessarily need millions of dollars and wild adventures to find happiness. It’s all about perspective and purpose.

Having said that, there are many unhappy people in the tightly wound (fictional) suburb of Templeton. Bored youths wander the streets with weapons looking for fights to pick, with deluded understandings about honour and protection. Families are haunted by the ghosts of the past, which they never have time to confront or put to rest because they need all their energy for day to day survival. The local shopping mall is the only place to hang out, and yet it stands as a symbol of the things people can’t afford. School is a battle ground of grudges. The stress and frustration in the community is palpable, yet Ryan seems able to rise above it.

Tigerfish works on a range of levels and would be a great addition to a school reading list. It tackles suicide, sexuality and violence – but none of these is graphic, and all of them are thoroughly contextualised. At the book’s conclusion, the new school year brings fresh starts all round – as if Ryan is being rewarded for never losing hope.

A longer review of this novel can be found at http://thischarmingmum.com

[Rosalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Metzenthen has written some excellent YA books and like Tigerfish they usually have very good male characters. He writes realistic teen issues that deal often deal withfriendship. Tigerfish is set in a fictional poorer suburban area of Melbourne. Ryan Lanyon lives in the shadows of a shopping centre. His older brother is a bouncer. His best mate Evan owns crossbows and they take these into the wasteland to "play". He notices Ariel, who is new to the city and works in a surf-shop in the mall but has never seen the sea. The school bully, Elmore has scores to settle. With these few characters Metzenthen tells a story about people making do with what they have and trying to make things better for others around them.

[Chantal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having worked in areas like Tempy, I found myself relating to each character and their reactions to their circumstances. Ryan and Evan compliment each other so well; Ariel is beautifully developed and Elmore and Slate were surprising, yet perfect.

Not sure how to encourage YA boys to read this, but I believe that it would be a valuable tale for many who find themselves in the situations that these boys do.

Ages 14+

[Michelle Nakamura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb.
Page-turning suspense, multi-layered plot, wonderful characters, real dialogue and beautiful lyrical language.
A great sketch of Melbourne's western suburbs.
Uplifting. Finished the book with a smile on my dial. I would rate this a 4.5 if I could!
Please check out Dave Metz's other work; The Boys of Blood and Bone and Black Water. Black Water is especially beautiful. I'll be reading Jarvis 24 in the near future.

[Marie Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a little while to care about these characters but once I did I was hooked. Love the author's voice - really gets inside the protagonists head and sets a scene with just the right amount of words. The ending was a pretty fast wrap up...

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story from David Metzenthen. A little dark - their environment is pretty dismal. Ryan (the narrator) is very likeable - I found myself really wanting things to work out for him. Year 8 and above - contemporary fiction.