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Off the Map
By turns dark and light, funny and poignant, this unforgettable collection of stories takes us right to the heart of what it means to be young in today's world, from a CBCA award-winning author.
We ran and slipped and swore and bumped into each other. Nick's phone beeped like a dying bird. If it died, we'd be in total darkness.
Getting lost, falling in love, pushing boundaries, exploring the world - powerfully honest stories to make you think and feel, from the award-winning author of The Dead I Know and Changing Gear.
"Off the Map is a stunning smorgasbord of short stories - each one a treat to be savored. These are stories that stroll through the Australian landscape with measured, confident steps that never miss a beat. Walking with Gardner is a delight - you're in for a wild, funny and profoundly moving journey." (Barry Jonsberg, author of My Life as an Alphabet)
We ran and slipped and swore and bumped into each other. Nick's phone beeped like a dying bird. If it died, we'd be in total darkness.
Getting lost, falling in love, pushing boundaries, exploring the world - powerfully honest stories to make you think and feel, from the award-winning author of The Dead I Know and Changing Gear.
"Off the Map is a stunning smorgasbord of short stories - each one a treat to be savored. These are stories that stroll through the Australian landscape with measured, confident steps that never miss a beat. Walking with Gardner is a delight - you're in for a wild, funny and profoundly moving journey." (Barry Jonsberg, author of My Life as an Alphabet)
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First published March 31, 2021
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Scot Gardner
29 books57 followersScot Gardner wasn't born reading and writing; in fact, he left school in year eleven to undertake an apprenticeship in gardening with the local council. He has worked as a waiter, masseur, delivery truck driver, home dad, counselor, and musician.
These days he spends half the year writing and half the year on the road talking to people about his books and the craft of writing.
These days he spends half the year writing and half the year on the road talking to people about his books and the craft of writing.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 7, 2021
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book. Scot Gardner is one of my favourite young adult authors. I don't think I've ever met a book of his that I didn't like.
This one is short stories, all set in a small country town, the protagonists are all young people and all of them have a great story to tell. These stories all give the reader pause, they deal with some hard stuff some of them. It is often hard being a teenager and that is captured here in the voices of the stories. They take risks, they hurt each other, they test the rules and they love each other. Some of their young lives are impossibly difficult and some of them are just fine, or are they?
I think some of these stories would be great class read alouds. It would make me really happy to think that lots of young people read these stories, or had them read to them. Another fine book by this wonderful author for young adults.
This one is short stories, all set in a small country town, the protagonists are all young people and all of them have a great story to tell. These stories all give the reader pause, they deal with some hard stuff some of them. It is often hard being a teenager and that is captured here in the voices of the stories. They take risks, they hurt each other, they test the rules and they love each other. Some of their young lives are impossibly difficult and some of them are just fine, or are they?
I think some of these stories would be great class read alouds. It would make me really happy to think that lots of young people read these stories, or had them read to them. Another fine book by this wonderful author for young adults.
April 3, 2021
I was delighted when Off The Map appeared in my letter box. I have been a fan of Scot Gardner's work for a long time and had no idea he had another book in the works!
Off the Map is a compilation of short stories that each touch on an element of life, of what it means to be human and especially, what it is like to grow up in Australia. Off The Map shows the reader all of life's coincidences, hardships and miracles. It's ups and downs and above all else, the importance of friends and family.
In typical Gardner fashion, Off the Map is easy to read, the stories flow from chapter to chapter, even though they are different tales, they feel interwoven, the material of the Australian-ness melding them together into a feeling of shared history and culture.
A lot of the stories within this book are blunt and to the point. You know towards the last page of the chapter/story that something is going to go down, a mic-drop, a minor plot twist. It keeps the reader on their toes, trying to see if they can guess the twist to come. For me, I only picked one, The Wave, others like Magellan, had me completely surprised. It is a great element to this short, 184 page book.
Even with all of the different types of tales, wound together within this book, it is fast paced and flows well. Scot Gardner has a way with words, he makes you feel as though you are part of the story. A great read across multiple backgrounds and complex characters.
Thank you to Allen and Unwin for sending me out a review copy of this book.
Off the Map is a compilation of short stories that each touch on an element of life, of what it means to be human and especially, what it is like to grow up in Australia. Off The Map shows the reader all of life's coincidences, hardships and miracles. It's ups and downs and above all else, the importance of friends and family.
In typical Gardner fashion, Off the Map is easy to read, the stories flow from chapter to chapter, even though they are different tales, they feel interwoven, the material of the Australian-ness melding them together into a feeling of shared history and culture.
A lot of the stories within this book are blunt and to the point. You know towards the last page of the chapter/story that something is going to go down, a mic-drop, a minor plot twist. It keeps the reader on their toes, trying to see if they can guess the twist to come. For me, I only picked one, The Wave, others like Magellan, had me completely surprised. It is a great element to this short, 184 page book.
Even with all of the different types of tales, wound together within this book, it is fast paced and flows well. Scot Gardner has a way with words, he makes you feel as though you are part of the story. A great read across multiple backgrounds and complex characters.
Thank you to Allen and Unwin for sending me out a review copy of this book.
February 14, 2021
Great collection of short stories with some inter-connecting.
Always great to read something new from this author.
Always great to read something new from this author.
January 15, 2022
Read for PRC
Full of short stories, ranging from fantasy to contemporary. Some were decent, while others were a little lackluster.
Full of short stories, ranging from fantasy to contemporary. Some were decent, while others were a little lackluster.
October 23, 2021
"I’m not homeless.
Homeless suggests I want for a home, but the world is my home.
I’m thingless."
Gardner has compiled a really strong collection of short stories aimed to bring up big themes for high school readers (14+) - masculinity, identity, family, friendship, peer pressure, adventure, desire, life, and death.
"Another Theory of Relativity" left me pondering for quite some time - what a clever collection of words. "Magellan", "The Kid", and "Stray" all broke my heart in equal measures. "Answers" was a complex delight. And "The Wave" had me cringing to my soul. Incredible moments of lightness can poignantly turn dark in a moment. This collection cleverly brings a lot of heart to some bite sized reads.
Recommend this for mature 14+.
Homeless suggests I want for a home, but the world is my home.
I’m thingless."
Gardner has compiled a really strong collection of short stories aimed to bring up big themes for high school readers (14+) - masculinity, identity, family, friendship, peer pressure, adventure, desire, life, and death.
"Another Theory of Relativity" left me pondering for quite some time - what a clever collection of words. "Magellan", "The Kid", and "Stray" all broke my heart in equal measures. "Answers" was a complex delight. And "The Wave" had me cringing to my soul. Incredible moments of lightness can poignantly turn dark in a moment. This collection cleverly brings a lot of heart to some bite sized reads.
Recommend this for mature 14+.
July 25, 2021
This collection of short stories was sent to me for review. It’s my first experience reading this author and it definitely won’t be my last. Short, sharp stories that loosely connect, they are all tight, engaging, really well-written narratives that present the complexity of navigating adolescence and young adulthood through a range of confronting plot lines, set in the same couple of towns.
What I loved most about this book was how often I thought about clever ways in which these stories could be used in classrooms, especially with a mature year 10 class or as part of the year 11 Reading to Write unit.
Highly recommended for a million reasons, not just to my teaching friends.
What I loved most about this book was how often I thought about clever ways in which these stories could be used in classrooms, especially with a mature year 10 class or as part of the year 11 Reading to Write unit.
Highly recommended for a million reasons, not just to my teaching friends.
March 29, 2021
Off The Map by Scot Gardner is an aussie novel packed full of short stories to make you laugh and cry! There are stories about computer hackers, regretful decisions which resulted in a life lost, ruined relationships, spooky stories, camping, adventures and lots more! The stories are short which make this book a super easy read. I loved this book, it brought a sense of nostalgia to being an up to no good school kid all over again.
September 18, 2022
We’re thinking about teaching these next year. From a curriculum perspective, I can see how they fit. If I had my way, I’d choose something with a less gratuitous body count and stories that have a bit more purpose.
January 12, 2025
A collection of short stories set in a rural beachside town in Australia. Although it wasn’t really my kind of book, I could appreciate the appeal of this book for young adults (particularly teenage boys).
March 21, 2021
To be released end of March, this book is amazing. I’ve never been so hooked by a compilation of short stories like this. Exceptional writing. Full review scheduled on my blog soon!
April 14, 2021
Great set of stories.
May 23, 2021
it was good my favourite chapters were. answers, stray, the wave, thingless, and another theory of relativity. the rest I kind of scanned over. rate 3.5-4
May 24, 2021
A great selection of short stories by Australian author Scot Gardner. More suited to young adults.
July 28, 2021
Entertaining collection of short stories.
January 23, 2022
This collection of stories would be a great inclusion in our LitSet Collection. As always so well written - Scot Gardner is a really good YA author
June 11, 2021
Thank you to Allen&Unwin for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. They were all done brilliantly and some I wish were made into full novels! (Especially Answers, that one was my favourite!) This book was an easy read really enjoyable too!
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. They were all done brilliantly and some I wish were made into full novels! (Especially Answers, that one was my favourite!) This book was an easy read really enjoyable too!
May 7, 2021
I love Scot Gardner. He just writes in a way that is down to earth, honest and non-try hard. This is a collection of short stories and I couldn’t wait to read it. So I did, very quickly.
These are short stories, loosely interconnected and they will make you laugh out loud, make you cry, wince, make you fearful and scared, shock you and make you feel joy. That’s a pretty awesome wrap don’t you think? Recommend for readers 14-15+
These are short stories, loosely interconnected and they will make you laugh out loud, make you cry, wince, make you fearful and scared, shock you and make you feel joy. That’s a pretty awesome wrap don’t you think? Recommend for readers 14-15+
July 19, 2025
I found the stories intriguing, each one weaving a web interconnecting each character. The stories range from goofy, fun stories to tales of adventure. Some of the short stories really spoke to me, such as Thingless and Another Theory of Relativity. Both explain and reflect on juxtaposition. A reflection of life would best describe both, writing a story of gratitude to their situations and expressing a deeper meaning. The plot of each story allow the readers to truly enjoy themselves. Highly recommend for readers who take jokes lightly and laugh at everything. Scot Gardener has outdone himself in Off The Map. Unfortunately for me I didn't enjoy it as much as others would have. I felt as though most of it was purely for filler rather than including meaning. Some symbolism was involved however there wasn't enough to skin me to the bone. Perhaps if I had read/ or read (confusing ik) other stories of his I might end up warming up to his characters, but personally, for me, it's a no.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews