Poster Boys

by Scott Woodard

A jock, a try-hard and a space cadet. Highview Grammar will rue the day it put 'History' on the curriculum - because this unlikely trio is starting a revolution.

Edward Heffernan wants one thing: to get away from Nolan Li. If he cuts ties with the embarrassing Nolan, his reputation at Highview Grammar can only go up.

But when Nolan gets a note from the coolest kid in Year 9, Edward sees a chance to be popular. James Crombie is everything that Edward and Nolan are not, but it turns out this trio have one thing in common: they're all sick of the culture, tradition and rules of their snobby 100-year-old high school. And they're ready to do something about it.

A laugh-out-loud debut novel that mixes razor-sharp satire with a rollicking plot and a whole lot of heart. This is a YA coming-of-age caper about accepting yourself just as you are.

Genres: Young Adult, Friendship

368 pages, Paperback

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

Scott Woodard worked in train stations, call centres and bookshops around Melbourne, before landing his first commercial radio gig in outback South Australia.

Across seven years, three states and six radio stations, he's raced pantomime horses, annoyed reality TV stars, tossed thongs with politicians, copped abuse from puppets, MC'd music festivals, broadcast through fires and floods, championed communities around Australia, and played a lot of Ed Sheeran.

Scott lives with his family on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra. 'Poster Boys' is his first novel.

Reviews

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

With strong, well-developed characters, this is super fun read looking at serious issues surrounding private schools for boys. Might be a shade too long given the declining attention span of teenagers, so it is likely not going to reach a wide audience in our library, but those who do read it are bound to love it.

[Alistair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poster Boys is narrated by “The Heffalump” (aka Edward Heffernan) a Year 10 student who may be slightly overweight; but as his mum keeps reminding him, he’s a teenager growing into his body. Edward is not one of the popular kids at his exclusive all-boys high school. Edwards’s aim for popularity is undermined by his constant companion, Nolan Li, who’s even lower on the popularity totem-pole.
The novel starts with a prologue; Nolan is hiding out at Edward’s place waiting for the police sirens.
But what went before?
Edward asks what will he tell the police?
The truth replies Nolan, from the beginning.
When did it start?
Sports day when I broke James’s nose
“Oh, god. Don’t start with that”
The least sporty kid at this school (Nolan) accidentally breaks the nose of the coolest kid in Year ten during a softball game on Sports day.
The coolest kid is James Crombie and if Edward could only get in with him his reputation as a loser would be a thing of the past.
The prospects for legal action against the school are dim, but James wants payback for his painful and expensive nose job, and unexpectedly turns to Nolan for retribution and a plot is hatched to bring down certain school traditions; Nolan hates the school’s ‘we’ve always done it this way’ attitude and James is after something else.
By association with Nolan, Edward sees a way of ingratiating himself with the top drawer people.
The three form “Common Sense” in a campaign to undermine the school’s authority with facts about the validity of various school events via posters, e-mails, publicity etc.
“Here’s what I’m picturing” said James. “All four houses gone. All house events and competitions, the captains, the bullshit trophy. All of it. Gone. No house singing, no chess, no debating, no cross-country and no staying back after school for softball.”
It wouldn’t be worth reading unless events turned sour. As Edward and Nolan become more enmeshed in Common Sense, it gradually dawns on Nolan that James has plans undisclosed to Nolan and Edward.
When I first started this novel aimed at teenage boys I thought, no, he hasn’t got the right tone, he’s writing as an adult. But I kept going and the plot and the pace was so propulsive I didn’t want to stop and forgot my initial reaction. It’s also very funny.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall rating - 4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

So I actually really enjoyed the book. As someone who attends a private school, it was cool to see people challenging the traditional ways. Gotta say, Edward was a little annoying (I like the character and his writing) and was cool to see how he was used as almost a metaphor with the friendship towards Nolan as it represented on a bigger scale tradition within the school. I am glad that it was a happy ending for everyone (except for Crombie but I think that was his plan all along) and Edward realized the impact of his friendship with Nolan. Did not expect Edward's self discovery of himself (if that even really happened) cause I gotta say when I go to that part I was so confused but it also made sense story wise as that also challenges traditions within the school. Overall I enjoyed it and it had some great humor and writing. Highly recommend!!

[hannah! · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cool! one of my fav niche themes is “weirdo kids take over school” and this story was so fun. the characterisation was great and I think it was very creative. one weakness was that sometimes the story was hard to follow and I did get confused between characters a bit. but still, really fun story that was a great holiday read!

[Hamish Bristow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall: Mid.

The storyline is interesting, but it didn’t develop in a way that kept me wanting more. The turns are a bit boring and I kind of expected half of them. Also Nolan was cringe at the start, and Edward was cringe throughout

[幸佳]

nolan is a joy of a character. I read somewhere that the author had winnie the pooh in mind and I love that

[Joe Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

boring, lame, cringe etc etc. engages with the idea of teen rebellion exclusively through the perspective of an out-of-touch adult who thinks that mandatory school sports is the greatest indignity teenage boys faced in the early 2000s. deeply insufferable lead character. amusingly it briefly edges towards some sort of queer narrative that would at least add some depth but pulls back about as quickly as a homophobic teen would to instead it about inopportune boners - which i guess was also a pressing issue facing teens at the time? kinda speaks for the whole thing.