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Bro
Romeo knows the rules.
Stick with your own kind. Don’t dob on your mates, or even your enemies.
But even unwritten rules are made for breaking.
Fight Clubs, first loves and family ties are pushed to their limit in Helen Chebatte’s explosive debut novel.
Stick with your own kind. Don’t dob on your mates, or even your enemies.
But even unwritten rules are made for breaking.
Fight Clubs, first loves and family ties are pushed to their limit in Helen Chebatte’s explosive debut novel.
240 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2016
14 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 15, 2016
4.5 Stars
In the nineties when I was a teen, the Northern suburbs of Melbourne were a diverse and cultural blend, where your street may have resembled members of the United Nations. I attended a same sex school, much as the same as the connecting school of Saint Adele College and Christian Boys where the storyline takes place. Bro could have been my teen experience. It could have been the same stereotypical cultural groups that continued the trend of segregation. If you were an Aussie meaning Caucasian Anglo Saxon, you were friends with other Caucasian Anglo Saxon teens, the same if you were Maori, Asian and Lebanese as seen in Bro. My high school had a large Lebanese community and we experienced the same segregation and even being a girls college, there were physical fights and weapons used. Back then, we didn't question why, that's how it worked. You stayed within your own group and it took a strong individual to stray from their own group and befriend others. It didn't happen often.
Anyone reading Bro that sees the issue of the us verses them mentality as being unrealistic, has never lived in working class and diverse suburbs. It even happens as adults. We may not involve ourselves in physical conflict, but even our close social circles tend to be formed from the same basis. Like attracts like and I find that incredibly sad that as Australians, we still find ourselves drawn to the same friendships with those who share our cultural beliefs and backgrounds, rather than expanding our circles. In Bro, Romeo finds himself torn. He was born in Australia to a Lebanese father, an Caucasian Anglo Saxon Australian mother, but lives what he sees as the Lebanese culture. Even as he identifies as being Australian, society still sees him as being Lebanese due to his heritage and the colour of his skin.
Apart from the islander teens or Fresh Off the Boat as they're known, the basis of Bro is Australian teen boys and those with a Lebanese background facing off in bouts of physical violence. A Fight Club is established where boys are pitted against one another for sport or entertainment. It's barbaric, but realistic. Less than a week ago in Melbourne, this happened. Teen violence is alive and thriving and the police aren't listening, nor are these mostly young men heeding the warning from authorities. Bro drives home the message of how we can't all grow up being raised in ivory towers. We share different cultural beliefs, socioeconomic backgrounds, skin colour, language, sex, race, ability and the cycle never ends.
But through tragedy, Bro breaks the cycle of violence and rivalry and although the solution to violence in our communities isn't that simple, it does highlight the need for change in our attitudes and mentality.
Bro is such an important read not only for teens, but for Australians to understand the issue of teen violence within society and to discuss at a national level. Bro should be part of our schools curriculum, in every school library and addressed within youth groups nationwide. As Australians we need to openly discuss not only violence but diversity, our religious and cultural differences, grief, gender roles and the role they play in our history. But more importantly, how we can change and educate ourselves and Bro is a brilliantly written insight into diverse teen life of our suburbs.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2016/03/b...
In the nineties when I was a teen, the Northern suburbs of Melbourne were a diverse and cultural blend, where your street may have resembled members of the United Nations. I attended a same sex school, much as the same as the connecting school of Saint Adele College and Christian Boys where the storyline takes place. Bro could have been my teen experience. It could have been the same stereotypical cultural groups that continued the trend of segregation. If you were an Aussie meaning Caucasian Anglo Saxon, you were friends with other Caucasian Anglo Saxon teens, the same if you were Maori, Asian and Lebanese as seen in Bro. My high school had a large Lebanese community and we experienced the same segregation and even being a girls college, there were physical fights and weapons used. Back then, we didn't question why, that's how it worked. You stayed within your own group and it took a strong individual to stray from their own group and befriend others. It didn't happen often.
Anyone reading Bro that sees the issue of the us verses them mentality as being unrealistic, has never lived in working class and diverse suburbs. It even happens as adults. We may not involve ourselves in physical conflict, but even our close social circles tend to be formed from the same basis. Like attracts like and I find that incredibly sad that as Australians, we still find ourselves drawn to the same friendships with those who share our cultural beliefs and backgrounds, rather than expanding our circles. In Bro, Romeo finds himself torn. He was born in Australia to a Lebanese father, an Caucasian Anglo Saxon Australian mother, but lives what he sees as the Lebanese culture. Even as he identifies as being Australian, society still sees him as being Lebanese due to his heritage and the colour of his skin.
Apart from the islander teens or Fresh Off the Boat as they're known, the basis of Bro is Australian teen boys and those with a Lebanese background facing off in bouts of physical violence. A Fight Club is established where boys are pitted against one another for sport or entertainment. It's barbaric, but realistic. Less than a week ago in Melbourne, this happened. Teen violence is alive and thriving and the police aren't listening, nor are these mostly young men heeding the warning from authorities. Bro drives home the message of how we can't all grow up being raised in ivory towers. We share different cultural beliefs, socioeconomic backgrounds, skin colour, language, sex, race, ability and the cycle never ends.
But through tragedy, Bro breaks the cycle of violence and rivalry and although the solution to violence in our communities isn't that simple, it does highlight the need for change in our attitudes and mentality.
Bro is such an important read not only for teens, but for Australians to understand the issue of teen violence within society and to discuss at a national level. Bro should be part of our schools curriculum, in every school library and addressed within youth groups nationwide. As Australians we need to openly discuss not only violence but diversity, our religious and cultural differences, grief, gender roles and the role they play in our history. But more importantly, how we can change and educate ourselves and Bro is a brilliantly written insight into diverse teen life of our suburbs.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2016/03/b...
November 10, 2015
Written in a language teens will relate to Bro delves into Australian identity and what that means to many different people.
Attending a generic Christian boys high school, our main character Romeo finds himself having to fight to defend his Lebanese heritage in a school divided into four distinct groups: Fobs - fresh off the boat mainly islanders, Lebs -Lebanese, Rez - Asians and Ozzies.
But what makes you a Leb when if you, as in Romeo's case, had an Australian mother and was born and live in Australia.
This novel is fascinating for its melting pot of cultures clashing over nothing really and showing what can happen if this goes too far.
It really hits home when tragedy strikes close to Romeo who didn't really ever want to be involved in the first place.
It will lead to opening up opportunities to discuss difficult topics like cultural difference, violence and conflict resolution, mateship, loss and redemption.
A great read and strong debut novel by Australian author Helen Chebatte that will best appeal to teenage boys 14 and up and teen reading groups.
Attending a generic Christian boys high school, our main character Romeo finds himself having to fight to defend his Lebanese heritage in a school divided into four distinct groups: Fobs - fresh off the boat mainly islanders, Lebs -Lebanese, Rez - Asians and Ozzies.
But what makes you a Leb when if you, as in Romeo's case, had an Australian mother and was born and live in Australia.
This novel is fascinating for its melting pot of cultures clashing over nothing really and showing what can happen if this goes too far.
It really hits home when tragedy strikes close to Romeo who didn't really ever want to be involved in the first place.
It will lead to opening up opportunities to discuss difficult topics like cultural difference, violence and conflict resolution, mateship, loss and redemption.
A great read and strong debut novel by Australian author Helen Chebatte that will best appeal to teenage boys 14 and up and teen reading groups.
May 13, 2017
Powerful new Australian YA voice.
December 11, 2015
A straightforward, contemporary novel of different racial groups colliding in the school yard, resulting in a fight club and unexpected tragedies. Chebatte nails the jargon associated with South European/Middle Eastern males - if in Melbourne, 'muzzas' might be a good word to use. Bro speaks at a level intended for easy consumption.
August 6, 2016
A gritty read, with themes as diverse as identity, loss and the power of peer pressure. This is a fairly slim volume, with lots of dialogue, and a familiar setting so I'll be recommending this to reluctant readers who require a text suitable for NCEA.
November 17, 2015
A very important take on the racial hostilities between high school boys in Australia, Bro looks into the life of Romeo, a half-Australian half-Lebanese year 10 boy who just wants to get through school and get the girl.
But gossip is a nasty part of the high school experience, and before he knows it, Romeo is in the spotlight, caught in a war against the Aussie kids. There's a choice to make, and Romeo isn't making any of the right ones.
Chebatte makes a poignant point about how in the end, we are all just people, and the day-to-day cultural differences don't affect that everyone can get along when we aren't being identified as our heritage and stereotypes.
But gossip is a nasty part of the high school experience, and before he knows it, Romeo is in the spotlight, caught in a war against the Aussie kids. There's a choice to make, and Romeo isn't making any of the right ones.
Chebatte makes a poignant point about how in the end, we are all just people, and the day-to-day cultural differences don't affect that everyone can get along when we aren't being identified as our heritage and stereotypes.
April 2, 2016
I hope we don't have to wait long for Helen Chebatte's next novel. To echo Trisha, she's fresh OZ YA talent to watch. Her use of a school boy fight club as her underlying plot enables her to skilfully interweave a number of themes - friendship, racial rivalry and peer pressure - into a modern day morality tale, without exactly clubbing you over the head with it. Chebatte's easy style will appeal to a broad readership, and should be a particular hit with reluctant readers. It's a book that made me more empathetic to the themes it explored, and left me feeling hopeful.
April 20, 2022
This book got me from the get go and was a really digestible read - I barreled through it in a day.
I will definitely be recommending this to our older students, and I would really hope that some of our less enthusiastic readers might be willing to give it a crack.
Set in urban Australia, it tells the story of Romeo, a Leb (Lebanese) and his friends who attend an all boys school and who live in a permanent tense stand-off with the Ozzies, Fobs (Fresh-off-the-Boats) and the Rez (Asians.)
When one of the Fobs sets up a Fight Club, Romeo knows that it is wrong, but he also knows that he can't dob anyone in. And when his relationship with a local girl complicates matters even further, the situation goes from bad to worse - and ends up in tragedy.
Can Romeo be a force for change in his community and try and bridge the gaps between the various community factions?
I will definitely be recommending this to our older students, and I would really hope that some of our less enthusiastic readers might be willing to give it a crack.
Set in urban Australia, it tells the story of Romeo, a Leb (Lebanese) and his friends who attend an all boys school and who live in a permanent tense stand-off with the Ozzies, Fobs (Fresh-off-the-Boats) and the Rez (Asians.)
When one of the Fobs sets up a Fight Club, Romeo knows that it is wrong, but he also knows that he can't dob anyone in. And when his relationship with a local girl complicates matters even further, the situation goes from bad to worse - and ends up in tragedy.
Can Romeo be a force for change in his community and try and bridge the gaps between the various community factions?
January 11, 2018
Easy read with issues relevant to teenage boys. Would teach to Year 9 boys.
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May 24, 2025I would have ate this book up in my teens but I still enjoyed this. I thought that the world and characters were quite clear and engaging to follow.
March 2, 2016
From a YA novel called 'Bro' about a fight club and racial tensions with fists punching out the title on the cover, I was expecting ugly brutality: I was surprised with vulnerability and sensitivity. I thoroughly enjoyed Helen Chebatte's debut novel with its West Side Story feel, set in Western Sydney, with appealing and engaging main characters.
Using first person narration, Chebatte takes the reader behind the bravado of the main character, Lebanese Australian teenager Romeo, to expose his vulnerabilities. Set in a multicultural school Romeo is caught up in tensions that escalate after he starts dating a girl, and which end disastrously. With themes that include identity, belonging, friendship, loyalty, peer pressure, racism, grief, forgiveness and redemption 'Bro' certainly packs a punch!
Despite a lot of talk about fight club, there are actually only three fight scenes, each rendered effectively without too much gore and horror, however I was moved to tears at the outcome of the final fight, a testament to how engaged I was with the likeable characters.
The thing that touched me the most about 'Bro' is the way in which Chebatte renders grief - the palpable way it hangs over Romeo's household after the death of his mother, and the way it affects each of the characters in the end.
The message about us all being Aussies despite our racial backgrounds is not so subtle, however in the shadow of the Cronulla riots, this is a message for our generation, and the refreshingly diverse voice in Aussie YA fiction is timely.
It is a pleasantly light read, dominated by dialogue and would be perfect as a middle school text.
Using first person narration, Chebatte takes the reader behind the bravado of the main character, Lebanese Australian teenager Romeo, to expose his vulnerabilities. Set in a multicultural school Romeo is caught up in tensions that escalate after he starts dating a girl, and which end disastrously. With themes that include identity, belonging, friendship, loyalty, peer pressure, racism, grief, forgiveness and redemption 'Bro' certainly packs a punch!
Despite a lot of talk about fight club, there are actually only three fight scenes, each rendered effectively without too much gore and horror, however I was moved to tears at the outcome of the final fight, a testament to how engaged I was with the likeable characters.
The thing that touched me the most about 'Bro' is the way in which Chebatte renders grief - the palpable way it hangs over Romeo's household after the death of his mother, and the way it affects each of the characters in the end.
The message about us all being Aussies despite our racial backgrounds is not so subtle, however in the shadow of the Cronulla riots, this is a message for our generation, and the refreshingly diverse voice in Aussie YA fiction is timely.
It is a pleasantly light read, dominated by dialogue and would be perfect as a middle school text.
February 22, 2016
I'm not so much into writing reviews for books but its been a pretty god damn long time since I've been moved by a book...
I cried reading this book (something I've never done before). The book has a pretty powerful message and I was shocked when I realised the author is a woman, she has a very strong male voice.
My brother was involved in a fight club when he was in school so I've passed this one on to him and so far he's enjoying it.
The message is powerful in this novel, something definitely worth reading.
I've gotta give it 5 stars for the simple fact that it moved me ...
I cried reading this book (something I've never done before). The book has a pretty powerful message and I was shocked when I realised the author is a woman, she has a very strong male voice.
My brother was involved in a fight club when he was in school so I've passed this one on to him and so far he's enjoying it.
The message is powerful in this novel, something definitely worth reading.
I've gotta give it 5 stars for the simple fact that it moved me ...
April 7, 2016
I finished this book in just under two hours, and its pace will appeal to Young Adult readers wholeheartedly. Helen Chebatte offers a slice of Aussie school life that those of us who grew up here, or have worked as teachers can relate to, and gives a glimpse into the rivalries that exist among ethnic groups in an all boys' high school. I also got to learn a few new slangs that I wasn't aware of, like the expression "dice" which is used to describe a gesture when greeting friends (fist to fist bump).
February 11, 2017
I'm 12 and I read this book when I was 11. I was just starting Goodreads then and didn't really write reviews. This isn't really going to be a review of sorts more just a comment. I cried at the end of this book like full on tears. It was so sad. It had an amazing message and I am getting sad inside just thinking about it. Def recommend this book to *coughs* everyone. I finished it pretty quickly though so my only complaints would be to make it longer.
June 17, 2016
Have been thinking about this book for a few days. I liked the beginning but just didn't like the 'convenience' of the ending. I can understand the author wanting a positive outcome but for me it didn't seem real and it happened too quickly but it's what you would want to happen after such tragedy.
July 15, 2020
I found this book in the school library (cairns high)
September 6, 2024
this book sucks i would rather kill my self than read this book, like the only thing good about it was not reading it
December 30, 2017
I wasn't sure I was going to like Bro but Chebatte definitely surprised me. It isn't a long book but it one that is important as it talks about trying to fit in when people class you as different on both sides, and the pressure of being loyal to your family roots, all with a delightfully Australian feel.
This is Boys 'R' Us meets Hate is Such a Strong Word in all the best ways. It is, I'll admit, very Australian. One could say too Australian, but I have heard teenage boys speak to one another and aside from the lack of swearing, it sounds like this for the most part (so many bros!). It takes some getting used to but I quite liked the tone of voice Chebatte used, especially how Julian Maroun narrated, it felt very real; you really get the sense of these teenage boys who are trying to be cooler and tougher than they actually are and the tired effort the adults are going to to try and help them
Chebatte uses the male point of view quite well, demonstrating the conflicts between the races at school, girl trouble, and trying to find where you belong, something which reminded me of Ayoub's Hate is Such a Strong Word for the female perspective. I liked Romeo as a narrator, I also liked that Chebatte balanced him but not too evenly. He has some sensibilities but he is still a young boy with wild ideas and a feeling of invincibility. You clearly understand his conflict about who he is and whether he is Lebanese or Australian, and how even though he was born here he still doesn't feel like he belongs. This conflict drives his decisions and affects the decisions he makes, right or wrong they may be.
I was apprehensive about this book, I genuinely thought I wouldn't like it but I'm glad I read it. It tells the story of the danger of boys and their masculinity, peer pressure, "national pride", racism, and trying to belong. It's a book people should read about feeling different, and the consequences of male pride.
A longer version of this review was published on my blog https://wp.me/p3x8rS-1Ay
This is Boys 'R' Us meets Hate is Such a Strong Word in all the best ways. It is, I'll admit, very Australian. One could say too Australian, but I have heard teenage boys speak to one another and aside from the lack of swearing, it sounds like this for the most part (so many bros!). It takes some getting used to but I quite liked the tone of voice Chebatte used, especially how Julian Maroun narrated, it felt very real; you really get the sense of these teenage boys who are trying to be cooler and tougher than they actually are and the tired effort the adults are going to to try and help them
Chebatte uses the male point of view quite well, demonstrating the conflicts between the races at school, girl trouble, and trying to find where you belong, something which reminded me of Ayoub's Hate is Such a Strong Word for the female perspective. I liked Romeo as a narrator, I also liked that Chebatte balanced him but not too evenly. He has some sensibilities but he is still a young boy with wild ideas and a feeling of invincibility. You clearly understand his conflict about who he is and whether he is Lebanese or Australian, and how even though he was born here he still doesn't feel like he belongs. This conflict drives his decisions and affects the decisions he makes, right or wrong they may be.
I was apprehensive about this book, I genuinely thought I wouldn't like it but I'm glad I read it. It tells the story of the danger of boys and their masculinity, peer pressure, "national pride", racism, and trying to belong. It's a book people should read about feeling different, and the consequences of male pride.
A longer version of this review was published on my blog https://wp.me/p3x8rS-1Ay
April 29, 2018
This is one of those novels that had me from the 'get go'. It's real and its engaging. It was great to read a YA fiction told from a male protagonist's perspective, devoid of the neuroses that often characterises books written for this age group. I warmed to Romeo and I loved that he was an incredibly relatable kid, telling his story from the POV of an Aussie teen of partial Lebanese origin. I've never read a book told from the perspective of a Lebanese Australian boy and I guess this is the point. How often do we hear stories told through the eyes of racial groups other than white Australian and how often is the Anglo-Aussie positioned as 'the other'? Very interesting and a captivating portrayal from debut novellist, Chebatte. Strong themes of inter-racial tension are balanced with a hero of integrity, depth and bravery and a convincing friendship that underpins the narrative and does not grate the way many YA BFF stories tend to.
November 7, 2018
The message of this book was so profound. All the way through, you could identify how race and heritage separated the school. Romeo constantly addressed people via their race throughout the novel which just further shows how ethnicity is a barrier in the school. Even though the end was a little bit extreme, it was fully realistic. Diz died because of that fight and it's upsetting how something of such value has to occur in order for people to realise their mistakes. I really enjoyed reading this book because it gave me perspective on how other schools treat people differently and made me grateful be in mine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2024
I had to read this for my school novel and it is entirely unrealistic! As an Aussie (Yes, everyone spells it Aussie NOT Ozzie unlike in the book) student i can say this depiction of teenagers is nowhere near how anyone I know acts. This is certainly not appropriate for a school novel with the heavy racism, unrealistic standards, violence, sexual mentions, hate for school and teacher disrespect. Atop of all of this it was just generally not written well. It lacks proper description and the plot is just not hitting the mark. The only redeeming feature was the ending as it feels properly tied off. Overall pretty bad book 1.5/5 stars.
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June 25, 2019this book is the best calmer ive ever read luv u gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
June 18, 2020
This was awesome. I repeat AWESOME! I loved the realistic way Chebatte portrayed the tension between the two classes. Romeo is a heart-felt character who tries to do the right thing. It was such a sad ending but I feel it was necessary to add meaning to the message the author was trying to convey about violence not solving very much. The ending is both heart breaking, redemptive and hopeful in the introduction of new beginnings for Romeo.
March 14, 2019
Quick, easy read with some weighty themes, but did feel uncomfortable about the slang terms for each of the groups of races. However, can see that they are used as I have heard them used at my daughter's multicultural school. Liked the exploration of violence begets violence and of course the name of the main character, Romeo.
September 1, 2017
Firstly, thanks to Hardie Grant Egmont for this review copy.
Review originally posted at Fiction in Fiction in Fiction
2.5 stars
I’m a bit conflicted on how I feel about Bro. On one hand I thought it could be an accurate depiction of teenage high school life and the racial issues we are STILL dealing with in Australia. On the other hand I felt it was really stupid to be so largely centred on a fight club.
At first glance, main character Romeo “Romes” Makhlouf has no trouble with cultural identity. He sees himself as Leb (Lebanese) because he eats Lebanese food, has a Lebanese family and hangs out with his ‘bros’ who are all Lebanese. But his mother was Australian (of Anglo-Celtic descent I assume) and as the book progresses I could see how he’s raised the question before of what it means to be Australian. He got on well with everybody and is the type of person that doesn’t want to cause trouble. Poor kid gets stuck in a lot of dilemmas – do the right thing or defend his bros? It’s a hard decision to make and for teenagers who are at that stage in life where they feel they have a reputation to uphold at school, stupid things will ensue. I definitely felt bad for him because he gets dragged into so much shit by his friends, the other racial groups at school, and even runs into girl problems. But Romes my man, get a spine and learn to speak up for yourself. Yeah I get it – high school equals peer pressure. Which is a serious problem and it sucks.
Secondary characters wise I loved Romeo’s best friend Diz. Diz is this really chill kid who’s always there for Romeo. He always manages to say the right thing for the situation, has a smile or a joke for you and is the kind of best friend I wish I had. Diz is also obsessed with Oprah. LOVE. HIM. Not that I watch Oprah but I think it’s cool that he gives no fucks because he likes what he likes. He’s probably my fav in the story. Then there are all the guys who fit into the racial groups (mainly Lebs, ‘Ozzies’ and ‘Fobs’) and are the epitome of high school idiocy with their need to be manly and tough. These sort of guys pissed the hell out of me and I’ll be honest, they’re the kind I’d stay away from when I was in high school. They’re freaking teens and they’re getting into punch ups and attacking each other after school. What the actual eff? Maybe I’m too far removed from high school now to understand. The relationship I really appreciated was the one between Romeo and his grandmother. I liked that he respected her and it’s ingrained into their culture. If he ever snapped at her he apologised and I could just see that he really loved her - no need to hide it. As someone who respects my elders as that’s how I was brought up, I really like to read about other kids brought up this way.
Sooooo the romance. It was cute. Kind of. Romes gets pretty whipped though *cracks whip* I wasn’t too pleased with the love interest. She was indecisive (again is this me being too old to understand high school drama?) and basically is the cause of a fight. I didn’t see her try to do anything about it except text Romeo if he’s ok. She doesn’t tell the other guy off. I just… Wow cannot even. I really needed more character development and dimension on her part. I think overall there was a lack of character development – so many people I couldn’t keep track with lots of surface mentions and not enough detail.
Anyway there’s a fight club. That's the main plot. It’s stupid. The whole idea of a fight club is stupid but these guys have race against race. Like a Leb versus an Ozzie. Or Fob versus Leb. If that didn’t drive the already tense racial issues, then I don’t know what does. And the guys glorify it. Does this really happen in schools? It probably does sadly. I’m not sure how I feel about using this a plot device. Racial tension was enough to be honest. On the topic of that it was sad to see how high school kids still separate themselves. What I’m assuming to be the ones of British decent were the Ozzies (true Australians? Please) and everybody else was categorised according by their culture/background. Nononono. As one of the characters so correctly put it “You’re all Australian. You put each other down for having different backgrounds but your different backgrounds are what make Australia today.”
The teachers don’t help either. There’s this one teacher in the book who actually seems to pick on Romeo a lot and is a poor teacher in general – the kind that just reads from a textbook, makes you copy stuff from overhead projectors and doesn’t explain. The reality is that teachers like that do exist. She totally disregards that Romeo is half-Anglo and assumes he knows how to read Arabic. How is she a teacher again? Yay more school issues, as if the students weren’t enough of a problem.
Well this was a mess of a review and it shows all my jumbled thoughts about this book. Chebatte gives us a glimpse of the male high school life - an MC who’s struggling with typical teen issues and cultural identity, egged on by increasing racial tensions at school, a lot of side characters and a stupid fight club that has everything going down in shit. Welcome to Australia?
Review originally posted at Fiction in Fiction in Fiction
2.5 stars
I’m a bit conflicted on how I feel about Bro. On one hand I thought it could be an accurate depiction of teenage high school life and the racial issues we are STILL dealing with in Australia. On the other hand I felt it was really stupid to be so largely centred on a fight club.
At first glance, main character Romeo “Romes” Makhlouf has no trouble with cultural identity. He sees himself as Leb (Lebanese) because he eats Lebanese food, has a Lebanese family and hangs out with his ‘bros’ who are all Lebanese. But his mother was Australian (of Anglo-Celtic descent I assume) and as the book progresses I could see how he’s raised the question before of what it means to be Australian. He got on well with everybody and is the type of person that doesn’t want to cause trouble. Poor kid gets stuck in a lot of dilemmas – do the right thing or defend his bros? It’s a hard decision to make and for teenagers who are at that stage in life where they feel they have a reputation to uphold at school, stupid things will ensue. I definitely felt bad for him because he gets dragged into so much shit by his friends, the other racial groups at school, and even runs into girl problems. But Romes my man, get a spine and learn to speak up for yourself. Yeah I get it – high school equals peer pressure. Which is a serious problem and it sucks.
Secondary characters wise I loved Romeo’s best friend Diz. Diz is this really chill kid who’s always there for Romeo. He always manages to say the right thing for the situation, has a smile or a joke for you and is the kind of best friend I wish I had. Diz is also obsessed with Oprah. LOVE. HIM. Not that I watch Oprah but I think it’s cool that he gives no fucks because he likes what he likes. He’s probably my fav in the story. Then there are all the guys who fit into the racial groups (mainly Lebs, ‘Ozzies’ and ‘Fobs’) and are the epitome of high school idiocy with their need to be manly and tough. These sort of guys pissed the hell out of me and I’ll be honest, they’re the kind I’d stay away from when I was in high school. They’re freaking teens and they’re getting into punch ups and attacking each other after school. What the actual eff? Maybe I’m too far removed from high school now to understand. The relationship I really appreciated was the one between Romeo and his grandmother. I liked that he respected her and it’s ingrained into their culture. If he ever snapped at her he apologised and I could just see that he really loved her - no need to hide it. As someone who respects my elders as that’s how I was brought up, I really like to read about other kids brought up this way.
Sooooo the romance. It was cute. Kind of. Romes gets pretty whipped though *cracks whip* I wasn’t too pleased with the love interest. She was indecisive (again is this me being too old to understand high school drama?) and basically is the cause of a fight. I didn’t see her try to do anything about it except text Romeo if he’s ok. She doesn’t tell the other guy off. I just… Wow cannot even. I really needed more character development and dimension on her part. I think overall there was a lack of character development – so many people I couldn’t keep track with lots of surface mentions and not enough detail.
Anyway there’s a fight club. That's the main plot. It’s stupid. The whole idea of a fight club is stupid but these guys have race against race. Like a Leb versus an Ozzie. Or Fob versus Leb. If that didn’t drive the already tense racial issues, then I don’t know what does. And the guys glorify it. Does this really happen in schools? It probably does sadly. I’m not sure how I feel about using this a plot device. Racial tension was enough to be honest. On the topic of that it was sad to see how high school kids still separate themselves. What I’m assuming to be the ones of British decent were the Ozzies (true Australians? Please) and everybody else was categorised according by their culture/background. Nononono. As one of the characters so correctly put it “You’re all Australian. You put each other down for having different backgrounds but your different backgrounds are what make Australia today.”
The teachers don’t help either. There’s this one teacher in the book who actually seems to pick on Romeo a lot and is a poor teacher in general – the kind that just reads from a textbook, makes you copy stuff from overhead projectors and doesn’t explain. The reality is that teachers like that do exist. She totally disregards that Romeo is half-Anglo and assumes he knows how to read Arabic. How is she a teacher again? Yay more school issues, as if the students weren’t enough of a problem.
Well this was a mess of a review and it shows all my jumbled thoughts about this book. Chebatte gives us a glimpse of the male high school life - an MC who’s struggling with typical teen issues and cultural identity, egged on by increasing racial tensions at school, a lot of side characters and a stupid fight club that has everything going down in shit. Welcome to Australia?
September 11, 2019
This book is funny and sad at the same time. I thought crying for books was fake until this book was the first and only book that made me cry. This is about a guy forced to fight for his Lebo friends. It also has a bit of romance and the words describe ALOT
October 24, 2019
The book Bro was set in an Australian high school about a lebanese kid called Romeo Makhlouf, the book explored issues such as peer pressure, violence - and the consequences of it, ethnic rivalries and loss of loved ones. it was a pretty good book.
December 23, 2022
Young adult fiction reviews: fairly well paced and engaging novel about boys, fighting and romance set in west Sydney. Ending is a little soppy and corny but would make for engaging reading for young teenagers.
January 20, 2018
Really good book for teenagers. Written in a way they can connect with the characters. However, the book is Romeo and Juliet, set in a high school in the modern world. It is a copy.
July 24, 2019
I wasn’t expecting too much from this- it started ok- schoolyard disputes between kids from different backgrounds- the Lebs, the Fobs (fresh off the boat) and the Rezs (Arabic for rice, so, you know, the Asians) and Romeo Maklouf is working out his identity- is he Lebanese or is he Australian?
However, what begins as schoolyard scuffles and fights ends with something that left me reeling. I won’t give it away but this is something that EVERY adolescent male should read (I hate gendering books but this type of incident is pretty solely the domain of men and young men in particular). Highly recommend.
However, what begins as schoolyard scuffles and fights ends with something that left me reeling. I won’t give it away but this is something that EVERY adolescent male should read (I hate gendering books but this type of incident is pretty solely the domain of men and young men in particular). Highly recommend.
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