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Bonesland
A wild ride for young adults through the small-town agonies of adolescence, packed with sex, drugs, love and hip hop.
Bones Carter spends much of his time trying to avoid germs and the school bully Chase Barnes. Then he meets Naya Kajang, a new exchange student. Naya is brilliant, black and beautiful—and wants to free the world of prejudice.
She thinks Bones is a well of untapped potential. Bones thinks she’s a bit lame. But she makes him feel something he didn’t think he could.
A hilarious and touching debut full of oddball humour and incredible heart.
Bones Carter spends much of his time trying to avoid germs and the school bully Chase Barnes. Then he meets Naya Kajang, a new exchange student. Naya is brilliant, black and beautiful—and wants to free the world of prejudice.
She thinks Bones is a well of untapped potential. Bones thinks she’s a bit lame. But she makes him feel something he didn’t think he could.
A hilarious and touching debut full of oddball humour and incredible heart.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
309 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
3 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Brendan Lawley
1 book8 followersBrendan Lawley is a writer living in Melbourne. Bonesland is his first novel.
Go say hi on Fakebook or hit the Gram/Twitter thing up via @AboveTheLawley.
Go say hi on Fakebook or hit the Gram/Twitter thing up via @AboveTheLawley.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
did-not-finish
April 8, 2022I am editing this review as I dnfed Bonesland after 24 pages when it was first published. This was largely due to the racial comments, recreational drug use and sexual connotations - which I believed were not appropriate for the YA audience it was intended for.
May 4, 2018
So, who knew teenage boys were sexist, filthy-minded and touched themselves of lot? Well of course we knew that (not to generalise, of course, I’m sure there really are sweet, shy boys who totally respect girls for their minds - and, of course, there are boys who like boys...). But it’s rare we see them depicted in all their raw glory as we do in Bonesland.
Author Brendan Lawley apologises early on (via narrator Bones) for the gross banter between the boys about their intended sexual conquests, but there’s no denying it’s jolting to read this perspective - ‘genuine fake’ or not. We don’t often hear this type of male voice in contemporary YA, especially written by a young male. It’s a little gutsy, to be honest.
Not that Bones is as seemingly sexist as his best mate Jimmy, but still. This is not the type of YA boy we’ve come to expect, even from our wonderfully gritty Australian YA writers. Yes, Bones suffers from anxiety (he’s genuinely OCD when it comes to hygiene), and his medication has led his mates to believe his lack of sex drive meant he was ‘asexual’ (which they accept without ridicule). But once he meets Naya and his body responds to her - intellectually as much as physically - he soon discovers why his mates are so obsessed with physical contact with the opposite sex.
I really enjoyed Lawley’s pace and natural writing style, and the picture he paints of teens in regional towns desperate for excitement. I truly loathed Shitty (yep, that’s his name) and found it hard to empathise with him, even when more of his situation became apparent.
Lawley captures all that’s repugnant about modern young Australian masculinity, but reassures us young Aussie men are not irredeemable, even those caught up in a cycle of recreational drugs, alcohol, hip hop and over-sexualised women.
I can see why this book was shortlisted for the Text Prize. It should certainly spark some interesting conversations. I hope the kind of guys Lawley describes in this book pick it up and read it.
Author Brendan Lawley apologises early on (via narrator Bones) for the gross banter between the boys about their intended sexual conquests, but there’s no denying it’s jolting to read this perspective - ‘genuine fake’ or not. We don’t often hear this type of male voice in contemporary YA, especially written by a young male. It’s a little gutsy, to be honest.
Not that Bones is as seemingly sexist as his best mate Jimmy, but still. This is not the type of YA boy we’ve come to expect, even from our wonderfully gritty Australian YA writers. Yes, Bones suffers from anxiety (he’s genuinely OCD when it comes to hygiene), and his medication has led his mates to believe his lack of sex drive meant he was ‘asexual’ (which they accept without ridicule). But once he meets Naya and his body responds to her - intellectually as much as physically - he soon discovers why his mates are so obsessed with physical contact with the opposite sex.
I really enjoyed Lawley’s pace and natural writing style, and the picture he paints of teens in regional towns desperate for excitement. I truly loathed Shitty (yep, that’s his name) and found it hard to empathise with him, even when more of his situation became apparent.
Lawley captures all that’s repugnant about modern young Australian masculinity, but reassures us young Aussie men are not irredeemable, even those caught up in a cycle of recreational drugs, alcohol, hip hop and over-sexualised women.
I can see why this book was shortlisted for the Text Prize. It should certainly spark some interesting conversations. I hope the kind of guys Lawley describes in this book pick it up and read it.
Read
June 8, 2018‘Bonesland kept me up until the wee hours. It was a helluva ride…I was in love with Bones from his first breath.’
Scot Gardner
‘It’s rare we see teenage boys depicted in all their raw glory as we do in Bonesland. Lawley captures all that’s repugnant about modern masculinity, but reassures us that young Aussie men are not irredeemable…I can see why this book was shortlisted for the Text Prize. It should certainly spark some interesting conversations.’
Paula Weston
‘…has the raw feel of authenticity about it…a book impressively full of energy and, unexpectedly, heart.’
Adelaide Advertiser
'This debut is bursting with quirky humour and incredible heart. You’re right there beside Bones as he rides wave after wave of emotion…There’s so much to love about this teen and the young author who created him.'
Herald Sun
‘This amusing, poignant coming-of-age story deftly addresses some of the issues facing today’s teens, from mental health to social media, and puts a fresh spin on a familiar message about the value of being yourself.’
Books+Publishing
Scot Gardner
‘It’s rare we see teenage boys depicted in all their raw glory as we do in Bonesland. Lawley captures all that’s repugnant about modern masculinity, but reassures us that young Aussie men are not irredeemable…I can see why this book was shortlisted for the Text Prize. It should certainly spark some interesting conversations.’
Paula Weston
‘…has the raw feel of authenticity about it…a book impressively full of energy and, unexpectedly, heart.’
Adelaide Advertiser
'This debut is bursting with quirky humour and incredible heart. You’re right there beside Bones as he rides wave after wave of emotion…There’s so much to love about this teen and the young author who created him.'
Herald Sun
‘This amusing, poignant coming-of-age story deftly addresses some of the issues facing today’s teens, from mental health to social media, and puts a fresh spin on a familiar message about the value of being yourself.’
Books+Publishing
April 20, 2018
Alive, full-on and electric. Bones's narrative voice is hilarious, earnest and depressing, all at the same time.
It might be pushing through some boundaries, but it's speaking straight to teenage boys, and they should love it. It's easy to love.
It might be pushing through some boundaries, but it's speaking straight to teenage boys, and they should love it. It's easy to love.
Read
May 10, 2018Unfortunately just can't get into it. Popping it on the backburner and will try again.
June 5, 2018
I won this novel in a competition thanks to the generosity of the publishers, Text Publishing. I chose to write an honest review.
This was a terrific read! Shortlisted for the annual Text Prize, Bonesland follows the life of Ben “Bones” Carter and his life in small town Banarang.
Bones is a germaphobe, like Ava in John Green’s novel “Turtles All the Way Down”, and is obsessed by the number three. He lives a life of mediocrity with a family that is slowly imploding. Bones despised many of the people in his small town community and can’t wait to leave.
Until a night in Melbourne with his mates shows him the reality of the world and heralds the entrance of Naya, an American exchange student who is out to fix the world. Is she the solution to all Bones’ problems? Or will she wreak havoc for him and his town?
There were many moments where Lawley expertly portrays small-town Australian life and highlights the reason why people choose to stay instead of seeing the world.
Lawley’s characterisation is superb, and really nails the dialogue.
Bonesland has many moments to make you laugh, cry and gasp, and the ending very nearly threw me, until it went against the grain of my expectation.
Thanks Text Publishing for choosing to publish this great Australian novel.
This was a terrific read! Shortlisted for the annual Text Prize, Bonesland follows the life of Ben “Bones” Carter and his life in small town Banarang.
Bones is a germaphobe, like Ava in John Green’s novel “Turtles All the Way Down”, and is obsessed by the number three. He lives a life of mediocrity with a family that is slowly imploding. Bones despised many of the people in his small town community and can’t wait to leave.
Until a night in Melbourne with his mates shows him the reality of the world and heralds the entrance of Naya, an American exchange student who is out to fix the world. Is she the solution to all Bones’ problems? Or will she wreak havoc for him and his town?
There were many moments where Lawley expertly portrays small-town Australian life and highlights the reason why people choose to stay instead of seeing the world.
Lawley’s characterisation is superb, and really nails the dialogue.
Bonesland has many moments to make you laugh, cry and gasp, and the ending very nearly threw me, until it went against the grain of my expectation.
Thanks Text Publishing for choosing to publish this great Australian novel.
June 4, 2018
Loved it! Review to appear on Reading Time very soon...
May 1, 2018
Bonesland is raw, edgy, and a razor-sharp coming-of-age story that will blow your mind.
It is also the debut book of Australian author, Brendan Lawley and was short-listed for the 2017 Text Prize.
Sixteen-year-old Bones Carter lives out bush in Banarang. He can’t wait to finish high school, leave his small town and backwater existence until he meets Naya, a beautiful, brilliant, black exchange student. Bones struggles to come to terms with his life and what he wants from his future.
It’s not often I come across writing that is so raw and pure it makes me ache but Bonesland did just that. I felt Bones’ pain but I also had a sense of wonder. Lawley’s writing is unfettered; it’s honest and wonderfully strong.
Bonesland is definitely like a punch to the guts and it won’t be for everyone. It reminded me of Salinger and Bukowski who strove to keep their writing bare, and I admire Lawley for writing strong and diving deep. It’s a book to poke and prod and make you squirm and it won’t be forgotten for a long time. Lawley is definitely an author to watch.
Recommended for older young adult readers.
It is also the debut book of Australian author, Brendan Lawley and was short-listed for the 2017 Text Prize.
Sixteen-year-old Bones Carter lives out bush in Banarang. He can’t wait to finish high school, leave his small town and backwater existence until he meets Naya, a beautiful, brilliant, black exchange student. Bones struggles to come to terms with his life and what he wants from his future.
It’s not often I come across writing that is so raw and pure it makes me ache but Bonesland did just that. I felt Bones’ pain but I also had a sense of wonder. Lawley’s writing is unfettered; it’s honest and wonderfully strong.
Bonesland is definitely like a punch to the guts and it won’t be for everyone. It reminded me of Salinger and Bukowski who strove to keep their writing bare, and I admire Lawley for writing strong and diving deep. It’s a book to poke and prod and make you squirm and it won’t be forgotten for a long time. Lawley is definitely an author to watch.
Recommended for older young adult readers.
June 9, 2018
Bonesland is Brendan Lawley's debut YA novel. This is a witty and entertaining story about Bones Carter, an unusual teenager. Thanks to Text Publishing for my ARC.
December 7, 2019
"Bonesland" follows the wild ride of a teenage boy living in Banarang: Bones Carter. His small town’s way of living only allows for certain ‘adventures’. Them being: hanging out with friends, making bad rap or hip hop music and counting down the days until the end of school. All Bones wants to do is leave fake IDs behind and run away from the constant stress of peer pressure as he feels he doesn’t belong in his somewhat crazy backwater town. Obsessive compulsive disorders – regarding germs (and especially regarding fresh produce, skin and bodily fluids) and the obsession of the number three – completely overrun his everyday life, stopping him from enjoying simple things. Until one day, Naya comes to town. Brilliant, black and beautiful. The American exchange student that works for the good. She wants to make a difference, change the world at that. Upon their meeting, she sees Bones as a “well of untapped potential”. She makes him feel more hopeful than he has in a long time, like he wants to stay.
Written by Brendan Lawley, a young writer based in Melbourne, "Bonesland" is his debut novel. The YA/coming of age novel had been shortlisted for the 2017 Text Prize — which would have been a well deserving prize if I do say so myself.
From my perspective, Lawley writes as if he wants us to see Bones as a struggling teen, still trying to figure himself and the things around him out — like an outlet to relate to. I was able to connect and feel an affinity towards Bones, I could literally feel the strain and judgement on his shoulders. Lawley writes about OCD — an often ‘looked down upon/everybody has it’ disorder. He focuses on the strange yet real battles that real human beings encounter today. Bones’ obsession with the number three is ever present throughout the text and Lawley’s clever use of this will have you speechless. So if you want to see this, you’re gonna have to read it yourself.
"Bonesland" values existentialism: “that you have to make your own meaning in life, because otherwise, there is none.” Lawley thinks that it is important to stop thinking that everything happens for a reason (which personally, I disagree with). Although he makes a good point in the text: believing it’s some sort of energy creating reason in life and only believing in that ‘energy’ is bad. This might immobilise you and stop you from creating your reason by yourself because of it. Ambition. Bones is surrounded by ambition and is told that he’s special and has ‘potential’. He is lazy and believes nothing matters; but through Naya she reveals to him that giving yourself a mission to work towards will give a reason to live. Potential means absolutely nothing if you don’t do anything with it: it’s basically dead weight. “You can’t rest on what you could have done, it doesn’t matter, it didn’t happen.”
The importance of family and more importantly, friends in a growing teen’s life is described by Lawley: “We take deep family love for granted and it’s a gift to be able to do that. You know that even if you act up…they’re still going to be there. You’ll wear them down, they won’t take all your crap and nor should they, but the real ones will still be there for you to say sorry to and stick up for you.”
There’s an analogy in the book about everyone having their own ‘life movie’, and the best you can hope for is to be a supporting cast member in someone else’s — you’ll never be the star, and that’s okay. Bones’ friends aren’t exactly like him, but that doesn’t matter because they stick up for him no matter what. They understand each other's differences and appreciate them, rather than scrape them down until they’re nonexistent. Although not related by blood, Bones, Jimmy and all the others treat each other like brothers.
Bones comes from the town of Banarang where the ideal of being a cool guy is only one idea: muscular, being popular with the ladies and being able to chug beer. Compared to this, Bones’ is a complete outlier: average, a germaphobe and terrible with girls. The crucial message in this text is not having to conform to society’s ideal of masculinity. "Bonesland" effectively points out every flaw in it and reassures young people that they aren’t uncool for not fitting into such a close-minded category and that people appreciate realness.
It isn’t common that we see young Aussie men depicted in books with their authenticity and rawness. Usually they’re put through this sieve and what we’re left with is teenage boys with chiselled jawlines, deep blue eyes and the ability to play guitar. How often do we see that around here? Never? I think so.
"Bonesland" has this weird way of pulling you in. It will keep you up at night and keep you busy on the train. It touches on the concept of social media, mental health and being who you believe who you are, not who you think the world will look up to. I’m sure from reading "Bonesland" that the world praise you more for your true self rather than somebody hiding behind a screen.
I challenge all young adults to take this novel, read it and tell me of another book that showcases young men in such a way. And if they stumble upon a wizard who casts a spell on them and they somehow end up not loving it, that’s okay. “You win some, you lose most…But you do win some.” I have never read a novel so true and raw, so I am proud to say: I actually won most with "Bonesland".
Written by Brendan Lawley, a young writer based in Melbourne, "Bonesland" is his debut novel. The YA/coming of age novel had been shortlisted for the 2017 Text Prize — which would have been a well deserving prize if I do say so myself.
From my perspective, Lawley writes as if he wants us to see Bones as a struggling teen, still trying to figure himself and the things around him out — like an outlet to relate to. I was able to connect and feel an affinity towards Bones, I could literally feel the strain and judgement on his shoulders. Lawley writes about OCD — an often ‘looked down upon/everybody has it’ disorder. He focuses on the strange yet real battles that real human beings encounter today. Bones’ obsession with the number three is ever present throughout the text and Lawley’s clever use of this will have you speechless. So if you want to see this, you’re gonna have to read it yourself.
"Bonesland" values existentialism: “that you have to make your own meaning in life, because otherwise, there is none.” Lawley thinks that it is important to stop thinking that everything happens for a reason (which personally, I disagree with). Although he makes a good point in the text: believing it’s some sort of energy creating reason in life and only believing in that ‘energy’ is bad. This might immobilise you and stop you from creating your reason by yourself because of it. Ambition. Bones is surrounded by ambition and is told that he’s special and has ‘potential’. He is lazy and believes nothing matters; but through Naya she reveals to him that giving yourself a mission to work towards will give a reason to live. Potential means absolutely nothing if you don’t do anything with it: it’s basically dead weight. “You can’t rest on what you could have done, it doesn’t matter, it didn’t happen.”
The importance of family and more importantly, friends in a growing teen’s life is described by Lawley: “We take deep family love for granted and it’s a gift to be able to do that. You know that even if you act up…they’re still going to be there. You’ll wear them down, they won’t take all your crap and nor should they, but the real ones will still be there for you to say sorry to and stick up for you.”
There’s an analogy in the book about everyone having their own ‘life movie’, and the best you can hope for is to be a supporting cast member in someone else’s — you’ll never be the star, and that’s okay. Bones’ friends aren’t exactly like him, but that doesn’t matter because they stick up for him no matter what. They understand each other's differences and appreciate them, rather than scrape them down until they’re nonexistent. Although not related by blood, Bones, Jimmy and all the others treat each other like brothers.
Bones comes from the town of Banarang where the ideal of being a cool guy is only one idea: muscular, being popular with the ladies and being able to chug beer. Compared to this, Bones’ is a complete outlier: average, a germaphobe and terrible with girls. The crucial message in this text is not having to conform to society’s ideal of masculinity. "Bonesland" effectively points out every flaw in it and reassures young people that they aren’t uncool for not fitting into such a close-minded category and that people appreciate realness.
It isn’t common that we see young Aussie men depicted in books with their authenticity and rawness. Usually they’re put through this sieve and what we’re left with is teenage boys with chiselled jawlines, deep blue eyes and the ability to play guitar. How often do we see that around here? Never? I think so.
"Bonesland" has this weird way of pulling you in. It will keep you up at night and keep you busy on the train. It touches on the concept of social media, mental health and being who you believe who you are, not who you think the world will look up to. I’m sure from reading "Bonesland" that the world praise you more for your true self rather than somebody hiding behind a screen.
I challenge all young adults to take this novel, read it and tell me of another book that showcases young men in such a way. And if they stumble upon a wizard who casts a spell on them and they somehow end up not loving it, that’s okay. “You win some, you lose most…But you do win some.” I have never read a novel so true and raw, so I am proud to say: I actually won most with "Bonesland".
June 1, 2022
อะไรกันเนี่ย! ศัพท์แสลงและวิธีการพูดแบบออซซี่เต็มไปหมด 5555 ชอบการสร้างตัวละครหลักและความห่ามของมัน ที่คิดว่าน่าจะหาอะไรแบบนี้ไม่ได้ใน YA เมกัน ความระแวดระวัง PC แบบในโหมดความเป็นจริง ไม่ค่อยซื้อนิสัยของโบนส์ และสงสัยว่าอะไรทำให้เขามีแก๊งเพื่อนที่หลากหลายแบบนี้ได้ เพราะถ้าเป็นใน YA เมกัน โบนส์จะโดนแกล้ง และไม่มีเพื่อน
สิ่งที่ชอบน่าจะเป็นความคิดของโบนส์ที่ตรงกับเราหลายจุด สังคมเพื่อนผู้ชาย ความสัมพันธ์กับพี่ชาย อ่านเพลินดี ส่วนที่ไม่ชอบอาจจะเป็นความกลัวเชื้อโรคของโบนส์ การสร้างตัวละคร Naya ที่เรารู้สึกว่าแปลกๆ นิดหน่อย และช่วงท้ายๆ ที่เหมือนเล่าจบเร็วไปนิด
สิ่งที่ชอบน่าจะเป็นความคิดของโบนส์ที่ตรงกับเราหลายจุด สังคมเพื่อนผู้ชาย ความสัมพันธ์กับพี่ชาย อ่านเพลินดี ส่วนที่ไม่ชอบอาจจะเป็นความกลัวเชื้อโรคของโบนส์ การสร้างตัวละคร Naya ที่เรารู้สึกว่าแปลกๆ นิดหน่อย และช่วงท้ายๆ ที่เหมือนเล่าจบเร็วไปนิด
October 23, 2018
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Bonesy's life is centered towards one thing - getting to the City and out of his completely backwater town. There's just a couple of things that need to be set straight first... Such as his parents living in the same house again, not being bullied at school and getting laid by a girl.
I hated the objectification of women in this novel, and the completely innappropriate language all of the boys used. The lovely Muslim girl goes to a party and gets hit on and followed home by people she's turned down. I'm perfectly fine with her smoking pot, but where are her friends to help her out when she gets in trouble? The amount of drink and drugs going around was crazy. I'd love to know where this town is, and I wonder whether its real occupants actually behave in this deplorable way. Actually, this novel reminds me of Dream-something or other that was about another isolated idiot. I grew up isolated and so did my fiancee - and neither of us had these problems (she's a first in family to College too).
I don't get why his nick-name was Bonesy. I hardly remember why Bonesy was remarkable. Was he average? Probably. He gets picked on because he has a 'thing' about germs and he is terrible with girls. The bullying is pretty extreme, but he doesn't say anything or do anything about it. Even his friends aren't great at supporting him. This novel attempted to show us some character growth, but it felt forced and uncomfortable.
For a kid taking valium, he wasn't doing that well on it. He 'thinks' he 'might' have OCD, and I'd agree with that, but I'd also say he had Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Also, he is in serious denial that I would not expect of a 15-16 year old regarding his parent's separation. His main aim seems to be get off the medication because his father wants him to and for his parents to magically become a family again.
Does his father work? How the hell do they afford anything? I'm sick of novels where the kid is poor, but there's no solid explanation for why they have anything at all. Where's your drive to succeed? I get that you want to go to the Big Beautiful City, but you've got to actually TRY get there. You can't just hope something will magically happen in the next 2 years.
I finished it, but shouldn't have bothered. 2 stars from me.
Bonesy's life is centered towards one thing - getting to the City and out of his completely backwater town. There's just a couple of things that need to be set straight first... Such as his parents living in the same house again, not being bullied at school and getting laid by a girl.
I hated the objectification of women in this novel, and the completely innappropriate language all of the boys used. The lovely Muslim girl goes to a party and gets hit on and followed home by people she's turned down. I'm perfectly fine with her smoking pot, but where are her friends to help her out when she gets in trouble? The amount of drink and drugs going around was crazy. I'd love to know where this town is, and I wonder whether its real occupants actually behave in this deplorable way. Actually, this novel reminds me of Dream-something or other that was about another isolated idiot. I grew up isolated and so did my fiancee - and neither of us had these problems (she's a first in family to College too).
I don't get why his nick-name was Bonesy. I hardly remember why Bonesy was remarkable. Was he average? Probably. He gets picked on because he has a 'thing' about germs and he is terrible with girls. The bullying is pretty extreme, but he doesn't say anything or do anything about it. Even his friends aren't great at supporting him. This novel attempted to show us some character growth, but it felt forced and uncomfortable.
For a kid taking valium, he wasn't doing that well on it. He 'thinks' he 'might' have OCD, and I'd agree with that, but I'd also say he had Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Also, he is in serious denial that I would not expect of a 15-16 year old regarding his parent's separation. His main aim seems to be get off the medication because his father wants him to and for his parents to magically become a family again.
Does his father work? How the hell do they afford anything? I'm sick of novels where the kid is poor, but there's no solid explanation for why they have anything at all. Where's your drive to succeed? I get that you want to go to the Big Beautiful City, but you've got to actually TRY get there. You can't just hope something will magically happen in the next 2 years.
I finished it, but shouldn't have bothered. 2 stars from me.
July 26, 2018
If Jonathan Safran Foer and Tim Winton had a lovechild I imagine their non-binary agnostic spawn would write books like this.
I really enjoyed this book. It's not something I'd normally read, but being about growing up in a regional Australian town I had to give it a go - I've already read 'The Easy Way to Stop Smoking' three times and it's getting a bit long in the tooth, so I was happy to put it down for a couple of days.
I liked the raw look at how high school kids think and act. Though a lot was probably exaggerated - like the drug taking at age 16? But you can't let the truth get in the way of a good story, right? And teenage boys aren't even sure what they think yet, or what they're supposed to. I think it's quite brave to present it in this way, and perhaps comfort readers who haven't quite got their shit together yet.
I didn't like the near-Hollywood ending. In my opinion a death, like Mr Catling suggests there always is, might have sent a stronger message to the target audience.
The author has an interesting style of writing while keeping within a framework that is familiar enough to us all. I think Lawley was maybe even a bit reserved with this novel, and I'm looking forward to reading the next.
I can totally understand people who aren't on board with the objectification of women and racism, but cut the man some slap (sic)! It's 2018, no one really is. But I don't think the book glorifies these things, more just making the reader aware of their presence. The lives that we create for ourselves can easily exclude the sort of people and behaviour written about here.
I laughed, I nearly cried, I scoffed and I nearly coughed - I mean choked. I almost gave it four stars as my mum wasn't into the slang and thought it was a little bit 'try-hard', but this is my review and I thought it was a great story.
5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book. It's not something I'd normally read, but being about growing up in a regional Australian town I had to give it a go - I've already read 'The Easy Way to Stop Smoking' three times and it's getting a bit long in the tooth, so I was happy to put it down for a couple of days.
I liked the raw look at how high school kids think and act. Though a lot was probably exaggerated - like the drug taking at age 16? But you can't let the truth get in the way of a good story, right? And teenage boys aren't even sure what they think yet, or what they're supposed to. I think it's quite brave to present it in this way, and perhaps comfort readers who haven't quite got their shit together yet.
I didn't like the near-Hollywood ending. In my opinion a death, like Mr Catling suggests there always is, might have sent a stronger message to the target audience.
The author has an interesting style of writing while keeping within a framework that is familiar enough to us all. I think Lawley was maybe even a bit reserved with this novel, and I'm looking forward to reading the next.
I can totally understand people who aren't on board with the objectification of women and racism, but cut the man some slap (sic)! It's 2018, no one really is. But I don't think the book glorifies these things, more just making the reader aware of their presence. The lives that we create for ourselves can easily exclude the sort of people and behaviour written about here.
I laughed, I nearly cried, I scoffed and I nearly coughed - I mean choked. I almost gave it four stars as my mum wasn't into the slang and thought it was a little bit 'try-hard', but this is my review and I thought it was a great story.
5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
May 20, 2019I know I'm not exactly supposed to like the main characters' friends but I seriously could not stand the way they talked. No teenager in Australia, nay, the world, says "lol" out loud. Come on now.
I looked again at the synopsis on the back and it said, "Bonesland is a wild ride through the small-town agonies of adolescence, packed with sex, drugs, love and hip-hop." I'm sorry, hip-hop is supposed to be a central theme in a book mainly about white teenagers in small-town Victoria? No, thank you.
I looked again at the synopsis on the back and it said, "Bonesland is a wild ride through the small-town agonies of adolescence, packed with sex, drugs, love and hip-hop." I'm sorry, hip-hop is supposed to be a central theme in a book mainly about white teenagers in small-town Victoria? No, thank you.
June 12, 2018
Brilliant and funny. I laughed and related to so much in this book. Just feel bad about some of the people that expect everything to suit their needs by everything written, this book isn't for everyone. But 4.5 stars says heaps of folks are enjoying it.
I have lived in some small town America and Australia. Being an immigrant i can attest that racism and sexism exists deeper than whats depicted in Bonesland. Big up to the author for telling it how it is.
I have lived in some small town America and Australia. Being an immigrant i can attest that racism and sexism exists deeper than whats depicted in Bonesland. Big up to the author for telling it how it is.
July 23, 2018
I am conflicted about this book, there were bits that I loved, there were bits that were "meh", and there were bits that left me thinking wtf?
What I loved: Most books that are about people with OCD, or on the autism spectrum or in other ways are "different" tell you up front in the first chapter (I am think differently to other people but...). This one didn't - Bones doesn't really know that he is different, it is not until the other characters start reacting to him that you realise that he (like me) one of those people who everyone else can tell are "other" but are never quite sure why. I also loved that there was a sweetness to him that was in direct contrast to his friends.
What I didn't like was that the casual misogyny displayed by most of the males in the book was never really called out by anyone by Naya .
What I loved: Most books that are about people with OCD, or on the autism spectrum or in other ways are "different" tell you up front in the first chapter (I am think differently to other people but...). This one didn't - Bones doesn't really know that he is different, it is not until the other characters start reacting to him that you realise that he (like me) one of those people who everyone else can tell are "other" but are never quite sure why. I also loved that there was a sweetness to him that was in direct contrast to his friends.
What I didn't like was that the casual misogyny displayed by most of the males in the book was never really called out by anyone by Naya .
June 19, 2018
I struggled to rate this book. It captures some of the most toxic elements of adolescent male masculinity and the potential consequences of being ‘stuck’ in a country town with inadequate outlets for adolescent energy and excitement, and it does this quite well. I had a bit of a struggle with the overly racist, sexist and bigoted dialogue and attitudes expressed in the book. I get that the author was trying to paint a picture of what people can be like, but there was not enough movement in the novel in terms of addressing these issues or resolving them. I would have liked to have seen a clearer message of consequences or potential growth for some of these characters. I liked Bones’ black and white thinking and how this mellowed by the end.
April 21, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It was a really honest and very Australian look at growing up in a small country town. He author has a great turn of phrase and a way of turning all the characters, even those that could have been stock standard, into three dimensional people with flaws but also the good inside them. It tackled big issues, but not in a way that made it feel like a lecture. I loved it and devoured it in one sitting.
May 24, 2018
Nothing like my usual reading material - I'm way past YA but I liked it from the first scene - could visualize it all. It's a surprisngly fast read given it's over 300 pages. I was laughing out loud while reading it on the train but at the end I had tears in my eyes. Loved the bits of homespun philosophy and the old father in his Bintang singlet limping through life. It was easy to relate to the characters - so many of them remind you of someone you know. Really different writing.
November 21, 2022
This is one of those books that can only come from someone writing from their own very specific experiences, so I respect it for that but I didn't love the author's style nor did I click with the characters. I was grateful for a quick and easy read though, I pretty much picked it up and didn't put it down.
May 14, 2018
This was really funny and sad and all the other feels. My favourite book of the year so fa. Just found it randomly on Goodreads too, so thanks to the people who reviewed before.
June 16, 2023
Hilarious and ridiculous but also deeeeep
September 14, 2019
I read Bonesland as part of my book club, starting the first few chapters it was alarming, the language and actions of the boys in the book where unexpected. I at first disliked the way the book was heading and the behaviour that the boys portrayed throughout but as Bones' character developed I started to enjoy the authors take on how someone deals with the mental state of a teenage boy who has OCD and other anxiety issues. Bonesland had bullying, mysoginistic behaviour, racism and so much more shown in some of its worst forms and, as a high school student in Australia myself, I cannot say that I haven't seen or heard some of the things that go on in this book, the scenes where an over exaggeration of the everyday culture of the school ground, I found the part where they are in the classroom the most relatable with the boys in the back playing penis and so on. This book didn't shy away from the darker parts of life and I found that I enjoyed the uniqueness and flow of the book but I do not in any way support or condone the behaviour of the boys throughout the book but I do accept that it is and can be a realistic view on the thinking of some people and particularly enjoyed reading Naya trying to take on and change the views of some particularly misguided characters and when another character left her boyfriend after he sent other people her nudes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2025
Representation: Side Black character
Trigger warnings: Bullying
Score: Four out of ten.
Bonesland by Brendan Lawley was disappointing.
This wasn't a good YA novel. I've seen better novels than this one. The main character experienced character development by realising his potential and not living a sad lonely life all the time, however, the other characters were just very flat and dislikeable. The gang of friends Ben has just insulted people, swore all the time and tried to get girls, and that was their entire personality. The first out of the two most annoying and flat characters was Chase, who was just an annoying bully who hurt Ben all the time out of spite or something, Ben tried to do some payback by beating him in the swimming carnival, but later he got disqualified for doing an improper stroke, and later Chase just physically assaulted him in the end. The second most annoying character in the book was Naya, who was just a walking caricature who just acted preachy, and that was it. If you want a novel with character development, skip this one and try The Tryout, or When the Ground is Hard instead of this novel. The only intriguing aspect about this novel is that the chapters go up by threes until the last one which says chapter one.
Trigger warnings: Bullying
Score: Four out of ten.
Bonesland by Brendan Lawley was disappointing.
This wasn't a good YA novel. I've seen better novels than this one. The main character experienced character development by realising his potential and not living a sad lonely life all the time, however, the other characters were just very flat and dislikeable. The gang of friends Ben has just insulted people, swore all the time and tried to get girls, and that was their entire personality. The first out of the two most annoying and flat characters was Chase, who was just an annoying bully who hurt Ben all the time out of spite or something, Ben tried to do some payback by beating him in the swimming carnival, but later he got disqualified for doing an improper stroke, and later Chase just physically assaulted him in the end. The second most annoying character in the book was Naya, who was just a walking caricature who just acted preachy, and that was it. If you want a novel with character development, skip this one and try The Tryout, or When the Ground is Hard instead of this novel. The only intriguing aspect about this novel is that the chapters go up by threes until the last one which says chapter one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2022
Brillient, witty blew my mind. Characters are hilarious I could not put it down.
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