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Changing Gear
Merrick Hilton's done a runner.
His folks think he's studying, but the real world has been calling for years and he can't ignore it any longer. A postie bike, a bedroll and a big sky - that's all he needs.
But there's no telling how he'll handle roadkill, stolen oranges and unexpected romance, let alone the rough stuff. And in the real world nothing goes entirely as planned. Thankfully Victor - the old bloke Merrick meets on the road - knows a thing or two about broken bike chains. And broken hearts.
His folks think he's studying, but the real world has been calling for years and he can't ignore it any longer. A postie bike, a bedroll and a big sky - that's all he needs.
But there's no telling how he'll handle roadkill, stolen oranges and unexpected romance, let alone the rough stuff. And in the real world nothing goes entirely as planned. Thankfully Victor - the old bloke Merrick meets on the road - knows a thing or two about broken bike chains. And broken hearts.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2018
10 people are currently reading
105 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 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 18, 2018
This reminded me a little of Herrick's The Simple GiftThe Simple Gift, a homage if you will, a 21st century version.
It explores the role of family, the need for kindness, and connection to nature. Loved it.
It explores the role of family, the need for kindness, and connection to nature. Loved it.
July 7, 2018
I see you, Scot Gardner. I see the vagabond in you; the rough and tumble philosopher; the man-boy trying to make sense of the world, even after living in it for years; the raconteur; and someone whose love of this land we call home runs as deep as the roots of the trees he walks amongst. I see you because it is all here in this life-affirming, totally disarming novel. Until I finished this book today my favourite Scot Gardner book was The Way We Roll, but now it is this gem. Changing Gear is a triumph of noticing small things and showing how important they are.
Merrick Hilton is eighteen and on the verge of final exams. He exists between two houses, but is loved in both. Grieving the death of his much-beloved grandfather and feeling hemmed in by expectation (his own and those of the people around him), Merrick takes off on his trusty postie motorbike and heads into the landscape.
This is a road trip of self-discovery, and of self-affirmation. As Merrick travels he meets Victor, a long-time wanderer and finds himself drawn to his life of walking and camping as the landscape dictates. Victor and Merrick settle into laconic patter with ease and Merrick finds himself letting go of things he had thought to be important, and learning to value simpler things like a decent cup of tea, succulent sun-warmed strawberries and the companionship of someone with no expectations of him at all.
The questions Merrick asks himself are timeless: am I enough? Am I gay? Will I ever get laid? What comes after school? How do I recover from the loss of a loved one/best friend? His journey (ugh, hate that word, but it applies here) brings him some answers and gives him the courage and tenacity needed to find the rest.
No spoilers here, but I urge you to read this book - if you are a teenage boy, are raising teenage boys, know a teenage boy, or wondered what it is like to be one. My Aussie YA of the year so far, no doubt. Thank you, Scot Gardner, for giving us yourself in Merrick - and Victor - and showing how good writing and compelling characters can help shape confused boys into decent, caring young men.
For ages 13 and up.
Merrick Hilton is eighteen and on the verge of final exams. He exists between two houses, but is loved in both. Grieving the death of his much-beloved grandfather and feeling hemmed in by expectation (his own and those of the people around him), Merrick takes off on his trusty postie motorbike and heads into the landscape.
This is a road trip of self-discovery, and of self-affirmation. As Merrick travels he meets Victor, a long-time wanderer and finds himself drawn to his life of walking and camping as the landscape dictates. Victor and Merrick settle into laconic patter with ease and Merrick finds himself letting go of things he had thought to be important, and learning to value simpler things like a decent cup of tea, succulent sun-warmed strawberries and the companionship of someone with no expectations of him at all.
The questions Merrick asks himself are timeless: am I enough? Am I gay? Will I ever get laid? What comes after school? How do I recover from the loss of a loved one/best friend? His journey (ugh, hate that word, but it applies here) brings him some answers and gives him the courage and tenacity needed to find the rest.
No spoilers here, but I urge you to read this book - if you are a teenage boy, are raising teenage boys, know a teenage boy, or wondered what it is like to be one. My Aussie YA of the year so far, no doubt. Thank you, Scot Gardner, for giving us yourself in Merrick - and Victor - and showing how good writing and compelling characters can help shape confused boys into decent, caring young men.
For ages 13 and up.
May 3, 2019
Once again I've embarked on yearly quest to read all the books shortlisted by the Australian Children's Book Council for their Book of Year Award. As always, I'm starting with the young adult, and Changing Gear is first.
I really liked it. I liked Merrick and Victor and the friendship they formed. I liked the presentation of a teenage boy who isn't completely uncomfortable with himself and isn't tortured about a girl. I like that he wasn't 100% sure about what he wanted and that was ok. I really liked his relationships with his parents, step parents and siblings.
Really good start to the 2019 shortlist.
I really liked it. I liked Merrick and Victor and the friendship they formed. I liked the presentation of a teenage boy who isn't completely uncomfortable with himself and isn't tortured about a girl. I like that he wasn't 100% sure about what he wanted and that was ok. I really liked his relationships with his parents, step parents and siblings.
Really good start to the 2019 shortlist.
February 27, 2019
You can totally understand Merrick's point of view, school is over bar the exams, he spends his life travelling between parents who aren't really connected to his life. He is a bit of a missfit at school, not a drinker, a vegetarian and not at all interested in being part of the cool set. He is obsessed with boobs, completely and utterly obsessed with them and internet porn which shows them off, it is quite uncomfortable making! He takes off on his old motorbike and heads out of town on a journey of discovery. He takes close to nothing but a bedroll and a minimum amount of food. He has no phone and he really just wants to be alone.
This book documents his journey. Along the way he meets Victor, a man who has been on the road for a long time, they strike up a friendship and begin looking out for each other. They discuss the big things in life, philosophy, memories and anything else they can think of. It is a lovely relationship.
This is one of the Scot Gardner books where I feel he has a few things to get off his chest, a bit like Happy as Larry. He always does relationships with older people and young men well - Burning Eddie and Sparrow. This particular book wasn't one of my faves of his but that doesn't mean it isn't well written and a good book. I always look forward to the next one and wonder where he will take us next.
This book documents his journey. Along the way he meets Victor, a man who has been on the road for a long time, they strike up a friendship and begin looking out for each other. They discuss the big things in life, philosophy, memories and anything else they can think of. It is a lovely relationship.
This is one of the Scot Gardner books where I feel he has a few things to get off his chest, a bit like Happy as Larry. He always does relationships with older people and young men well - Burning Eddie and Sparrow. This particular book wasn't one of my faves of his but that doesn't mean it isn't well written and a good book. I always look forward to the next one and wonder where he will take us next.
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June 3, 2018Merrick is 18 and there is only 2 weeks left before his final exams and the end of his school life. He has always been a good student, but lately his school is concerned that he’s ‘lost his mojo.’
Merrick is struggling with the loss of his grandfather to a sudden heart attack. Grandad taught him how to surf, and how to cope with both his parents remarrying and giving him several stepbrothers/sisters, all the while giving Merrick gems of wisdom along the way.
One morning Merrick makes a sudden decision to get on his beloved motorbike (he calls Brunnhilde) and just ride, leaving behind his friends, study and blended family. On his journey he meets Victor, an old, bearded, homeless man, a girl called Felicity, a dog with no name and…himself.
This is not just another ‘road-trip’ story. Merrick is grieving for his lost friend and mentor – his grandfather. He’s trying to figure out where he fits in his family, what the future might hold and how to deal with its expectations of him. He learns about relationships; no matter how long or fleeting, his habits that seemed entrenched and necessary but are not, and what’s important to him. The banter between Merrick and Victor is brilliant, the journey both inner and outer – superb.
Merrick is struggling with the loss of his grandfather to a sudden heart attack. Grandad taught him how to surf, and how to cope with both his parents remarrying and giving him several stepbrothers/sisters, all the while giving Merrick gems of wisdom along the way.
One morning Merrick makes a sudden decision to get on his beloved motorbike (he calls Brunnhilde) and just ride, leaving behind his friends, study and blended family. On his journey he meets Victor, an old, bearded, homeless man, a girl called Felicity, a dog with no name and…himself.
This is not just another ‘road-trip’ story. Merrick is grieving for his lost friend and mentor – his grandfather. He’s trying to figure out where he fits in his family, what the future might hold and how to deal with its expectations of him. He learns about relationships; no matter how long or fleeting, his habits that seemed entrenched and necessary but are not, and what’s important to him. The banter between Merrick and Victor is brilliant, the journey both inner and outer – superb.
July 1, 2018
Every time I read another Scot Gardner I remember why! A little bit gritty, a little bit rude, good humoured even in adversity - and cracking stories, this is no exception. On the face of it the plot is basic - boy fed up, boy runs away from responsibility and decision making, boy drives around a bit suffers some problems and meets people with lots of life experience - boy....well don't want to give away ultimate spoilers ;-) however Scot's characters are rich with believable and engaging detail - he does present 'teenage boy' very well. Highly recommend - will share this as much as possible among our senior school students - and our teachers.
November 26, 2018
Merrick is 18 and there is only 2 weeks left before his final exams and the end of his school life. He has always been a good student, but lately his school is concerned that he’s ‘lost his mojo.’
Merrick is struggling with the loss of his grandfather to a sudden heart attack. Grandad taught him how to surf, and how to cope with both his parents remarrying and giving him several stepbrothers/sisters, all the while giving Merrick gems of wisdom along the way.
One morning Merrick makes a sudden decision to get on his beloved motorbike (he calls Brunnhilde) and just ride, leaving behind his friends, study and blended family. On his journey he meets Victor, an old, bearded, homeless man, a girl called Felicity, a dog with no name and…himself.
This is not just another ‘road-trip’ story. Merrick is grieving for his lost friend and mentor – his grandfather. He’s trying to figure out where he fits in his family, what the future might hold and how to deal with its expectations of him. He learns about relationships; no matter how long or fleeting, his habits that seemed entrenched and necessary but are not, and what’s important to him. The banter between Merrick and Victor is brilliant, the journey both inner and outer – superb.
Merrick is struggling with the loss of his grandfather to a sudden heart attack. Grandad taught him how to surf, and how to cope with both his parents remarrying and giving him several stepbrothers/sisters, all the while giving Merrick gems of wisdom along the way.
One morning Merrick makes a sudden decision to get on his beloved motorbike (he calls Brunnhilde) and just ride, leaving behind his friends, study and blended family. On his journey he meets Victor, an old, bearded, homeless man, a girl called Felicity, a dog with no name and…himself.
This is not just another ‘road-trip’ story. Merrick is grieving for his lost friend and mentor – his grandfather. He’s trying to figure out where he fits in his family, what the future might hold and how to deal with its expectations of him. He learns about relationships; no matter how long or fleeting, his habits that seemed entrenched and necessary but are not, and what’s important to him. The banter between Merrick and Victor is brilliant, the journey both inner and outer – superb.
May 23, 2019
This book was a pleasant read. I didn't get hooked but I did want to know how it finished. It was an interesting story of dealing with grief, finding one's self, and understanding that the journey is more important than the destination.
June 28, 2018
A road trip of a different type, a rich and satisfying read.
My review will appear on my blog soon.
My review will appear on my blog soon.
July 23, 2018
Merrick lives between 2 houses. 2 weeks before his VCE exams he takes off on his postie motor bike. Meets Victor a man of the road. masturbation boobs talk about role of porn
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2019
This story caputres a two week hiatus in the life of Merrick as Year 12 winds up with two weeks study break prior to HSC exams. Merrick has been in limbo since his grandfather (and mentor) died and after a disastrous party where he ends up in the pool with his phone in his pocket, he decides to head out. No idea where to, but he takes his restored postie bike inland heading north from Portland in South Australia. On this momentous trip, and after his bike chain breaks, Merrick meets an old timer Victor, who is a modern day swagman who has made the wide open road and countryside is home. Through the philosophising, non demanding and simple life Merrick reflects on his own place in the world, his ambitions and dreams. He comes to terms with the loss of his grandfather and living a life between two family extremes - laid back father and new family and ambitious mother and her new family.
Gardner captures late teen years well - providing a window into Merrcik's thoughts and peculiarities. His strong stance on not eating meat or drinking alcohol to his obsession at looking at pornography on his phone. There is a touch of the didactic at times but overall the messages about being respectful and responsible germinate naturally. Gardner tackles the insidious nature of internet porn well along with some telling comments about technology, homophobia and commercialism. An interesting coming of age story through the eyes of a 'normal' young man with no super angst problems, just a need to find his own path.
The moving tableau of inland SA is beautifully and evocatively portrayed as the land becomes drier and the desert, hardships and hard living people unfold on the road. This would be a great story to map while reading.
Gardner captures late teen years well - providing a window into Merrcik's thoughts and peculiarities. His strong stance on not eating meat or drinking alcohol to his obsession at looking at pornography on his phone. There is a touch of the didactic at times but overall the messages about being respectful and responsible germinate naturally. Gardner tackles the insidious nature of internet porn well along with some telling comments about technology, homophobia and commercialism. An interesting coming of age story through the eyes of a 'normal' young man with no super angst problems, just a need to find his own path.
The moving tableau of inland SA is beautifully and evocatively portrayed as the land becomes drier and the desert, hardships and hard living people unfold on the road. This would be a great story to map while reading.
September 2, 2019
Scot just gets adolescent boys and what they want to read about. He understands their emotions and takes us on a journey of discovery of the person inside. In Changing Gear, Merrick is about to have his two weeks of study time before his Year 12 exams. However, since his grandfather’s recent death, Merrick misses his steadying influence and with a split family he finds it easy to have them believe he is studying hard at the other parent’s house, whilst in reality he has hopped on
his old postie bike and hit the road.
The journey is the real story, as he meets an old vagabond called Victor (and Dog) who shares many life experiences and words of wisdom. He meets the gypsy-like Felicity, who briefly shares his journey, and he gets beaten up by idiots who believe he and Victor are paedophiles.
At the end, Merrick goes home to face those exams, and with a fresh outlook on life, achieves a 97.5 Atar score. But where will this take him is still unknown...
I have known Scot Gardner since he wrote his first book, and as I was reading Changing Gear I wondered how much he had drawn on his own personal experience given he was his schools’ dux and went first to work with the local councils parks and gardens, followed by many other jobs.
When he spoke at our recent Author Event, I wasn’t surprised to hear him confirm that he had drawn on his personal experience in crafting Changing Gear, and this really shines through in the gritty realness of the story.
This is a fantastic read for all, but will be best loved by boys 14 and over.
his old postie bike and hit the road.
The journey is the real story, as he meets an old vagabond called Victor (and Dog) who shares many life experiences and words of wisdom. He meets the gypsy-like Felicity, who briefly shares his journey, and he gets beaten up by idiots who believe he and Victor are paedophiles.
At the end, Merrick goes home to face those exams, and with a fresh outlook on life, achieves a 97.5 Atar score. But where will this take him is still unknown...
I have known Scot Gardner since he wrote his first book, and as I was reading Changing Gear I wondered how much he had drawn on his own personal experience given he was his schools’ dux and went first to work with the local councils parks and gardens, followed by many other jobs.
When he spoke at our recent Author Event, I wasn’t surprised to hear him confirm that he had drawn on his personal experience in crafting Changing Gear, and this really shines through in the gritty realness of the story.
This is a fantastic read for all, but will be best loved by boys 14 and over.
January 15, 2025
This book was pretty good. I wasn't expecting it to swear as much (as it was in the youth section in my town library), however, it was a pretty good story about a boy who escapes the stresses of everyday life to go on a road trip. Along the way, he finds an old man and a dog, walking the roads. He meets this unlikely pair after his beloved bike's chain brakes, so he has to leave it in at a mechanic's and decides to walk with the old man. A great story however I would recommend against it if you are more sensitive to swearing.
May 23, 2019
A really great read. Gardner captures the Australian voice and attitude so well. It’s nice to see a story about a young adult who has a lot going for him who is able to branch out and work on himself without hysterics. The family relationships are really positive in the family despite the divorce and blended families. The strong bond with the grandfather is particularly comforting despite his grief. Lots of humour along with lots to think about.
July 15, 2019
It was set in countryside that I know quite well, Western Victoria, so this provided another dimension for me. Some of the narrative was a little forced I thought, I don't think 18year olds generally talk like that. However, it did provide some insight into pressures that are faced and the idea that those closest to you are often those that you take foregranted the most.
May 31, 2019
A genuine, believable guy, looking to escape the sense of being smothered and family angst that comes with bearing the burden of parent's expectations. Quirky characters and an interesting insight into alternative lifestyle choices.
August 29, 2019
Scot Gardner, you have done it again. A book which explores a teenagers angst and grief, explored and resolved.
Perfect book for the boys secondary school I am at. My only niggle is the cover is quite junior and their is some more 'adult' content.
Perfect book for the boys secondary school I am at. My only niggle is the cover is quite junior and their is some more 'adult' content.
November 4, 2018
A fantastic young adult novel. A rite of passage story of 18 year old Merrick Hilton. Wonderful.
February 7, 2019
If I was still teaching high school English, I’d weave this book into the minds/hearts of students. A way to find a swag of wisdom whilst walking the world.
April 22, 2019
Solid story about a boy taking off during stu vac to clear his head, and doing just that.
April 23, 2019
Another interesting narrative by Gardner, a story about a boy, a road trip, a friendship... and the complexities of human emotion.
May 14, 2019
This is the third Scot Gardner book I've read... the man is a superstar! His characters display such truth. I loved every minute of my time in the world of Merrick.
May 24, 2019
Scot Gardner captures raw emotion once again in this coming-of-age, soul-searching, road trip to epiphany.
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July 23, 2019Great story, suited to older students, year 9+, mature themes.
August 14, 2019
As the mother of a boy fast approaching his teen years, I found this one challenging. That probably means it’s perfect for the target audience. A teen travel tale with a uniquely Australian flavour.
September 1, 2019
An enjoyable read by Gardner. A coming of age story with well drawn characters that provides a myriad of differences other than normal.
January 16, 2020
Gardner really gets it. He encapsulates the Australian teenage experience so well. This book added fuel to the fire of my obsession with Australian lit.
January 18, 2020
Felt familiar. And funny. And cathartic.
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January 6, 2022Loved the relationships and underlying links to country. This book got into my dreams.
May 1, 2025
real interesting story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews