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Fourteen: My year of darkness, and the light that followed
Optioned for a major film, Fourteen is this generation’s Holding the Man – a moving coming-of-age memoir about a young man’s search for identity and acceptance in the most unforgiving and hostile of high school.
This is a story about my fourteenth year of life as a gay kid at an all-boys rugby-mad Catholic school in regional Queensland. It was a year in which I started to discover who I was, and deeply hated what was revealed. It was a year in which I had my first crush and first devastating heartbreak. It was a year of torment, bullying and betrayal – not just at the hands of my peers, but by adults who were meant to protect me.
And it was a year that almost ended tragically.
I found solace in writing and my budding journalism; in a close-knit group of friends, all growing up too quickly together; and in the fierce protection of family and a mother’s unconditional love. These were moments of light and hilarity that kept me going.
As much as Fourteen is a chronicle of the enormous struggle and adversity I endured, and the shocking consequences of it all, it’s also a tale of survival.
Because I did survive.
Longlisted for the 2021 ABIA Biography Book of the Year
This is a story about my fourteenth year of life as a gay kid at an all-boys rugby-mad Catholic school in regional Queensland. It was a year in which I started to discover who I was, and deeply hated what was revealed. It was a year in which I had my first crush and first devastating heartbreak. It was a year of torment, bullying and betrayal – not just at the hands of my peers, but by adults who were meant to protect me.
And it was a year that almost ended tragically.
I found solace in writing and my budding journalism; in a close-knit group of friends, all growing up too quickly together; and in the fierce protection of family and a mother’s unconditional love. These were moments of light and hilarity that kept me going.
As much as Fourteen is a chronicle of the enormous struggle and adversity I endured, and the shocking consequences of it all, it’s also a tale of survival.
Because I did survive.
Longlisted for the 2021 ABIA Biography Book of the Year
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2020
34 people are currently reading
857 people want to read
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January 22, 2021
Shannon Molloy's account of his fourteenth year as a schoolboy in a Catholic boys' school in a small Queensland town in the 1990s is heartbreaking. Not just that a young boy could be so tormented and bullied by other boys but that the adults, who should have protected him, turned their backs on him.
Adolescence is a difficult enough time for any child, but especially for young boy just starting to be aware and confused by his sexuality. Teachers not only allowed derogatory comments about homosexuality to be aimed at Shannon by fellow students without comment, but in one case read out to the class a love letter supposedly written by Shannon to another boy. Detailing lurid sexual acts, it was clearly faked, but was read out in full as the class erupted with laughter. No wonder Shannon thought about suicide and wanted only to escape the school, which he eventually did by applying for a place on an overseas exchange program which opened up the world and its possibilities to him.
Despite documenting the brutal and degrading events that happened that year, the book is infused with humour and a joy for life. Shannon's female friends from primary school and his family helped to sustain him through this difficult time. Rhonda, an older woman who ran the local Youth Services encouraged Shannon to drop in and help out and, with her encouragement, to turn his obsession with fashion into running a successful fashion show during Youth week.
This courageous account of what the author endured that year and how he eventually survived and flourished to travel the world and become a successful journalist should be essential reading for teachers and teenagers. Not just to show victims of bullying that there is light at the end of a tunnel and a better future ahead but also for the bullies to understand how destructive their thoughtless comments and actions are for their hapless victims.
With many thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for a digital copy to read.
Adolescence is a difficult enough time for any child, but especially for young boy just starting to be aware and confused by his sexuality. Teachers not only allowed derogatory comments about homosexuality to be aimed at Shannon by fellow students without comment, but in one case read out to the class a love letter supposedly written by Shannon to another boy. Detailing lurid sexual acts, it was clearly faked, but was read out in full as the class erupted with laughter. No wonder Shannon thought about suicide and wanted only to escape the school, which he eventually did by applying for a place on an overseas exchange program which opened up the world and its possibilities to him.
Despite documenting the brutal and degrading events that happened that year, the book is infused with humour and a joy for life. Shannon's female friends from primary school and his family helped to sustain him through this difficult time. Rhonda, an older woman who ran the local Youth Services encouraged Shannon to drop in and help out and, with her encouragement, to turn his obsession with fashion into running a successful fashion show during Youth week.
This courageous account of what the author endured that year and how he eventually survived and flourished to travel the world and become a successful journalist should be essential reading for teachers and teenagers. Not just to show victims of bullying that there is light at the end of a tunnel and a better future ahead but also for the bullies to understand how destructive their thoughtless comments and actions are for their hapless victims.
With many thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for a digital copy to read.
May 10, 2021
4★
“I was dangerously miserable, I woke each day with a sense of dread and went to sleep each night gripped by sadness. The idea of pushing on seemed far too difficult.”
Just fourteen, young Shannon Molloy is living in Yeppoon, a regional Queensland town on the east coast of Australia. He has posters of beautiful girls and women on his walls. It could look like a teen-aged boy’s bedroom except he wasn’t lusting after them – he was idolising them. A school counsellor told him his problem was he “walked gay”, so he went home and practiced for hours, watching himself in a mirror, trying not to swing his arms or flop his hands.
For a while, he ‘admitted’ maybe he was “bi”, because he didn’t really know what it all meant, and he wasn’t attracted to anyone anyway. His best friends were girls, and they got together often to gossip.
Then, one fateful night, as the romance novels would say, he was at a party, and a handsome, slightly older guy came in, nodded, and later found Shannon off by himself. He made a pass, which set Shannon’s heart a-flutter, and he knew for sure who he was.
In country towns, even now, I suspect, being gay, queer, or whatever the currently accepted term is (the epithets and slurs haven’t changed much), is something to ridicule and beat out of people. There are teachers who will still suggest to kids that it’s a difficult “lifestyle choice” they are making, as if there is some choice.
A kid isn’t going to say to a school counsellor “When did you decide to be straight?” but that’s pretty much what the kids are being asked, isn’t it?
I listened to this, and hearing Shannon’s adult, experienced, secure voice now was reassuring, since his childhood was obviously dreadful. His mum adored him, and his 3 older siblings were devoted to him, as well. He had loyal girlfriends. But the bashings from school bullies, the insults and catcalls are something nobody should have to deal with.
He’d discovered ICQ (I seek you), a messaging program that I was also using to chat with my sister way back then in the dark ages of the internet, listening to the whir and whistle and dings of the dial-up modem connection. He’d found some chat rooms with friends around the world who didn’t know him or know what he sounded like or how he walked.
A life-changing experience for him was initiated by his finding a slim book in a Brisbane bookshop, and I expected him to say it was about homosexuality. No. It was a book of web addresses.
“And while I did not see it until a few weeks later, there was a URL that would have a profound impact on my life, would grab my attention immediately. I would rush to the computer and carefully type in the address in awe of what slowly loaded on the screen. It would ignite the beginning of hope. It would offer an alternative to languishing in Yeppoon. It would give me a reason to carry on.”
Meanwhile, while still “languishing in Yeppoon” and hating school, he suffered bullying and bashing after someone wrote and circulated a fake love note (purportedly from Shannon to a popular student). I don’t know how kids survive this. He almost didn’t.
“After the awful incident, something shifted inside of me when it came to how I felt about school. In the deep dark place where terror once raged like a storm, there was now an intense misery. The thunder and lightning had been replaced by a thick fog that refused to lift, blanketing my soul and blocking out even the faintest glimmer of light.”
Yes, he sank to the depths. But remember that web address? It was about student foreign exchange programs, and he saw a potential glimmer of light through the fog. It was a relief to move toward the end of his story (thus far – he’s still young!) and realise he has come out the other side and is as irrepressible as he always seemed as a little fella.
At the end, he muses about what he might tell his fourteen-year-old self, and he thinks of many things, but eventually he says:
“‘Joy is coming’ I would tell him, with a few crappy bits, sure, such is life, but unknown happiness is on the horizon. I would tell him how much there is to look forward to – or –[a long pause] I might not tell him any of that at all apart from this. ‘You will be fine.’ I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprises waiting for him.”
He is so upbeat at the end, that I can see why he gives his mum and siblings so much credit for supporting him. A kid couldn't do this alone, but he is a perfect example of one of my favourite sayings: Success is the best revenge.
“I was dangerously miserable, I woke each day with a sense of dread and went to sleep each night gripped by sadness. The idea of pushing on seemed far too difficult.”
Just fourteen, young Shannon Molloy is living in Yeppoon, a regional Queensland town on the east coast of Australia. He has posters of beautiful girls and women on his walls. It could look like a teen-aged boy’s bedroom except he wasn’t lusting after them – he was idolising them. A school counsellor told him his problem was he “walked gay”, so he went home and practiced for hours, watching himself in a mirror, trying not to swing his arms or flop his hands.
For a while, he ‘admitted’ maybe he was “bi”, because he didn’t really know what it all meant, and he wasn’t attracted to anyone anyway. His best friends were girls, and they got together often to gossip.
Then, one fateful night, as the romance novels would say, he was at a party, and a handsome, slightly older guy came in, nodded, and later found Shannon off by himself. He made a pass, which set Shannon’s heart a-flutter, and he knew for sure who he was.
In country towns, even now, I suspect, being gay, queer, or whatever the currently accepted term is (the epithets and slurs haven’t changed much), is something to ridicule and beat out of people. There are teachers who will still suggest to kids that it’s a difficult “lifestyle choice” they are making, as if there is some choice.
A kid isn’t going to say to a school counsellor “When did you decide to be straight?” but that’s pretty much what the kids are being asked, isn’t it?
I listened to this, and hearing Shannon’s adult, experienced, secure voice now was reassuring, since his childhood was obviously dreadful. His mum adored him, and his 3 older siblings were devoted to him, as well. He had loyal girlfriends. But the bashings from school bullies, the insults and catcalls are something nobody should have to deal with.
He’d discovered ICQ (I seek you), a messaging program that I was also using to chat with my sister way back then in the dark ages of the internet, listening to the whir and whistle and dings of the dial-up modem connection. He’d found some chat rooms with friends around the world who didn’t know him or know what he sounded like or how he walked.
A life-changing experience for him was initiated by his finding a slim book in a Brisbane bookshop, and I expected him to say it was about homosexuality. No. It was a book of web addresses.
“And while I did not see it until a few weeks later, there was a URL that would have a profound impact on my life, would grab my attention immediately. I would rush to the computer and carefully type in the address in awe of what slowly loaded on the screen. It would ignite the beginning of hope. It would offer an alternative to languishing in Yeppoon. It would give me a reason to carry on.”
Meanwhile, while still “languishing in Yeppoon” and hating school, he suffered bullying and bashing after someone wrote and circulated a fake love note (purportedly from Shannon to a popular student). I don’t know how kids survive this. He almost didn’t.
“After the awful incident, something shifted inside of me when it came to how I felt about school. In the deep dark place where terror once raged like a storm, there was now an intense misery. The thunder and lightning had been replaced by a thick fog that refused to lift, blanketing my soul and blocking out even the faintest glimmer of light.”
Yes, he sank to the depths. But remember that web address? It was about student foreign exchange programs, and he saw a potential glimmer of light through the fog. It was a relief to move toward the end of his story (thus far – he’s still young!) and realise he has come out the other side and is as irrepressible as he always seemed as a little fella.
At the end, he muses about what he might tell his fourteen-year-old self, and he thinks of many things, but eventually he says:
“‘Joy is coming’ I would tell him, with a few crappy bits, sure, such is life, but unknown happiness is on the horizon. I would tell him how much there is to look forward to – or –[a long pause] I might not tell him any of that at all apart from this. ‘You will be fine.’ I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprises waiting for him.”
He is so upbeat at the end, that I can see why he gives his mum and siblings so much credit for supporting him. A kid couldn't do this alone, but he is a perfect example of one of my favourite sayings: Success is the best revenge.
September 9, 2020
A brilliant audiobook narrated by author Shannon Molloy. This is one of my top books for the year.
A literal slice of life, wherein I felt like I was stepping into the shoes of 14-year-old Shannon. Not only does he experience the complexities of teenagers the world over, but his retelling is fraught with the difficulty of growing up in 'small-town,' in this case, Yeppoon, Queensland.
Central to the recounting of his fourteenth year is Molloy's struggle with his sexuality; but, this book is so much more than that! The one year snapshot highlights the sense of self so many young people do not realise they are experiencing and often it is with hindsight we discover the importance of this crucial phase of life.
Bullying, stereotyping, relationships, role models and mental health are dealt with in an accessible, believable and authentic narrative.
I rarely quote from a read but this sums up the reason to read this book:
"As much as 'Fourteen' is a chronicle of the enormous struggle and adversity I endured, and the shocking consequences of it all, it’s also a tale of survival.
Because I did survive."
A literal slice of life, wherein I felt like I was stepping into the shoes of 14-year-old Shannon. Not only does he experience the complexities of teenagers the world over, but his retelling is fraught with the difficulty of growing up in 'small-town,' in this case, Yeppoon, Queensland.
Central to the recounting of his fourteenth year is Molloy's struggle with his sexuality; but, this book is so much more than that! The one year snapshot highlights the sense of self so many young people do not realise they are experiencing and often it is with hindsight we discover the importance of this crucial phase of life.
Bullying, stereotyping, relationships, role models and mental health are dealt with in an accessible, believable and authentic narrative.
I rarely quote from a read but this sums up the reason to read this book:
"As much as 'Fourteen' is a chronicle of the enormous struggle and adversity I endured, and the shocking consequences of it all, it’s also a tale of survival.
Because I did survive."
September 3, 2020
This book confirmed what I always believed: everyone’s story is relevant and needs to be told. The story of Shanon Molloy is very similar to my teenage years, even though we grew up in different places and circumstances. I identified with his fears and pains, and I shared his hopes, dreams and music and movies tastes.
Reading Molloy’s story gave me perspective of my own experiences growing up gay in a small town and made me realise how lucky I was to never have experienced physical abuse. It also reinforced in me the importance of making sure teenagers and children in small towns get access to role models from the LGBTIQ community, as that can literally save their lives.
Reading Molloy’s story gave me perspective of my own experiences growing up gay in a small town and made me realise how lucky I was to never have experienced physical abuse. It also reinforced in me the importance of making sure teenagers and children in small towns get access to role models from the LGBTIQ community, as that can literally save their lives.
September 13, 2020
This is a special book.
The year is 2000. The setting is the small town of Yeppoon, not far from Rockhampton, in Queensland. The narrator is the author, Shannon Molloy. It is the year when Shannon turned fourteen; a year that was to be traumatic on a number of levels for a young boy discovering who and what he was, hating what he discovered, and embarrassed and bullied in his Catholic high school. It was also the year he had to learn how to come to terms with all of this, and to find a safe place from within which he could flourish — and flourish he did.
Currently a successful journalist based in Sydney, Molloy has now published this memoir of that significant, dangerous year, not only to celebrate his survival, but also specifically to pass on his positive message to other boys who might find themselves in similar situations.
The writing is limpid, clear, and unflinchingly honest about his feelings. One cannot help but feel that the mature Molloy has deliberately kept the language simple and straightforward, to appeal to the early teenage boys who can identify with and understand his impressions of that time in his life. All the highs and the lows are there; all the confusion and the few moments of clarity which occasionally shine through; all the complexities and befuddlements, as well as the wonderments and astonishments of early adolescence are crisply described. This is so well done that, while making it all very accessible for its target audience, it also permits all adults to access or re-access their own understanding of the situation: it is a book for all people of all ages and sexes, regardless.
In a sense, the main negative emphasis of this book deals with bullying — that scourge of human society which we all, in one way or another, contribute to. Bullying is endemic for any group, organisation or society where only optimum achievements in specified fields of thought and activity are overemphasised above all. What we often refuse to accept, however, is that such achievements are not absolute, but relative.
When only the best is held up for admiration, lauded and rewarded, then anything less than that is fated to be belittled, humiliated, despised and punished — fertile ground for bullying to proliferate. The promotion of such ideals is what we all want; the only problem is that it also feeds bias, prejudice, racism, condemnation and disgust. Knowing this, it should also be “obvious” that minimising these particularly noxious qualities should be our main objective (i.e. our “best” objective) in dealing with familial, social, political, cultural and religious matters in our dealings with one another.
There is a section in this book which made a deep impression on me: it comes as Shannon is recovering from a particularly nasty beating from his peers, and he is wondering why such punishment is considered necessary by his tormentors. He says he can possibly “understand” that they are, for whatever reason, homophobic — but doesn’t that just mean that they are afraid of homosexuality? and wouldn’t that fear suggest it would be best to avoid any contact wth him? So what was it that appeared to compel them to physically and viciously attack him instead? Such cruelty and torture was something far more sadistic than what mere fear might explain. Why?
Another form of malignant hostility comes in the story of the public humiliation by his teacher in front of the whole class, when he read out aloud a fictional slanderous and vicious missive Shannon was accused of writing. The alarm and confusion and terrifying destruction of self-confidence of Shannon, paralysed with fear, is terrible and deeply shocking to read.
These are some examples of what the Catholic church considers “sins of commission” (i.e. sins when particular actions are physically made by the sinner). Another, more insidious form of sinning is known as a “sin of omission”, where the sin consists in omitting or refusing, for whatever reason or reasons, to help prevent or mitigate the effects of sins of commission; or, indeed, of deliberately withdrawing their help from the victim. These sins of omission are monstrous precisely because of their “invisibility” and they are a constant source of confusion, stupefaction and devastation for the victim. Shame on their perpetrators!
The above are just some of the thoughts summoned up this graceful and gentle book, and which deserve further consideration especially by adults in authoritative positions in schools anywhere. The concluding sections of this work, setting out the ultimate resolution and flowering of potential for the narrator, is so subtly evocative of success, happiness and joy that it permits the reader to participate in a shiver of recognition and a thrill of excitement for future benefits and blessings. It is full of expressive sentiment and positive affirmation, without sentimentality. It is beautiful.
The year is 2000. The setting is the small town of Yeppoon, not far from Rockhampton, in Queensland. The narrator is the author, Shannon Molloy. It is the year when Shannon turned fourteen; a year that was to be traumatic on a number of levels for a young boy discovering who and what he was, hating what he discovered, and embarrassed and bullied in his Catholic high school. It was also the year he had to learn how to come to terms with all of this, and to find a safe place from within which he could flourish — and flourish he did.
Currently a successful journalist based in Sydney, Molloy has now published this memoir of that significant, dangerous year, not only to celebrate his survival, but also specifically to pass on his positive message to other boys who might find themselves in similar situations.
The writing is limpid, clear, and unflinchingly honest about his feelings. One cannot help but feel that the mature Molloy has deliberately kept the language simple and straightforward, to appeal to the early teenage boys who can identify with and understand his impressions of that time in his life. All the highs and the lows are there; all the confusion and the few moments of clarity which occasionally shine through; all the complexities and befuddlements, as well as the wonderments and astonishments of early adolescence are crisply described. This is so well done that, while making it all very accessible for its target audience, it also permits all adults to access or re-access their own understanding of the situation: it is a book for all people of all ages and sexes, regardless.
In a sense, the main negative emphasis of this book deals with bullying — that scourge of human society which we all, in one way or another, contribute to. Bullying is endemic for any group, organisation or society where only optimum achievements in specified fields of thought and activity are overemphasised above all. What we often refuse to accept, however, is that such achievements are not absolute, but relative.
When only the best is held up for admiration, lauded and rewarded, then anything less than that is fated to be belittled, humiliated, despised and punished — fertile ground for bullying to proliferate. The promotion of such ideals is what we all want; the only problem is that it also feeds bias, prejudice, racism, condemnation and disgust. Knowing this, it should also be “obvious” that minimising these particularly noxious qualities should be our main objective (i.e. our “best” objective) in dealing with familial, social, political, cultural and religious matters in our dealings with one another.
There is a section in this book which made a deep impression on me: it comes as Shannon is recovering from a particularly nasty beating from his peers, and he is wondering why such punishment is considered necessary by his tormentors. He says he can possibly “understand” that they are, for whatever reason, homophobic — but doesn’t that just mean that they are afraid of homosexuality? and wouldn’t that fear suggest it would be best to avoid any contact wth him? So what was it that appeared to compel them to physically and viciously attack him instead? Such cruelty and torture was something far more sadistic than what mere fear might explain. Why?
Another form of malignant hostility comes in the story of the public humiliation by his teacher in front of the whole class, when he read out aloud a fictional slanderous and vicious missive Shannon was accused of writing. The alarm and confusion and terrifying destruction of self-confidence of Shannon, paralysed with fear, is terrible and deeply shocking to read.
These are some examples of what the Catholic church considers “sins of commission” (i.e. sins when particular actions are physically made by the sinner). Another, more insidious form of sinning is known as a “sin of omission”, where the sin consists in omitting or refusing, for whatever reason or reasons, to help prevent or mitigate the effects of sins of commission; or, indeed, of deliberately withdrawing their help from the victim. These sins of omission are monstrous precisely because of their “invisibility” and they are a constant source of confusion, stupefaction and devastation for the victim. Shame on their perpetrators!
The above are just some of the thoughts summoned up this graceful and gentle book, and which deserve further consideration especially by adults in authoritative positions in schools anywhere. The concluding sections of this work, setting out the ultimate resolution and flowering of potential for the narrator, is so subtly evocative of success, happiness and joy that it permits the reader to participate in a shiver of recognition and a thrill of excitement for future benefits and blessings. It is full of expressive sentiment and positive affirmation, without sentimentality. It is beautiful.
July 18, 2020
Emotionally challenging and devout to the struggles that most gay Australians grow up with. I don't believe that I have come across a book that encapsulates the true adolescent experience of a gay teenager in Australian society in the early 2000s quite like this. This book brought me to my knees emotionally and mentally, to know that I here are other young Australians that are now in their 30s that have experienced similar things growing up worries me. It also makes me believe that passing through this might enable me to help others. and that only makes me want to tell people more about the assistance that is able for LGBTQ+ people and youth that is available to them and that we need to make it more.
April 1, 2020
Fourteen - Shannon Molloy
I was given an advanced copy of this book in order to provide a review.
“Fourteen” is a memoir by Shannon Molloy, who is an award winning journalist in Sydney.
Imagine you are a young fourteen year old boy growing up in a small town in regional Queensland. You attend an all boys Catholic school that loves their Rugby. What could be so bad about that? Well, besides it being a small town with nothing much to do, what could be so bad? If you are a young fourteen year old boy who is gay, then it is your hell.
Your fellow students are far from understanding and accepting, you are beaten and teased mercilessly, the teachers and the principal do nothing about it and even less to discourage it.
You do have a couple close friends that help you when they can and a mother who is your fiercest protector.
You try and keep a low profile as much as you can but it doesn’t help much when you live in a small town and there isn’t much else for the kids to do besides pick and beat on the weird gay kid. Doesn’t make things any easier when you aren’t entirely sure of who you are yourself.
You are just like every other kid in the world, trying to find themselves and their own way in this crazy and cruel world. You keep getting told to hang in there, it will get better you will see. But that is so easy to say when you aren’t being relentlessly harassed for just trying to be you; it’s impossible to believe.
But if you hang in there and push through it all - you will always find the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Fourteen” is a story that I really connected with, having grown up in Ipswich, Queensland myself. While my time at school was no where near as hard as Shannon’s, it was an incredibly difficult time for me. Because of my body, which was thin no matter how much or what I ate, I seemed to attract the attention of some really hateful people. I went from a girl who did well at school and enjoyed it, to someone whose grades started to suffer and would fake whatever illness I could to get out of school.
So this story completely tugged on my heart strings. I felt for Shannon, his life in that small regional town wasn’t fair and definitely not easy. He was so lucky to have the support that he did. It’s a story I believe all young people should read, everyone should read honestly.
No matter what struggles you are going through, and no matter how hard life may seem at times, push through and be true to yourself - because it will get better. Maybe not straight away, but it will. Trust me, there are so many people here for you.
Stay strong and be you.
I was given an advanced copy of this book in order to provide a review.
“Fourteen” is a memoir by Shannon Molloy, who is an award winning journalist in Sydney.
Imagine you are a young fourteen year old boy growing up in a small town in regional Queensland. You attend an all boys Catholic school that loves their Rugby. What could be so bad about that? Well, besides it being a small town with nothing much to do, what could be so bad? If you are a young fourteen year old boy who is gay, then it is your hell.
Your fellow students are far from understanding and accepting, you are beaten and teased mercilessly, the teachers and the principal do nothing about it and even less to discourage it.
You do have a couple close friends that help you when they can and a mother who is your fiercest protector.
You try and keep a low profile as much as you can but it doesn’t help much when you live in a small town and there isn’t much else for the kids to do besides pick and beat on the weird gay kid. Doesn’t make things any easier when you aren’t entirely sure of who you are yourself.
You are just like every other kid in the world, trying to find themselves and their own way in this crazy and cruel world. You keep getting told to hang in there, it will get better you will see. But that is so easy to say when you aren’t being relentlessly harassed for just trying to be you; it’s impossible to believe.
But if you hang in there and push through it all - you will always find the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Fourteen” is a story that I really connected with, having grown up in Ipswich, Queensland myself. While my time at school was no where near as hard as Shannon’s, it was an incredibly difficult time for me. Because of my body, which was thin no matter how much or what I ate, I seemed to attract the attention of some really hateful people. I went from a girl who did well at school and enjoyed it, to someone whose grades started to suffer and would fake whatever illness I could to get out of school.
So this story completely tugged on my heart strings. I felt for Shannon, his life in that small regional town wasn’t fair and definitely not easy. He was so lucky to have the support that he did. It’s a story I believe all young people should read, everyone should read honestly.
No matter what struggles you are going through, and no matter how hard life may seem at times, push through and be true to yourself - because it will get better. Maybe not straight away, but it will. Trust me, there are so many people here for you.
Stay strong and be you.
May 18, 2020
As I grew up in Yeppoon around this time, I found this book sparked lots of memories both good (chips with cheese and bbq sauce) and bad... Shannon’s retelling is incredibly raw and heartbreaking. I am so glad he has told this story so young people know that life can get better.
December 23, 2021
When a book starts with a fourteen year old attempting suicide you know you're in for a prety rough ride. Shannon Malloy recounts a year in his life as a gay kid in mid '90s regional Queensland. He is taunted, teased, bullied and beaten. He's got a loving family and close friends but they can't protect him all the time, so he fends for himself at a Catholic All Boys Schools hoping for a way out.
The aspect of this memoir that really got to me was the casualness of the bullying he faced. Both the bullies themselves and the teachers at his school had this real casual indifference to everything going on, whether it was outright physical assault or a kid asking a religious studies teacher whether Shannon would go to Hell because he was a "fag". Or the counselor telling him "well, you do have a very gay walk".
The kids are peices of shit, I get that, particularly when it comes to regional Australia but it's the adults, the teachers, counselors, protectors that infuriate me with their victim blaming mentality.
This was a hard listen at times but I do like that Malloy manages to include enough of the bright sparks in his life to help explain just how he got through it, whether it's hanging out with his gaggle of female friends or helping to plan a fashion show for the local youth centre... Malloy fought to become the man he is now and I appreciate hearing how he got here.
The aspect of this memoir that really got to me was the casualness of the bullying he faced. Both the bullies themselves and the teachers at his school had this real casual indifference to everything going on, whether it was outright physical assault or a kid asking a religious studies teacher whether Shannon would go to Hell because he was a "fag". Or the counselor telling him "well, you do have a very gay walk".
The kids are peices of shit, I get that, particularly when it comes to regional Australia but it's the adults, the teachers, counselors, protectors that infuriate me with their victim blaming mentality.
This was a hard listen at times but I do like that Malloy manages to include enough of the bright sparks in his life to help explain just how he got through it, whether it's hanging out with his gaggle of female friends or helping to plan a fashion show for the local youth centre... Malloy fought to become the man he is now and I appreciate hearing how he got here.
January 31, 2021
A well written, heartbreaking story. Not to be given the space to accept and understand your sexual orientation through the confusing and difficult adolescent years, obviously had a huge impact on Shannon’s self worth. This was exacerbated by the cruel and unprofessional responses to the bullies by the teachers/doctor who should have supported him. Hopefully, twenty years on, they would understand the potential consequences of their non-action. Although society is slowly changing, there is still that tendency to want to pigeonhole those who don’t fit main stream stereo types. It seemed Shannon was popped into the gay pigeonhole and as a consequence he was completely defined by that. Thankfully he had the support and love of family and a few good friends who gave him the support and encouragement to undertake great community projects. What came over strongly to me during this read was that Shannon really wanted to (as the saying goes) ‘dance as if no-one was watching’. On one level he had accepted who he was, it was only the bullies, and the fear of the unknown, that held him back.
May 22, 2020
I found so much humour, insight, and relatability in this novel, but I'll admit it wasn't a book I could finish in one sitting. I see a tendency in memoir to boost word count with added side comments and tangents that have little to do with the overall story. And while I'm here for all that, and I promise I am, it doesn't hold my attention long enough to keep on reading.
Having said that, they're right on the money when they compare this to 'Holding the Man'. I also think 'Fourteen' would be great adapted for TV. Think of an Australian equivalent of Beautiful People (2008), with all its glorious campness, sitting alongside The Family Law (2016) on your shelf at home. I think Australian viewers (like me) would *love* to see smol Shannon bopping to 00s pop songs despite the bullies.
Having said that, they're right on the money when they compare this to 'Holding the Man'. I also think 'Fourteen' would be great adapted for TV. Think of an Australian equivalent of Beautiful People (2008), with all its glorious campness, sitting alongside The Family Law (2016) on your shelf at home. I think Australian viewers (like me) would *love* to see smol Shannon bopping to 00s pop songs despite the bullies.
May 3, 2020
It’s been a while since I finished a book in 24 hours. I was unmoved by the unrelenting terror that Shannon captures in his eloquent and relatable prose, because I realised that we are trained by those experiences to always be on guard for it; heartbreaking in itself. Brave, important, devastating, funny and despairing. This is the beautifully written book that 90’s kids deserve and an author that deserves to be heard and celebrated.
February 14, 2025
4.5 stars, but I'll round up to 5. I hope this book finds the people who need it, because despite the immense pain, bigotry, and violence that the book delves into, it is also filled with a message of hope and endurance.
Fourteen is a heart-wrenching story that pulled no punches when getting into the brutal specifics of how traumatic and damaging bullying and bigotry can be. 1 minute of assaulting someone is just 1 minute of time from the POV of the perpetrator. For the victim, it's not 1 minute -- it follows them for the rest of their life.
This book hits different when you can relate to these experiences, and therefore, I was incredibly moved by Shannon's story. It takes courage and bravery to share memories that are this haunting -- and I commend him for sharing his story with us.
Fourteen is a heart-wrenching story that pulled no punches when getting into the brutal specifics of how traumatic and damaging bullying and bigotry can be. 1 minute of assaulting someone is just 1 minute of time from the POV of the perpetrator. For the victim, it's not 1 minute -- it follows them for the rest of their life.
This book hits different when you can relate to these experiences, and therefore, I was incredibly moved by Shannon's story. It takes courage and bravery to share memories that are this haunting -- and I commend him for sharing his story with us.
August 19, 2020
This was such a heartbreaking story.
April 15, 2020
I received an ARC of this book with thanks to Simon & Schuster (Australia) via NetGalley.
I love "coming of age" memoirs, especially written by Australian's. I find them to feel familiar and relatable. And this memoir is breathtaking. It's a story of bullying, harassment and violence, but also about self-discovery. Described by Molloy as, "a love letter to my mother."
Molloy recounts his traumatic experiences encountered over the course of his year as a fourteen year old boy in Yeppoon, Queensland. It details the torment and bullying experienced as an adolescent whilst coming to understand and accept his sexuality. We travel with Molloy as he navigates through his incredibly difficult year and emerges on the other side much stronger, happier and assured of the person he is.
The writing is raw, vivid and immeasurably honest. There's a relatability within these pages even though experiences can differ. We're all uncovering and confronting our insecurities throughout adolescence but we don't understand that when we're living it. Instead we feel alone and confused. Sharing stories such as these unites us in our differences and are so important to assist the generations to come.
I love "coming of age" memoirs, especially written by Australian's. I find them to feel familiar and relatable. And this memoir is breathtaking. It's a story of bullying, harassment and violence, but also about self-discovery. Described by Molloy as, "a love letter to my mother."
Molloy recounts his traumatic experiences encountered over the course of his year as a fourteen year old boy in Yeppoon, Queensland. It details the torment and bullying experienced as an adolescent whilst coming to understand and accept his sexuality. We travel with Molloy as he navigates through his incredibly difficult year and emerges on the other side much stronger, happier and assured of the person he is.
The writing is raw, vivid and immeasurably honest. There's a relatability within these pages even though experiences can differ. We're all uncovering and confronting our insecurities throughout adolescence but we don't understand that when we're living it. Instead we feel alone and confused. Sharing stories such as these unites us in our differences and are so important to assist the generations to come.
April 19, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#fourteen by @sleemol #shannonmolloy
...
“Joy is coming...with a few crappy bits, sure - such is life [but]...you will be fine”
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Unknowingly this memoir, was relatable on so many levels. I read it in one sitting
...
Having shared experiences similar to Shannon as a teenager, the poignant messages we desire to mentor our younger selves exclaiming “you will get through this...you will survive”, is something I reflect on constantly & strive to uphold in my practice everyday
...
This memoir is sensational! Molloy describes the confronting nature of coming to terms with your identity, in a anxiety inducing community in regional Queensland. He talks so lovingly about his mother and siblings with references to pop-culture so perfectly resonant in establishing the imagery of his teenage self. These references I was extremely familiar with (and proud of it!)
...
The experiences he details are confronting, raw and so courageous. I look forward to sharing these key messages with youth who are needing (& willing) to hear it, as I’m sure he will, with the drive behind publishing this book
...
Have you read this yet?? What were your thoughts?
...
“Joy is coming...with a few crappy bits, sure - such is life [but]...you will be fine”
...
Unknowingly this memoir, was relatable on so many levels. I read it in one sitting
...
Having shared experiences similar to Shannon as a teenager, the poignant messages we desire to mentor our younger selves exclaiming “you will get through this...you will survive”, is something I reflect on constantly & strive to uphold in my practice everyday
...
This memoir is sensational! Molloy describes the confronting nature of coming to terms with your identity, in a anxiety inducing community in regional Queensland. He talks so lovingly about his mother and siblings with references to pop-culture so perfectly resonant in establishing the imagery of his teenage self. These references I was extremely familiar with (and proud of it!)
...
The experiences he details are confronting, raw and so courageous. I look forward to sharing these key messages with youth who are needing (& willing) to hear it, as I’m sure he will, with the drive behind publishing this book
...
Have you read this yet?? What were your thoughts?
June 22, 2020
Fourteen is a memoir of immense power. It is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching for most of its chapters, but the light with which it ends is deeply moving. Shannon Molloy writes with such honesty and power that you need to look away several times when reading, think the powerful emotions elicited by reading great novels like A Little Life.
_________
What makes this memoir lasting and poignant to the reader is that it is so viscerally and tragically real. To be physically tormented and psychologically abused to this extent for your sexuality, as a child, is horrifying. Molloy recounts these moments at a regional Queensland all-boys school unflinchingly, yet always rationally and with little bitterness. It makes you question what you were like in school, what others were like, and how this should never happen.
_________
Fourteen ends with the last moments of this year of adolescence for Molloy, and the joy that followed. Now with success and a world he dreamt of, the reader is left fulfilled. Fourteen deserves to be a bestseller, the courage of the author, the unreserved love of his mother, and friends and family that helped him become the man he is today, is simply beautiful.
_________
What makes this memoir lasting and poignant to the reader is that it is so viscerally and tragically real. To be physically tormented and psychologically abused to this extent for your sexuality, as a child, is horrifying. Molloy recounts these moments at a regional Queensland all-boys school unflinchingly, yet always rationally and with little bitterness. It makes you question what you were like in school, what others were like, and how this should never happen.
_________
Fourteen ends with the last moments of this year of adolescence for Molloy, and the joy that followed. Now with success and a world he dreamt of, the reader is left fulfilled. Fourteen deserves to be a bestseller, the courage of the author, the unreserved love of his mother, and friends and family that helped him become the man he is today, is simply beautiful.
April 18, 2023
"The very first time I saw someone else’s view of me - a disgusting, weak, pathetic deviant - one so contrary to how I had viewed myself, it was soul-destroying. Even worse was when, after hearing the voices enough, I started to believe them for myself."
A raw, heartbreaking memoir on Shannon’s life as a 14 year old in an all-boys, rugby obsessed and catholic school whilst dealing with the uncertainties of his sexuality. The bullying and harassment that Shannon went through was heartbreaking and tough to read at times. It was so frustrating to see teachers and adults that were supposed to protect Shannon turn a blind eye and allow derogatory comments and abuse to continue.
I finished this book in one seating. Despite the dark topics, Shannon still manages to inject some humour and his writing makes it easy to digest such topics. There were so many parts that were unfortunately really relatable to me.
"We had similar personalities: people-pleasers with a dark sense of humour and an incredibly high reliance on sarcasm."
I am so happy that he eventually got a happy ending. It’s a courageous account of how he managed to escape all that abuse and finally discover his true self.
A raw, heartbreaking memoir on Shannon’s life as a 14 year old in an all-boys, rugby obsessed and catholic school whilst dealing with the uncertainties of his sexuality. The bullying and harassment that Shannon went through was heartbreaking and tough to read at times. It was so frustrating to see teachers and adults that were supposed to protect Shannon turn a blind eye and allow derogatory comments and abuse to continue.
I finished this book in one seating. Despite the dark topics, Shannon still manages to inject some humour and his writing makes it easy to digest such topics. There were so many parts that were unfortunately really relatable to me.
"We had similar personalities: people-pleasers with a dark sense of humour and an incredibly high reliance on sarcasm."
I am so happy that he eventually got a happy ending. It’s a courageous account of how he managed to escape all that abuse and finally discover his true self.
August 16, 2020
On Shannon’s interpretation of homophobia;
“That does not feel like a fear to me.that feels like a dangerous malevolence. Just like those gangs of men who roamed around Bondi Beach and it’s surrounds in the 1980s and 90s, hunting for homosexuals to mercilessly bash and kill. That is not a phobia. That is derangement. That is pure evil.”
This memoir was a powerful insight into the experience of a queer teenager in a small country town. Throughout the bildungsroman I was brought to tears of both sadness and joy.
Shannon’s recounts of meaningless violence and the impact of his teachers failing to address the names he was called based upon elements of his personality which he tried desperately to change shook me to my core. However, the memoir finished with such a strong sense of hope and optimism. It is a heartbreaking record of Australian history and a beautiful exploration of personal growth. I think this book will make me a better, more empathetic person and hopefully, a better ally.
“That does not feel like a fear to me.that feels like a dangerous malevolence. Just like those gangs of men who roamed around Bondi Beach and it’s surrounds in the 1980s and 90s, hunting for homosexuals to mercilessly bash and kill. That is not a phobia. That is derangement. That is pure evil.”
This memoir was a powerful insight into the experience of a queer teenager in a small country town. Throughout the bildungsroman I was brought to tears of both sadness and joy.
Shannon’s recounts of meaningless violence and the impact of his teachers failing to address the names he was called based upon elements of his personality which he tried desperately to change shook me to my core. However, the memoir finished with such a strong sense of hope and optimism. It is a heartbreaking record of Australian history and a beautiful exploration of personal growth. I think this book will make me a better, more empathetic person and hopefully, a better ally.
March 7, 2020
I received an ARC of this book.
Very powerful and emotional memoir about one boy’s year of being fourteen in country Queensland whilst discovering something very important about himself. From extreme lows to a couple of very big highs, you feel it all with him.
Most of all, I felt outraged at the people who were meant to protect him but didn’t. Thankfully, we live in a slightly different world today, although I am not naive enough to believe that the torment no longer exists but I have to believe that it is getting better.
Very powerful and emotional memoir about one boy’s year of being fourteen in country Queensland whilst discovering something very important about himself. From extreme lows to a couple of very big highs, you feel it all with him.
Most of all, I felt outraged at the people who were meant to protect him but didn’t. Thankfully, we live in a slightly different world today, although I am not naive enough to believe that the torment no longer exists but I have to believe that it is getting better.
April 21, 2020
This book needs to be read in every highschool in Australia. Absolutely appalling and heartbreaking yet a reality for so many. Thanks for being so vulnerable and sharing your great pain with the reader. It would not be easy but know your work will change lives.
April 6, 2020
This book will break your heart, and also bring back similar memories you’ve tried hard to repress over the years.
May 2, 2020
I neglected my family for 2 days to listen to the audio version.
September 9, 2020
Shannons account of his life as a fourteen year old in an all-boys Rugby obsessed school in regional Queensland is heartbreaking and crushing.
Growing up is difficult enough as it is, but for a boy coming to terms with his sexuality and how he will fit into the world as gay, is harder.
Shannons recount of his teenage life is gut-wrenching, describing the torment and degrading events that he went through at the hands of other school boys and the failure of teachers who stood by and did nothing.
Despite the darkness of his story, Shannon also retells the light and love he experiences once he has left Queensland.
His story is full of courage, relatable at times and shows that despite the evilness of other people, courage, self belief and love will always win over homophobia.
An amazing story that speaks not just to anyone in the LGBTQI+ community, but for anyone who has been a victim of discrimination and bullying. Amazing read.
Growing up is difficult enough as it is, but for a boy coming to terms with his sexuality and how he will fit into the world as gay, is harder.
Shannons recount of his teenage life is gut-wrenching, describing the torment and degrading events that he went through at the hands of other school boys and the failure of teachers who stood by and did nothing.
Despite the darkness of his story, Shannon also retells the light and love he experiences once he has left Queensland.
His story is full of courage, relatable at times and shows that despite the evilness of other people, courage, self belief and love will always win over homophobia.
An amazing story that speaks not just to anyone in the LGBTQI+ community, but for anyone who has been a victim of discrimination and bullying. Amazing read.
August 13, 2020
“Perhaps by that point I was all out of big, ugly cries. I had used them all up - a lifetime of snotty, howling sobs all gone by the age of fourteen.”
A memoir of a boy growing up gay in a rural Australian town. The abuse he was subjected to from just about everyone in the town was heartbreaking. Worst of all was the disdain he received from figures of authority (teachers, his doctor) who were in a position to help him but went out of their way to make his life worse. The prologue - describing his suicide attempt after enduring a particularly cruel bout of bullying - sets the tone for a year of misery.
The one beacon of joy he had to cling to was his fashion show, and to see him throw all his energy into it, and for it to be a huge success, had me smiling from ear to ear.
There were so many aspects of Molloy’s story that I related to.
“I danced my little heart out, almost perfectly pulling off the entire routine to the Steps bubble-gum pop classic ‘Five, Six, Seven, Eight’.”
“The only currency was masculinity. In that respect, I was flat broke.”
He was just too fabulous for their small minds, and I’m so glad he got the escape and happy ending he deserves.
A memoir of a boy growing up gay in a rural Australian town. The abuse he was subjected to from just about everyone in the town was heartbreaking. Worst of all was the disdain he received from figures of authority (teachers, his doctor) who were in a position to help him but went out of their way to make his life worse. The prologue - describing his suicide attempt after enduring a particularly cruel bout of bullying - sets the tone for a year of misery.
The one beacon of joy he had to cling to was his fashion show, and to see him throw all his energy into it, and for it to be a huge success, had me smiling from ear to ear.
There were so many aspects of Molloy’s story that I related to.
“I danced my little heart out, almost perfectly pulling off the entire routine to the Steps bubble-gum pop classic ‘Five, Six, Seven, Eight’.”
“The only currency was masculinity. In that respect, I was flat broke.”
He was just too fabulous for their small minds, and I’m so glad he got the escape and happy ending he deserves.
June 3, 2020
Journalist Shannon Molloy always knew he wanted to get out of his small hometown in regional Queensland. He yearned to escape, not just because he had ambition and wished to see the world but because he was mercilessly bullied and bashed throughout his childhood, making his teenage years miserable despite the support of a loving mother and siblings.
“There was a place in the world for me, even if I didn’t know exactly where yet….and for the first time, I felt as though I deserved to find that place”, he writes.
Fourteen is an unflinching month-by-month memoir of the year he was that age (2000), a pivotal time in his life as he slowly realized he was gay (despite initially convincing himself he was bisexual because that was easier to accept); when he toyed with the idea of ending his life; when he hatched a plan to ‘escape’ his school nightmare by becoming an overseas exchange student and when he, ultimately, found the resilience, strength and determination to go on.
It is hardly surprising that in an all-boys Catholic High School in a conservative country town, adolescents could be cruel, violent, unaccepting and ignorant concerning a sensitive boy with a distinct effeminacy. What IS shocking, however, is learning just how many adults – teachers whose job it was to be not just Shannon’s educators but also guardians and protectors, could be equally as damning.
The message of survival and resilience which shines brightly through the coming-of-age doubts and angst of Fourteen seems particularly germane to our Covid-19 times when it can be easy to fall into feelings of hopelessness and despair. As Shannon says, “I had learned from my upbringing in Yeppoon – you have to pull yourself up when you fall down.” When speculating in his Epilogue on what he might tell his awkward 14-year-old self if he could go back in time, one thought was that “unknown happiness is on the horizon…. You will be fine.” He now credits the person he is today - fair-minded, empathetic and passionate – with elements of his teenage survival experience, as awful as it was.
Though the book’s narrative spans just one year of a tortured young life, through the Epilogue, it’s more than gratifying for the reader to get a snapshot of the successes, triumphs and love experienced in his subsequent years.
Whilst acknowledging the unswerving love of his family, Molloy’s ability - with hindsight - to accept and appreciate his past is the ultimate testament to his positivity and survival. As a beacon to staying power and to optimism, this touching memoir will serve as inspiration to any teenager (gay or straight) struggling to find their identity and path in this complex world. It should be added to all high school curricula reading lists.
“There was a place in the world for me, even if I didn’t know exactly where yet….and for the first time, I felt as though I deserved to find that place”, he writes.
Fourteen is an unflinching month-by-month memoir of the year he was that age (2000), a pivotal time in his life as he slowly realized he was gay (despite initially convincing himself he was bisexual because that was easier to accept); when he toyed with the idea of ending his life; when he hatched a plan to ‘escape’ his school nightmare by becoming an overseas exchange student and when he, ultimately, found the resilience, strength and determination to go on.
It is hardly surprising that in an all-boys Catholic High School in a conservative country town, adolescents could be cruel, violent, unaccepting and ignorant concerning a sensitive boy with a distinct effeminacy. What IS shocking, however, is learning just how many adults – teachers whose job it was to be not just Shannon’s educators but also guardians and protectors, could be equally as damning.
The message of survival and resilience which shines brightly through the coming-of-age doubts and angst of Fourteen seems particularly germane to our Covid-19 times when it can be easy to fall into feelings of hopelessness and despair. As Shannon says, “I had learned from my upbringing in Yeppoon – you have to pull yourself up when you fall down.” When speculating in his Epilogue on what he might tell his awkward 14-year-old self if he could go back in time, one thought was that “unknown happiness is on the horizon…. You will be fine.” He now credits the person he is today - fair-minded, empathetic and passionate – with elements of his teenage survival experience, as awful as it was.
Though the book’s narrative spans just one year of a tortured young life, through the Epilogue, it’s more than gratifying for the reader to get a snapshot of the successes, triumphs and love experienced in his subsequent years.
Whilst acknowledging the unswerving love of his family, Molloy’s ability - with hindsight - to accept and appreciate his past is the ultimate testament to his positivity and survival. As a beacon to staying power and to optimism, this touching memoir will serve as inspiration to any teenager (gay or straight) struggling to find their identity and path in this complex world. It should be added to all high school curricula reading lists.
September 21, 2020
I bought this book after listening to an incredibly charming interview on the ABC radio with journalist Shannon Molloy about his coming-of-age memoir. My first thought was, this needs to be turned into a movie! Shannon grew up in Yeppoon, a sleepy coastal town on the Capricorn Coast, a popular departure point for boats and yachts heading to Great Keppel Island or exploring the Great Barrier Reef. However, once you see past the palm-fringed beaches, the pretty coves, the calm ocean like a beautiful blue lake dotted with tropical islands; Yeppoon in the 1980s is no different from any other regional country town. The picture-perfect locale hides an entrenched system of prejudice, simmering aggression, violence, and insular behaviour. Despite this backdrop, this is an uplifting, universal story of a boy coming to terms with being gay in a country town, dealing with bullying from both his peers and complicit adults, and finding a way to live a successful, fulfilling, creative life. The writer had to leave the place and people he loved in order to thrive. I can only imagine what his life would have been like if he had stayed. His courage, sense of humour, resilience and ambition save him.
The story celebrates the colourful, kind people in Shannon's life, such as his loving, strong mother, and his gang of girlfriends who spend a lot of time practicing dance moves to Madonna and J.Lo. Shannon writes with clear, descriptive prose that is peppered with poetic and candid observations of a seaside town, from the plumes of foam blowing in from the ocean's annual coral spawn to the social and style hub of his mother's hair salon, Scissorhands. The novel's climax begins on the night of Yeppoon's Youth Festival. Rising star of TV show Neighbours, Brooke Satchwell, is booked to make an appearance. (For US readers - this is the celebrity-equivalent of The OC's Mischa Barton coming to a country town.) Shannon, an ambitious aspiring reporter, is desperate to score a ten minute interview with Brooke, for an article for his online magazine. What follows is a taut, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful scene. This is a beautifully written memoir in which writing is a balm, a passion, and a means for escape.
I'll leave you to discover how the story ends; but I will tell you that in real life there is a very happy resolution - I recently read that this book has been snapped up in a film deal. Can't wait to see that!
The story celebrates the colourful, kind people in Shannon's life, such as his loving, strong mother, and his gang of girlfriends who spend a lot of time practicing dance moves to Madonna and J.Lo. Shannon writes with clear, descriptive prose that is peppered with poetic and candid observations of a seaside town, from the plumes of foam blowing in from the ocean's annual coral spawn to the social and style hub of his mother's hair salon, Scissorhands. The novel's climax begins on the night of Yeppoon's Youth Festival. Rising star of TV show Neighbours, Brooke Satchwell, is booked to make an appearance. (For US readers - this is the celebrity-equivalent of The OC's Mischa Barton coming to a country town.) Shannon, an ambitious aspiring reporter, is desperate to score a ten minute interview with Brooke, for an article for his online magazine. What follows is a taut, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful scene. This is a beautifully written memoir in which writing is a balm, a passion, and a means for escape.
I'll leave you to discover how the story ends; but I will tell you that in real life there is a very happy resolution - I recently read that this book has been snapped up in a film deal. Can't wait to see that!
June 1, 2020
Fourteen is the story of Shannon Molloy's 14th year at an all boys catholic school in Queensland. It was a year of brutal torment and bullying, that almost came to the most tragic of ends. Shannon's story is painful and raw. The level of abuse he endures will make you angry, and break your heart. But Shannon is resilient, and strong, and funny. He's a survivor.
October 1, 2021
Fourteen was written and narrated by Shannon Molloy, now an award winning journalist with a successful career, but in his fourteenth year that eventuality seemed near impossible. In fact he nearly didn't make it to fifteen.
Growing up the regional Queensland town of Yeppoon Shannon attended an all boys Catholic school. This is a coming of age story. Shannon was beginning to suspect he might be gay but he desperately did not want this to be the case. Everything he'd ever been taught, and was still being taught, was that homosexuality was a sin. So he tried to change who and what he was.
Unfortunately Yeppoon, and his school, had already decided who and what Shannon Molloy was and they were relentless in labelling, verbally bullying and physically bashing him. It was unsafe and scary for a boy like him. At one point he attempted to take his own life, believing this was his only option. The fact he survived his teens is a testimony to the support his family, in particular his mother, provided. Additionally he was motivated (read desperate) to escape the town and successfully applied to participate in an International Student Exchange program. The moment he turned fifteen he was off to America and this proved to be a turning point for him. In his memoir Shannon reflects upon the highs and lows of that age.
Despite the bleak picture I painted there were some positives. He had a wonderful group of female friends. He was instrumental in proposing, planning and running a successful fashion parade as part of his youth group. It tells of his first crush and its horrible repercussions. I felt angry as I listened about the behaviours of Yeppoon residents (not just the kids but adults too) and couldn't help wondering if these behaviours might be replicated across towns all over Australia. Ultimately, knowing Shannon made it, that he finally accepted who he was, forged a successful career and found himself true love made for an uplifting story and it's one I'd definitely recommend to others.
I especially liked his honesty and thank Shannon for baring his soul in the name of helping others and generating understanding.
Growing up the regional Queensland town of Yeppoon Shannon attended an all boys Catholic school. This is a coming of age story. Shannon was beginning to suspect he might be gay but he desperately did not want this to be the case. Everything he'd ever been taught, and was still being taught, was that homosexuality was a sin. So he tried to change who and what he was.
Unfortunately Yeppoon, and his school, had already decided who and what Shannon Molloy was and they were relentless in labelling, verbally bullying and physically bashing him. It was unsafe and scary for a boy like him. At one point he attempted to take his own life, believing this was his only option. The fact he survived his teens is a testimony to the support his family, in particular his mother, provided. Additionally he was motivated (read desperate) to escape the town and successfully applied to participate in an International Student Exchange program. The moment he turned fifteen he was off to America and this proved to be a turning point for him. In his memoir Shannon reflects upon the highs and lows of that age.
Despite the bleak picture I painted there were some positives. He had a wonderful group of female friends. He was instrumental in proposing, planning and running a successful fashion parade as part of his youth group. It tells of his first crush and its horrible repercussions. I felt angry as I listened about the behaviours of Yeppoon residents (not just the kids but adults too) and couldn't help wondering if these behaviours might be replicated across towns all over Australia. Ultimately, knowing Shannon made it, that he finally accepted who he was, forged a successful career and found himself true love made for an uplifting story and it's one I'd definitely recommend to others.
I especially liked his honesty and thank Shannon for baring his soul in the name of helping others and generating understanding.
April 14, 2020
Incredibly raw coming of age story. As someone who grew up in Yeppoon I found it weirdly nostalgic but incredibly sad that someone’s memory of the small town is so horrible due to the awful treatment they received by ignorant small town minds.
I’m so glad to hear of Shannon’s happy ending and the overall message of “it does get better”.
I’m so glad to hear of Shannon’s happy ending and the overall message of “it does get better”.
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