Grinders

by Chris Wheat

The last year of school is the hardest. Grace wants to get into law; her boyfriend Kurt has no idea what he wants; Sophie wants Ben - beautiful, mysterious Ben - but what does Ben want? For their teachers, Angela and Frank, the year is just as tough - both in and out of school. "Grinders" explores the lives of these people over the eleven months of a school year. Tensions flare and friendships strain under the onslaught of exams, peer group pressures, staffroom politics and the need for companionship - or more. An always, not far off, hovers the spectre of danger. Schools are a messy mix of detention centre and constant carnival, but come December everyone has grown a little wiser.

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Chris Wheat grew up in Melbourne, where he still lives and works. He takes an active interest in politics and education and believes everyone has to do something to help save the planet. He has lived a life largely without trauma, although he has been attacked by a lemur, three German shepherds, and a tribe of monkeys; been twice beaten up by gangs; had a meat pie thrown at him by a stranger; and has slept in an igloo - not all on the same day. He is happy to be a vegetarian.