The world’s hottest pop star, Jade, is missing in the stunning Australian outback. Michael’s the privileged son of an indigenous lawyer, who has, until now, avoided visiting his curmudgeonly grandfather in Australia’s far north. When Michael ignores everything his grandfather tries to teach him of their shared culture, he's dumped in a remote part of the outback with only rations and a survival notebook containing all the lessons Michael’s been refusing to learn. When Michael stumbles across an unconscious Jade, all those lessons suddenly hold the key to the famous pop star’s survival. Alone, isolated, and with only each other for company, Jade and Michael will find a way to save each other – and from far more than just the harsh Australian outback.
I loved that Benny had a thought to leave his grandson out in the wilderness to try and make him realize that he is someone special, that he needs to know his ancestry, that nature heals, that he needs to find himself. Michael not only found himself but he found someone else also, someone he could be himself with, not be afraid to let loose about his thoughts and someone to love.
Jade, rising rockstar, gets lost in the outback and is discovered by Michael, whose indigenous grandfather dropped him into that same outback to learn about his family history. This is a heartwarming story of two young people coming of age in a desolate landscape. Very enjoyable story!