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My Spare Heart
Seventeen-year-old Phoebe's life is turned upside down when she moves from the city to the country to live with her dad in this powerful and uplifting story about family breakdowns, facing truths and finding balance.
I mean, Mum didn't drink that much. All of my friends' parents loved their champagne or whatever. Everyone drank in The Village, too. I'd only been there for about a month and there'd already been five wine and food festivals. Mum's drinking wasn't a big deal. Right?
Phoebe's non-Indigenous mother, a busy event manager, and her father, an Aboriginal man and uni lecturer, have split up and she's moved to sleepy old Willunga with him and his new health-obsessed girlfriend. It's only a few kilometres from Phoebe's old friends and the city, but it feels like another world.
Her new school is full of hippies, but some of the kids are cool and the local basketball team is tight, and before long Phoebe's fitting in. But as her mum becomes increasingly unreliable, Phoebe's grades begin to suffer, her place on the basketball team is under threat and her worries spiral out of control.
Phoebe can't tell her friends and is worried her dad will get angry, but pretending everything is fine is breaking her heart. How can she help her mum without tearing her family apart?
I mean, Mum didn't drink that much. All of my friends' parents loved their champagne or whatever. Everyone drank in The Village, too. I'd only been there for about a month and there'd already been five wine and food festivals. Mum's drinking wasn't a big deal. Right?
Phoebe's non-Indigenous mother, a busy event manager, and her father, an Aboriginal man and uni lecturer, have split up and she's moved to sleepy old Willunga with him and his new health-obsessed girlfriend. It's only a few kilometres from Phoebe's old friends and the city, but it feels like another world.
Her new school is full of hippies, but some of the kids are cool and the local basketball team is tight, and before long Phoebe's fitting in. But as her mum becomes increasingly unreliable, Phoebe's grades begin to suffer, her place on the basketball team is under threat and her worries spiral out of control.
Phoebe can't tell her friends and is worried her dad will get angry, but pretending everything is fine is breaking her heart. How can she help her mum without tearing her family apart?
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2022
9 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Jared Thomas
25 books14 followersJared Thomas was born in Port Augusta in 1976. Both his parents have Aboriginal heritage, and he identifies as Nukunu due to being raised on Nukunu land and with Nukunu culture. He has published many books and his writing explores the power of belonging and culture. In 2015 his novel Calypso Summer joined the 2015 International Youth Library White Raven list of books that deserve worldwide attention because of their universal themes and exceptional artistic and literary style. His recent releases include Songs That Sound Like Blood and the Game Day series written with NBA player Patty Mills.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 11, 2022
This is a bit of a preachy book. Which is fine, if there's a cause you're really passionate about, but it did it about EVERYTHING. From the benefits of exercise and yoga, to alternate schooling, to eating fruits and vegetables... I could list dozens of things.
For example:
I opened the bag: a couple of sourdough sandwiches, a muffin, a banana and a mandarin. I sighed, but really I knew the food was good for me.
After about ten minutes, I realised that I was being sucked into the social media vortex. I forced myself to turn off my phone and take my schoolbooks out from my bag.
Really? She's supposed to be 17 and this is how she thinks. It reads like a boomer wrote it and included everything they think is wrong with this generation and made commentary.
Surprisingly though, not judgey about drug use. Yep, it left the readers to decide if that was a problem or not.
It needed to just pick one or two topics to really focus on and get the message across, because it just felt the whole time like an older person was judging the reader and telling them what to do. If it had focused on the alcoholism and the hardships facing Indigenous Australians and left out a lot of the other waffle I think it would have been a much stronger book.
The COVID flare-up scares were weird (because it’s very much still a thing, though I guess that could have gone either way) but again, it just doesn’t need to be in here.
It's quite young too to read. The sentences structures are short and uncomplicated, the language used is pretty basic, and the dialogue is so stilted and simplistic none of it came across as authentic. Honestly, the cringe level of some of this dialogue is so high. There’s a lot of telling, and some of the complications seem to appear and resolve over five pages with one sentence to explain why. If it weren't for the drugs, alcohol, and sexual assault it'd be middle grade. (Yeah, it didn't hold back)
So it’s a bit of a mixed bag. It just tried to do too much, and wound up doing some of it well, and some of it terribly and the balance was off because of it.
For example:
I opened the bag: a couple of sourdough sandwiches, a muffin, a banana and a mandarin. I sighed, but really I knew the food was good for me.
After about ten minutes, I realised that I was being sucked into the social media vortex. I forced myself to turn off my phone and take my schoolbooks out from my bag.
Really? She's supposed to be 17 and this is how she thinks. It reads like a boomer wrote it and included everything they think is wrong with this generation and made commentary.
Surprisingly though, not judgey about drug use. Yep, it left the readers to decide if that was a problem or not.
It needed to just pick one or two topics to really focus on and get the message across, because it just felt the whole time like an older person was judging the reader and telling them what to do. If it had focused on the alcoholism and the hardships facing Indigenous Australians and left out a lot of the other waffle I think it would have been a much stronger book.
The COVID flare-up scares were weird (because it’s very much still a thing, though I guess that could have gone either way) but again, it just doesn’t need to be in here.
It's quite young too to read. The sentences structures are short and uncomplicated, the language used is pretty basic, and the dialogue is so stilted and simplistic none of it came across as authentic. Honestly, the cringe level of some of this dialogue is so high. There’s a lot of telling, and some of the complications seem to appear and resolve over five pages with one sentence to explain why. If it weren't for the drugs, alcohol, and sexual assault it'd be middle grade. (Yeah, it didn't hold back)
So it’s a bit of a mixed bag. It just tried to do too much, and wound up doing some of it well, and some of it terribly and the balance was off because of it.
August 22, 2022
I am so here for First Nations rep! I love the connection to Country as well as really appreciated the discussion of racism and impact that family has on children. It was a lightheaded novel that also dealt with some very serious topics and experiences of First Nations identifying people. I really really enjoyed this book and I ached for Phoebe.
January 11, 2025
Content warnings: alcoholism, car accident, blood, racism, bullying, emotional abuse, sexual assault, toxic relationship
Okay, so on the one hand? This is an extremely important book about a kid struggling with a new town and a new living arrangement and the realisation that her mother is an alcoholic. On the other hand, there were far too many things going on in this story and I don't feel like there was much in the way of emotional depth??
IDK. Maybe it's just me being picky, but this somehow felt too long and too short all at the same time.
Okay, so on the one hand? This is an extremely important book about a kid struggling with a new town and a new living arrangement and the realisation that her mother is an alcoholic. On the other hand, there were far too many things going on in this story and I don't feel like there was much in the way of emotional depth??
IDK. Maybe it's just me being picky, but this somehow felt too long and too short all at the same time.
November 4, 2023
Representation: First Australian main character
Trigger warnings: Assault, drugs, divorce and alcohol themes
Score: Six points out of ten.
This review can also be found on The StoryGraph.
Looking back at this I definitely wouldn't consider picking this one up again and even back then when I first read it I didn't enjoy it which is a shame since I've never seen this author before up to that point but this book he's written which drags on for 400 pages has a lot of glaring flaws which I'll look at later on. It starts off with the main character Phoebe living her new life after her parents split; it seemed that I would enjoy this one but unfortunately this is where the flaws start to appear. I had issues with the writing style since it felt too juvenile for a young adult book since it's mostly comprised of simple sentences and limited vocabulary and most of the characters were flat except Phoebe who only developed her character towards the end but only after some bad choices she made. The only other characteristics she had was that she was a sports fan and a good swimmer and sportswoman, that's it. Anyways her mother had alcohol problems and Phoebe unknowingly goes on a self-destructive path by doing drugs and marijuana and I suppose that's for her to develop her character but I didn't like that part nor did I like how it preached about Indigenous Australians, racism, climate change, and health. Eventually she stops going on that figurative road and eventually heals herself and that wraps up the book nicely.
Trigger warnings: Assault, drugs, divorce and alcohol themes
Score: Six points out of ten.
This review can also be found on The StoryGraph.
Looking back at this I definitely wouldn't consider picking this one up again and even back then when I first read it I didn't enjoy it which is a shame since I've never seen this author before up to that point but this book he's written which drags on for 400 pages has a lot of glaring flaws which I'll look at later on. It starts off with the main character Phoebe living her new life after her parents split; it seemed that I would enjoy this one but unfortunately this is where the flaws start to appear. I had issues with the writing style since it felt too juvenile for a young adult book since it's mostly comprised of simple sentences and limited vocabulary and most of the characters were flat except Phoebe who only developed her character towards the end but only after some bad choices she made. The only other characteristics she had was that she was a sports fan and a good swimmer and sportswoman, that's it. Anyways her mother had alcohol problems and Phoebe unknowingly goes on a self-destructive path by doing drugs and marijuana and I suppose that's for her to develop her character but I didn't like that part nor did I like how it preached about Indigenous Australians, racism, climate change, and health. Eventually she stops going on that figurative road and eventually heals herself and that wraps up the book nicely.
June 19, 2024
Thoughtful, authentic.
December 19, 2024
this tried way too hard to jam pack every single issue in and it felt like it was alternating between being written by an 11 yr old and then being written by some boomer
it also could’ve been like 150 pages shorter at least
it also could’ve been like 150 pages shorter at least
February 9, 2025
Jared Thomas is an engaging author, who connects with readers (young adult and older) bringing honesty and truth-telling about societal issues e.g. divorce, alcoholism, connection to country, racism, friendship, change and mental well-being.
Moving to a different suburb and a new high school in Year 11 can be a challenge for many teenagers. Becoming familiar with a very different way of teaching and learning may take time. Making new friends isn't easy either and added to that for Phoebe, are parent problems.
I really found this novel relevant and powerful.
Moving to a different suburb and a new high school in Year 11 can be a challenge for many teenagers. Becoming familiar with a very different way of teaching and learning may take time. Making new friends isn't easy either and added to that for Phoebe, are parent problems.
I really found this novel relevant and powerful.
June 2, 2024
4 stars
a really fantastic story that covers many of the issues that first nations kids (or even just kids in general) may face while they're young. a lot of reviews take issue with the preachy style of writing, but i reckon this book would be a really great resource for first nations kids to turn to and therefore don't really see the point in criticising it. i really enjoyed all of the characters and i also liked the fast paced writing style.
a really fantastic story that covers many of the issues that first nations kids (or even just kids in general) may face while they're young. a lot of reviews take issue with the preachy style of writing, but i reckon this book would be a really great resource for first nations kids to turn to and therefore don't really see the point in criticising it. i really enjoyed all of the characters and i also liked the fast paced writing style.
August 16, 2022
Honestly didn't think I was going to like this one because by the half-way point there felt like so much was happening, but it all paid off by the end. A brilliant story looking into race, identity, standing up for yourself and family. Personally really loved Phoebe's relationship with her parents, especially her step-mum Caitlin.
May 31, 2022
In a nut shell:
Seventeen-year-old Phoebe struggles with the many challenges and changes she faces when she moves from the city to the country with her dad and his new partner, leaving behind her friends, her school, her basketball team and her mother who struggles with addiction.
There was a lot to unpack in this book. So many challenges were addressed including loving someone with an addiction, moving and making new friends, racism, cultural identity, sexual assault and struggling to find a happy medium with divorced parents. I think this would be the perfect book for kids aged 12-18 to read. I would love to see this in school curriculums across Australia and think this would be a really rewarding read for teachers and parents too. I really enjoyed reading this book, the ending really brought it home for me and I was blown away.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
*please look up trigger warnings before reading
Seventeen-year-old Phoebe struggles with the many challenges and changes she faces when she moves from the city to the country with her dad and his new partner, leaving behind her friends, her school, her basketball team and her mother who struggles with addiction.
There was a lot to unpack in this book. So many challenges were addressed including loving someone with an addiction, moving and making new friends, racism, cultural identity, sexual assault and struggling to find a happy medium with divorced parents. I think this would be the perfect book for kids aged 12-18 to read. I would love to see this in school curriculums across Australia and think this would be a really rewarding read for teachers and parents too. I really enjoyed reading this book, the ending really brought it home for me and I was blown away.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
*please look up trigger warnings before reading
April 11, 2022
My Spare Heart deals with questions of divorce, relocation, and being let down by your parents with a profound tenderness and thoughtfulness.
In following Phoebe's first person narration which is characterised by direct observation of the world and her reactions to her surroundings, after a few chapters, I quickly fell into the story and struggled to put the book down.
Thomas' depiction of Phoebe's experience with her mother's alcoholism, and the struggle to find a place for herself in the family her father and his new partner are trying to craft is beautiful, and something I hope many younger readers who might be experiencing a similar thing read as a way to help them.
A wonderful book told in a clear, accessible voice. I thoroughly recommend.
In following Phoebe's first person narration which is characterised by direct observation of the world and her reactions to her surroundings, after a few chapters, I quickly fell into the story and struggled to put the book down.
Thomas' depiction of Phoebe's experience with her mother's alcoholism, and the struggle to find a place for herself in the family her father and his new partner are trying to craft is beautiful, and something I hope many younger readers who might be experiencing a similar thing read as a way to help them.
A wonderful book told in a clear, accessible voice. I thoroughly recommend.
June 5, 2022
Phoebe has just moved in with her dad and his yoga loving, health food obsessed girlfriend Caitlin. Not only has Phoebe moved away from her best friends and home she’s known all her life, but also her school, basketball team and her mum too.
Okay, so Mum drinks a bit, she thinks. But most adults around her as she grew up had a drink now and then. Nothing wrong with that. Is there?
But Mum’s drinking has split up her parents, makes her unreliable, and even dangerous when she is driving Phoebe and her friends to a basketball game. Phoebe brushes it all off, omitting to tell her dad when she gets home, because she knows he will get angry all over again.
Living with Dad and Caitlin is uncomfortable to start with, especially if they talk about her mum needing help. What right has Caitlin to say anything about her mum? If she thinks she can step in when mum isn’t around, she can think again, thinks Phoebe, hiding in her new bedroom.
School is like a different planet. It’s Steiner and its class structure and even social structure is far from what she is used to. But she does like the relaxed teachers and the fact there is no pecking order – cool kids vs losers etc. Everyone is accepted for who they are, what they’re into and how they dress or express themselves. There is one problem however. Phoebe is of Aboriginal descent and one student is often dropping racist remarks.
Basketball has always been her place to lose herself in, but the competition for the local team is tough and she has to step up a notch to secure her place.
She arranges to see her mum and friends on the weekends, but mum seems to be drinking even more than usual, has hooked up with a sleazy guy called Simon and is breaking her promises more and more.
Phoebe feels caught between her mum’s drinking, her dad’s anger and over-protection from it, school expectations and then something that happened at a party that leaves her reeling. All Phoebe wants is to be able to relax again, stop worrying about her mum’s drinking, her dad’s frustration and to be released from the almost constant guilt. Help does come, but she realises she has to let it happen.
My Spare Heart is a heartfelt character driven story about a 17 yr old girl called Phoebe. Like the author, Phoebe and her dad are people of the Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corp(Australia). Like her parents before her, she is a talented basketball player.
Basketball is threaded throughout the story within games played, Phoebe’s fandom and time with her classmates and friends. I’m not a big fan of basketball but I still enjoyed this part of the novel, as it isn’t overdone.
Important themes are:
Alcoholism and how it affects the entire family and friends too.
Party pressure re: drinking, drugs or inappropriate sexual behaviour
Broken and blended families
Stereotypes
Prejudice
Racism
What is important about this novel is that solutions to the above themes are worked on within the narrative without being preachy or over the top. As someone who does not know much about Aboriginal culture, I enjoyed what I learnt – again, it is handled masterfully within the story.
I’ll certainly be searching out more novels by this author, as should anyone who loves Young Adult Realism Fiction.
Author – Jared Thomas
Age – 13+
Okay, so Mum drinks a bit, she thinks. But most adults around her as she grew up had a drink now and then. Nothing wrong with that. Is there?
But Mum’s drinking has split up her parents, makes her unreliable, and even dangerous when she is driving Phoebe and her friends to a basketball game. Phoebe brushes it all off, omitting to tell her dad when she gets home, because she knows he will get angry all over again.
Living with Dad and Caitlin is uncomfortable to start with, especially if they talk about her mum needing help. What right has Caitlin to say anything about her mum? If she thinks she can step in when mum isn’t around, she can think again, thinks Phoebe, hiding in her new bedroom.
School is like a different planet. It’s Steiner and its class structure and even social structure is far from what she is used to. But she does like the relaxed teachers and the fact there is no pecking order – cool kids vs losers etc. Everyone is accepted for who they are, what they’re into and how they dress or express themselves. There is one problem however. Phoebe is of Aboriginal descent and one student is often dropping racist remarks.
Basketball has always been her place to lose herself in, but the competition for the local team is tough and she has to step up a notch to secure her place.
She arranges to see her mum and friends on the weekends, but mum seems to be drinking even more than usual, has hooked up with a sleazy guy called Simon and is breaking her promises more and more.
Phoebe feels caught between her mum’s drinking, her dad’s anger and over-protection from it, school expectations and then something that happened at a party that leaves her reeling. All Phoebe wants is to be able to relax again, stop worrying about her mum’s drinking, her dad’s frustration and to be released from the almost constant guilt. Help does come, but she realises she has to let it happen.
My Spare Heart is a heartfelt character driven story about a 17 yr old girl called Phoebe. Like the author, Phoebe and her dad are people of the Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corp(Australia). Like her parents before her, she is a talented basketball player.
Basketball is threaded throughout the story within games played, Phoebe’s fandom and time with her classmates and friends. I’m not a big fan of basketball but I still enjoyed this part of the novel, as it isn’t overdone.
Important themes are:
Alcoholism and how it affects the entire family and friends too.
Party pressure re: drinking, drugs or inappropriate sexual behaviour
Broken and blended families
Stereotypes
Prejudice
Racism
What is important about this novel is that solutions to the above themes are worked on within the narrative without being preachy or over the top. As someone who does not know much about Aboriginal culture, I enjoyed what I learnt – again, it is handled masterfully within the story.
I’ll certainly be searching out more novels by this author, as should anyone who loves Young Adult Realism Fiction.
Author – Jared Thomas
Age – 13+
June 20, 2022
Jared Thomas’s latest YA novel introduces us to Phoebe, a seventeen-year-old girl who has just moved in with her father and his girlfriend. Away from her mother, friends and all that she is used to. As she tries to navigate her new world, her old world starts to spiral out of control. Before long Phoebe is juggling so many lies, they all begin to come crashing down around her.
Phoebe’s mum likes to have a drink, usually too many. Phoebe’s dad has moved on with a new health-obsessed girlfriend in a town full of hippies. Phoebe loves to play basketball and is very proud of her aboriginal heritage, but between staying connected to culture, making new friends, covering for mum’s lies and avoiding the judgment of her dad, life has got really complicated for Phoebe.
The story begins with Phoebe reluctantly moving to a new town and new school and moving in with dad and his girlfriend, who Phoebe tries very hard to dislike. Everything about this new life is different from her old one. Her mum makes promises about keeping things the same, but as the story progresses, mum becomes increasingly unreliable. Phoebe is vulnerable with the upheaval but protective of her mum. She knows her dad will get angry if he discovers the missed pick-ups and late-nights home and might enforce tougher restrictions to deal with mum’s erratic and alcohol fueled behaviour. To avoid this, she weaves a web of small lies to protect herself and her mum, but in doing so creates tension and stress.
Each character in this story is very different from the other. Thomas has done a wonderful job of creating a rich breadth of characters, nice and not so nice, in Phoebe’s world. From the supportive new teachers to the seemingly charming crush she meets. Her new friends are different to her old friends but each one subtlety helps Phoebe to see that she can’t continue supporting and covering the behaviour of her mother. While she tries to get picked for basketball, expand her singing abilities, connect with dad’s girlfriends and stay true to her own aboriginal culture, things begin to unravel. Slowly at first, then in a big way until one day Phoebe realizes she has to come clean about everything and get help.
My Spare Heart touches on issues of addiction, alcoholism, teenage peer pressure and aboriginal culture. It does so in a way that could easily provoke discussion within a classroom. It provides opportunity for the analysis of themes, discussion of the complexities of family and relationships and what drives the characters in the story. Thomas writes with a sensitivity towards these topics, but doesn’t avoid the hard-hitting discussion necessary to propel the story forward.
Phoebe’s mum likes to have a drink, usually too many. Phoebe’s dad has moved on with a new health-obsessed girlfriend in a town full of hippies. Phoebe loves to play basketball and is very proud of her aboriginal heritage, but between staying connected to culture, making new friends, covering for mum’s lies and avoiding the judgment of her dad, life has got really complicated for Phoebe.
The story begins with Phoebe reluctantly moving to a new town and new school and moving in with dad and his girlfriend, who Phoebe tries very hard to dislike. Everything about this new life is different from her old one. Her mum makes promises about keeping things the same, but as the story progresses, mum becomes increasingly unreliable. Phoebe is vulnerable with the upheaval but protective of her mum. She knows her dad will get angry if he discovers the missed pick-ups and late-nights home and might enforce tougher restrictions to deal with mum’s erratic and alcohol fueled behaviour. To avoid this, she weaves a web of small lies to protect herself and her mum, but in doing so creates tension and stress.
Each character in this story is very different from the other. Thomas has done a wonderful job of creating a rich breadth of characters, nice and not so nice, in Phoebe’s world. From the supportive new teachers to the seemingly charming crush she meets. Her new friends are different to her old friends but each one subtlety helps Phoebe to see that she can’t continue supporting and covering the behaviour of her mother. While she tries to get picked for basketball, expand her singing abilities, connect with dad’s girlfriends and stay true to her own aboriginal culture, things begin to unravel. Slowly at first, then in a big way until one day Phoebe realizes she has to come clean about everything and get help.
My Spare Heart touches on issues of addiction, alcoholism, teenage peer pressure and aboriginal culture. It does so in a way that could easily provoke discussion within a classroom. It provides opportunity for the analysis of themes, discussion of the complexities of family and relationships and what drives the characters in the story. Thomas writes with a sensitivity towards these topics, but doesn’t avoid the hard-hitting discussion necessary to propel the story forward.
June 4, 2022
Jared, as always has delivered a multifaceted, dynamic, and emotive book. Not only giving a voice to young Phoebe, but to many others everywhere. This is a must read for all, not only for the teenage audiences. Jared discusses concepts and issues which are and have always been prevalent, educating and discussing truths and challenging stereotypes, all whilst doing so in a gentle way. The way Aboriginal connection to Country is spoken about, making decisions, placing healthy boundaries for yourself, and showing each of us that we are not alone on our journey is breathtakingly beautiful. I am taken along with Phoebe as she navigates her way through many changes of life, growing, changing, and becoming the powerful young Aboriginal woman we could see she was, from the first time we meet her. This is an honest, deeply moving, inspiring and multi-layered journey, which had me shedding tears in many places. Jared, through Phoebe challenges the narratives and stereotypes of Aboriginal people and communities, and gives hope, whilst discussing complex, and serious issues which almost everyone can identify with. Jared, in all he does, discusses and writes about, leaves myself, as a reader not only wanting more, but he leaves me feeling that not only Phoebe is given a voice, is heard, seen and that she matters; but so do I. This is a book is for all ages, from all walks of life. It leaves you feeling light, hopeful for the future and also that we can and will always have people to love us, to never break promises, to show up no matter how hard we push them away and love with all they have. I read My Spare Heart in one day - I was unable to put it down. I have ordered more copies for my loved ones, already. You will be changed after reading this. I promise. Jared, as always, you make me proud, you give our people a voice and you educate in such a way that is an extension of your pure, gentle and genuine heart. Your articulation of all that is important to us ... such a gift.
May 28, 2022
17 year-old Phoebe loves basketball. What she doesn't love is having to move to live with her dad and his new girlfriend - leaving her old school, her friends and her mother behind in the city.
Now she finds herself in a small country town, goes to a hippy school and has to make new friends and work her way into the local basketball team.
What is worse, she is the only Indigenous student at her new school and that leaves her feeling isolated and alone.
As Phoebe starts to settle in to her new home, she is also trying to hide from her dad just how much her mum's drinking is getting out of control. She loves her mum and her dad can get so angry when he finds out that her mum has let her down again because she if hung-over or out drinking and forgets about her.
This is a powerful story of a young woman having to negotiate complicated family dynamics and how to be true to herself and her culture in a society that just doesn't understand or see past the stereotypes.
I loved the insight into Indigenous culture and issues that are highlighted in this clever YA story. I say clever because the reader learns so much from Phoebe's story without feeling lectured to - about connection to Country and the dangers of stereotypes.
Phoebe, her dad, and her dad's new girlfriend are all also having to learn to live with an alcoholic in their lives and the trauma that can cause.
Overall this is a highly recommended read with something for everyone - sport, family drama, insights into Indigenous culture and dealing with the trauma.
Thank you to @allenandunwin for the review copy of this book.
Now she finds herself in a small country town, goes to a hippy school and has to make new friends and work her way into the local basketball team.
What is worse, she is the only Indigenous student at her new school and that leaves her feeling isolated and alone.
As Phoebe starts to settle in to her new home, she is also trying to hide from her dad just how much her mum's drinking is getting out of control. She loves her mum and her dad can get so angry when he finds out that her mum has let her down again because she if hung-over or out drinking and forgets about her.
This is a powerful story of a young woman having to negotiate complicated family dynamics and how to be true to herself and her culture in a society that just doesn't understand or see past the stereotypes.
I loved the insight into Indigenous culture and issues that are highlighted in this clever YA story. I say clever because the reader learns so much from Phoebe's story without feeling lectured to - about connection to Country and the dangers of stereotypes.
Phoebe, her dad, and her dad's new girlfriend are all also having to learn to live with an alcoholic in their lives and the trauma that can cause.
Overall this is a highly recommended read with something for everyone - sport, family drama, insights into Indigenous culture and dealing with the trauma.
Thank you to @allenandunwin for the review copy of this book.
August 19, 2022
Read for Review
Set in the outer suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia, this touching contemporary novel deals with many issues that are facing teenagers and families today. From the point of view of Phoebe, a First Nation teenager with a Caucasian mother, the issues of racism, alcoholism, drugs, sexual assault and relationships are all looked at honestly. Jared Thomas has written a book that flows incredibly well, with relatable characters, all set in current, post 2020 Covid times. Various relationships fill this book – existing relationships, new friendships, new family and strained relationships. This book would suit fans of the books ‘The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling’ by Wai Chim and ‘The Library of Lost Things’ by Laura Taylor Namey.
Themes: Family & relationships, Contemporary, Mental Health, Racism, Sexual Assault, Alcoholism, Drugs
Set in the outer suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia, this touching contemporary novel deals with many issues that are facing teenagers and families today. From the point of view of Phoebe, a First Nation teenager with a Caucasian mother, the issues of racism, alcoholism, drugs, sexual assault and relationships are all looked at honestly. Jared Thomas has written a book that flows incredibly well, with relatable characters, all set in current, post 2020 Covid times. Various relationships fill this book – existing relationships, new friendships, new family and strained relationships. This book would suit fans of the books ‘The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling’ by Wai Chim and ‘The Library of Lost Things’ by Laura Taylor Namey.
Themes: Family & relationships, Contemporary, Mental Health, Racism, Sexual Assault, Alcoholism, Drugs
September 11, 2022
Really enjoyed this book.
Concept of spare heart so well written & relevant to the storyline. Concepts of daily racism faced by First Nations people, emerging sexuality & concepts of male power followed by female empowerment & most strongly parental alcoholism as the main character experiences adolescence & change of school, parental separation, fathers new girlfriend & mothers alcoholism & reaching out/ communicating to get support & deal with alcoholism of mother. Alcoholism = disease.
Concept of spare heart so well written & relevant to the storyline. Concepts of daily racism faced by First Nations people, emerging sexuality & concepts of male power followed by female empowerment & most strongly parental alcoholism as the main character experiences adolescence & change of school, parental separation, fathers new girlfriend & mothers alcoholism & reaching out/ communicating to get support & deal with alcoholism of mother. Alcoholism = disease.
August 8, 2024
forced to read this for english💔
it wasnt an awful book i will admit. but its not good either.
it really seemed like a 40 year old MAN tried to write a book from a teenage girls perspective with the grammar and sentence structure of a 10 year old boy….
Also Phoebe did not seem very likeable to me
it wasnt an awful book i will admit. but its not good either.
it really seemed like a 40 year old MAN tried to write a book from a teenage girls perspective with the grammar and sentence structure of a 10 year old boy….
Also Phoebe did not seem very likeable to me
September 21, 2024
A great YA! At first I wasn’t sure about it because I felt like I was reading about a 12/13 year old girl not a 17 year old so it was hard to focus to start with but then it got better and I really got into it. It had me feeling all the feels from anger to crying and all the in between. We need more books like this
November 17, 2024
Got this in a mystery package well in Australia a few months ago and have really enjoyed it! I have never read a story with First Nations rep but i’m very glad i have and hope more YA comes out with these themes. I will say I think sometimes Jared does stereotype woman and it can come off as pretty shallow. Think it is definitely something to work on.
November 28, 2025
Dnf at page 20 not the books fault but my own for not reading this for 2 and a half years after I got it. But I personally can’t connect with the book and want to fall asleep reading it. Might be because I’m 17 and didn’t have to move and basically restart my life when my parents divorced. Love the representation though good work on that I love to see it.
December 30, 2022
okay so, i would you have given the book 4 stars but i just wasn’t obsessed with the book, i didn’t have strong feelings about it. although the book itself was good. but i did get a bit bored and some points were a bit disinteresting.
June 30, 2022
Really liked this young adult novel set in a coastal town in South Australia.
September 11, 2022
A great YA read with some big themes such as family separation, alcoholism and consent.
October 12, 2022
This story of Phoebe and her challenges to accept her mother's addiction issues, is written with care and authenticity. A terrific book!
September 8, 2023
yeah it was a pretty good book, very real and lowk emotional at some points, but i probably wouldnt read it again simply because theres just not very much going on
August 25, 2024
LOVED THIS. Couldn’t put it down today!! I spent ages reading this gem of a book today. So worth it. LOVE LOVE LOVE WOULD HIGHLY RECCOMEND
October 2, 2025
This was a really good book actually and I don’t think I gave it enough hype at the time. It was a great YA book and surprisingly enough a great recommendation from Granny.
September 11, 2022
I enjoyed it because, again, we need diverse voices and it was great to hear a story from a girl with an educated Aboriginal dad and an alcoholic white mum. Just trying to challenge some perspectives that are typical. When I was growing up, all we ever had were really terrible sad stories (which also reflected reality) of what it was like to grow up Aboriginal. This one still addresses it but it gives hope and alternative possibility that it's going to be ok. You can't solve all the problems, but you will make it through.
I enjoyed it and I read alll of it but I can't say objectively it's a great book. It was almost like it needed a bit more polish. There were elements that really drew me in, like all the shame with having an alcoholic parent and trying to cover for them etc. How she had alot of pride for her Aboriginal side because her dad took her to protests and went home to country when they needed some grounding. The complexity of not looking "as Aboriginal" in a white school.
I think this book will date because it doesn't seem relatable to kids today and it's written FOR kids today. Nobooody listens to Triple J anymore, they're on Tiktok etc. Being "real" and authentic and calling out "fakes" on social media is a frequent occurrence. To have someone be racist to you online from school is so likely. Mentions Covid here and there.
I think someone else described this book as being extremely preachy on everything. Its definitely true. There's too many issues it's trying to address, and solve. But I do like that the character has courage and does follow through with trying to do the right thing.
I enjoyed it and I read alll of it but I can't say objectively it's a great book. It was almost like it needed a bit more polish. There were elements that really drew me in, like all the shame with having an alcoholic parent and trying to cover for them etc. How she had alot of pride for her Aboriginal side because her dad took her to protests and went home to country when they needed some grounding. The complexity of not looking "as Aboriginal" in a white school.
I think this book will date because it doesn't seem relatable to kids today and it's written FOR kids today. Nobooody listens to Triple J anymore, they're on Tiktok etc. Being "real" and authentic and calling out "fakes" on social media is a frequent occurrence. To have someone be racist to you online from school is so likely. Mentions Covid here and there.
I think someone else described this book as being extremely preachy on everything. Its definitely true. There's too many issues it's trying to address, and solve. But I do like that the character has courage and does follow through with trying to do the right thing.
July 2, 2023
Phoebe doesn't want to go to a new school or move in permanently with her dad and his girlfriend - and she definitely doesn't want to do yoga! She just wants to play basketful like her heroes. While settling in isn't so bad, it does mean that she can't see her mum as often as she'd like...and it'd help if her mum actually showed up when she promised she would.
Jared Thomas has a gift for writing YA fiction that feels real, isn't unbelievable or OTT, and is accessible to teens who might not usually read as a hobby. For some adult readers, this means the prose isn't as elegant as in some other YA novels, but you're not the intended audience. Thomas grapples with some very difficult issues here, including having an alcoholic as a parent and dealing with micro-aggressions. This is a solid Australian story.
Jared Thomas has a gift for writing YA fiction that feels real, isn't unbelievable or OTT, and is accessible to teens who might not usually read as a hobby. For some adult readers, this means the prose isn't as elegant as in some other YA novels, but you're not the intended audience. Thomas grapples with some very difficult issues here, including having an alcoholic as a parent and dealing with micro-aggressions. This is a solid Australian story.
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