My Brother's Keeper: The Official Bra Boys Story

by Sean Doherty

Maroubra was a tough place to grow up. Ringed by a jail, a sewerage works, a rifle range and a housing commission estate, it was where the streets of Sydney met the beach. It was a place where the local boys surfed hard and partied harder. It was also a place where trouble easily found you. Adopted by Maroubra Beach at a young age, the four Abberton brothers, all born to different fathers and a mother in the clutches of heroin addiction, grew up at a time when the area was shadowed by drugs and gang violence. Raised largely by their grandmother, Sunny, Jai, Koby and Dakota found solace in the surf, and solidarity with their mates, the Bra Boys.

The official biography of the Abberton brothers follows their story from a turbulent upbringing on the sands of Maroubra to international surf stardom, and the fateful events of 5 August 2003, when Jai shot dead Maroubra underworld figure and childhood friend Tony Hines, only to be acquitted on the grounds of self-defence. The Official Bra Boys Story: My Brothers Keeper is raw, gritty, from the heart ... and everything you won′t read about in the newspapers.

Genres: Biography

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Sean Doherty is a native of Forster on the New South Wales mid-north coast, but after years of calling the riffling walls of Dee Why home he has moved to another fabulous surf break and hangs out near Torquay.

He began his career in surf journalism in 1997 with Tracks magazine, and became editor in 2000 the longest-serving (and suffering) editor of the iconic Australian surf magazine. His 2004 bestselling biography on surf legend Michael Peterson is the basis for an upcoming feature film and also inspired Malcolm Knox s latest novel This Life. His bestselling book The Official Bra Boys Story: My Brother s Keeper is also under option. He compiled and wrote the bestselling The Moment. He writes for The Sydney Morning Herald, Surfer and Surfing magazines and is considered by many to be the best surfing journalist in the world. He is also, of course, a great bloke and a red-hot surfer.

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I read this during my final year of high school and even was able to quote it during a school assignment. It gives an insight into what Maroughbra was like for the Abbeteron brother when they were growing up.

[Darcey Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible….what more can I say, I love it. It’s a book I will read again because I feel like there is so much to learn and take in from this book that you can’t do it in just one reading
Do yourself a favour and pick up this page turner

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have just finished reading this book. I found it hard to put it down. I loved the detail that each of the brothers gave and I found it an inspirational read too. An awesome, Aussie, down to earth, real life read. LOVED it.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea how I made it through 110 pages of this drivel.

It seems the authors and film makers try to whitewash the Bra Boys criminal, uncouth and childish antics.

[Sarajane1990 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ihavent completely finished this book, i remember reading it because (Cody?) was so sexy, but i guess its more of a guys book, i lvoed the documentry though.

But still when ever people abuse the bra boys around me I always defend them :)

[Mila Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book, I have read it many times. I was 13 when I first read this book and I realised how lucky and fortunate I am to be brought up in a home with loving parents. I also loved the way the book was published.

[Marion · Rating 1 out of 5]

Struggled with the language structure. Just couldn't finish it, gave up after a couple of chapters

[Velvetink]

1 of 20 for $10 20/1014

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring. That's really all I have to say. It's taken me years to finish this biography and for good reason. The individual stories just dragged on and on.

[Adrian Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Brotherhood and family