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  • The Boy from the Mish

  • Ready When You Are
  • By: Gary Lonesborough
  • Narrated by: Meyne Wyatt
  • Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (244 ratings)

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The Boy from the Mish

By: Gary Lonesborough
Narrated by: Meyne Wyatt
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Publisher's Summary

A funny and heart-warming coming-of-age story, set in a rural Australian community, about 17-year-old Jackson finding the courage to explore who he is, even if it scares him.

'I don't paint so much anymore,' I say, looking to my feet.

'Oh. Well, I got a boy who needs to do some art. You can help him out,' Aunty Pam says, like I have no say in the matter, like she didn't hear what I just said about not painting so much anymore. 'Jackson, this is Tomas. He's living with me for a little while.'

It's a hot summer, and life's going all right for Jackson and his family on the Mish. It's almost Christmas, school's out and he's hanging with his mates, teasing the visiting tourists, avoiding the racist boys in town. Just like every year, Jackson's Aunty and annoying little cousins visit from the city - but this time a mysterious boy with a troubled past comes with them.... As their friendship evolves, Jackson must confront the changing shapes of his relationships with his friends, family and community. And he must face his darkest secret - a secret he thought he'd locked away for good.

Compelling, honest and beautifully written, The Boy from the Mish is about first love, identity and the superpower of self-belief.

Published in North America as Ready When You Are.

Gary Lonesborough is a Yuin man, who grew up on the Far South Coast of NSW as part of a large and proud Aboriginal family. Growing up a massive Kylie Minogue and North Queensland Cowboys fan, Gary was always writing as a child and continued his creative journey when he moved to Sydney to study at film school. Gary has experience working in Aboriginal health, the disability sector (including experience working in the Youth Justice System) and the film industry. He was Bega Valley Shire Council Young Citizen of the Year, won the Patrick White Young Indigenous Writers' Award and has received a Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowship. The Boy from the Mish is Gary's debut novel.

©2021 Gary Lonesborough (P)2021 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.

Critic Reviews

"A book I've been searching for over my whole career...[it] awed me with the power of its storytelling." (David Levithan, Scholastic US editorial director)

"Honest. Funny. Beautiful. This book is all the things." (Gabbie Stroud)

What listeners say about The Boy from the Mish

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Beautiful, moving, inspiring

I loved every moment of this incredibly beautiful novel and this perfect performance. I cried often, smiled often, and felt so close to Jackson and Thomas as they experienced those extraordinary first feelings of deep attraction and love. I hope this important book finds its way to, and reaches into, the hearts of every person who needs it.

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2 people found this helpful

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So good

Beautifully written AND read. Well done indeed. I’d recommend this to anyone. I loved it and was sorry when it ended. Thanks Gary and Meyne

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  • Overall
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Great work

Thank you Gary for being you. Proud, Strong and Deadly . Thank you for helping us to be us.

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  • Overall
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Uniquely enjoyable

This was really excellent. Great voice work and excellent writing and descriptions to visualise the country. Really enjoyable and absorbing story line. Could share the characters laughter and tears, and all there struggles.

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  • Overall
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Loved this book

Listening to this wonderful story, I found the characters wholly plausible and they came to life. The message behind the story is immense and the book should be included on the school curriculum as recommended reading. It speaks to many and educates us all with its gentle realism. Superlative.

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  • Overall
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good book

excellent story and narration. Well crafted. Well narrated. Heart warming. Great characters. Kept me involved.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Beautifully written and narrated

I loved the relaxed casual style of the book assisted by Meyne’s smooth narration setting a good tone for YA audience. I also loved the way the book presented the importance of Koori mob culture as an extended social family. I’m hoping this is true of most mobs today- very powerful social glue.

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  • Overall
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Wonderful story

The coming of age story so many LGBTQI teens need. Especially important with it’s telling of the Indigenous experience. Such beautiful characters, and representation of family, culture and friendship.

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4 people found this helpful

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Incredible story

This was an incredibly well written and well narrated story. I look forward to many more sessions listening to this. Brilliant job everyone involved

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3 people found this helpful

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Blak Gay Joy

Maybe 5 years ago I thought I wanna hear a story about a young person from the Mish and Gary has given us a gift and story of a young Blak gay man and this story was so rich and generous. It showed the family structures of mob the generosity of our mob taking in kids and supporting each young people. It showed the seriousness of racism and our young mobs real reactions to it and the way the police and whitefullas in towns harass us. I couldn’t put this audiobook down, it’s one of those books I wish I read when I was younger and a reflection of many young Blackfullas lives on the Mish and in regional areas. This is a gift and I’m so glad it’s in the world and that Meyne narrated this wonderful story.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.