Hey Brother

(Paperback)

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'A superb, unflinching portrait of a family in crisis, as seen through the eyes of a good kid on the brink of manhood...a truly compelling 'coming of age' story that is unsentimentally told. However, the ending was satisfyingly, subtly moving- and absolutely pitch-perfect. Highly recommended.' - Raven's Parlour

'Life, love, and loss in rural Australia, as experienced by one unfaltering young man. It's as wise and tender as any book I've read in years. Jarrah Dundler writes in unsentimental prose that heightens the book's sense of humour and builds pathos for its young hero. It kept me hooked for hours at a stretch.' Rohan Wilson, bestselling author of The Roving Party

'A devastating portrait of youth, rage and tenderness. Trysten Black is an enormous achievement and Dundler is a writer to watch.' Kristina Olsson, acclaimed author of Boy, Lost

Before leaving for war in Afghanistan, Shaun Black gives his little brother Trysten a mission of his own. Keep out of trouble.

Trysten tries, but with Mum hitting the bottle harder than ever and his dad not helping, Trysten responds the only way he knows how, with his fists - getting into a fight at school and lining up for another one with his uncle who's come to stay.

When the family receives news that Shaun will be home for Christmas, Trysten is sure that good times are coming. But when Shaun returns, Trysten soon realises he has a whole new mission - to keep Shaun out of trouble.

Hey Brother tells the story of a tough kid from the bush whose world comes crashing down on his shoulders. But with his own blend of fury, resilience and deadpan humour, Trysten proves to be up for every challenge.

'This is a wonderful coming of age tale with themes of family, the power of friendship and first love. Full of frailty, hope and wry humour, this is a powerfully written story with huge heart and a spirited hero in Trysten Black.' - Jenny Barry, owner, BooksPlus

Reviews

'A superb, unflinching portrait of a family in crisis, as seen through the eyes of a good kid on the brink of manhood...a truly compelling 'coming of age' story that is unsentimentally told. However, the ending was satisfyingly, subtly moving- and absolutely pitch-perfect. Highly recommended.' - Raven's Parlour

'A raw and rare coming-of-age story that broke my heart and put it back together, larger than it was before. Dundler captures the struggle of a boy on the cusp of manhood and a family on the verge of collapse in rural Australia with singular authenticity. Trysten Black is unforgettable: his capacity for love and sly humour endure.' - Eleanor Limprecht, author of The Passengers

Author Bio

Jarrah was raised in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Since completing his BA in Politics at Griffith University he's worked as a barista, pizza-chef, AusAID volunteer, grant writer, uni tutor, and a stonemason's labourer. His short fiction has appeared in Booranga's fourW anthology, and his novel manuscript Hey Brother was selected for both a Byron Writers Residential Mentorship and Varuna Writers Fellowship and shortlisted for the Australian/Vogel's Literary Award (2017). Jarrah currently lives back in his hometown, Kyogle, with his partner and children and works in nearby Lismore as a peer support worker with people who have a lived experience of mental illness. Hey Brother is his first novel.