“If we don’t let ourselves be who we are, love who we are, where we come from, it’ll strangle ya until you can’t fight it no longer”

The Boy from the Mish is a coming-of-age story of two Aboriginal teenagers, reaching out to understand their identities and how they fit into the world.

Jackson lives in the Mish with his mum and siblings. Every Christmas his Aunty and cousins come to stay. At Christmas this year, Jackson’s Aunty brings a teenager named Tomas with her, who, as his Aunty says “needs to do some art”. With the expectation of Tomas staying in Jackson’s room and spend some time together, they begin a friendship that quickly goes deeper than either anticipated. In a little town, the teenagers must work through their own identities, their developing relationship, and how they find community, family and connection.

“A blackfella with no identity is a lost blackfella. He don’t know where he belongs.”

Lonesborough deals with identity throughout the book in a nuanced and profound way. There are myriad facets of identity that Jackson is confronting through his character arc, that affects how he understands himself and how in turn others will understand him. In particular, Lonesborough deals with the theme of identity and understanding Aboriginality through Jackson’s and the other teenager’s perspectives.

As the reader, we experience all the sweetness and insecurities of first love. Tomas and Jackson are so gentle and tender with each other, in a world where sometimes they need to act tougher than they want to be. I loved this, at times, nervous and uncertain blossoming relationship as they navigate realisations of sexuality and love.

“I want to hold your hand and walk along the beach with you. I want to buy you presents and take you for a picnic on Valentine’s Day. I want to be your boyfriend.”

This story felt very real and authentic. From the times that Jackson spends developing connection to country, to the anger and rage that comes with disconnected youth and the gentle tender insecurity that comes from first love. The author has a talent for bringing authenticity and realism to his work in delicate and profound ways.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Lonesborough’s work in future.