As a fan of The Boy From the Mish, I was so excited for a new release from Gary Lonesborough. While We Didn’t Think It Through has less of the carefree summer vibes and takes on a more serious tone, I enjoyed the read just as much.

The story follows teenage Aboriginal boy Jamie after he and his friends steal a car and end up in juvie. Jamie is subject to cruel treatment and racism, but starts to reevaluate his relationships, his life, and his future.

Jamie was a wonderful main character to follow. He felt realistic and I loved following his journey. Gary did a wonderful job in gently showing the reader how the awful treatment of Aboriginal peoples in this country - the justice system, racism, children being removed from their homes - is still ongoing and how hard it is to break that cycle for the young ones. It was eye-opening to get the perspective from an Aboriginal teenager, and get a little more understanding of what it’s like and try to break those stereotypes. I love that Gary has done this through storytelling.

Throughout the novel, Jamie heals his relationships with his family, and I loved going through that with him. His realisations and the working through of his feelings felt natural and realistic and made for a really satisfying and hopeful ending.

I also loved Jamie’s discovery of poetry and how it can be an outlet for your feelings. Again, the story felt like a gentle encouragement of thinking about the consequences of your actions, and trying to find outlets for your feelings that won’t land you in trouble, but will instead fill you with validation and acceptance. I hope this book finds the kids who need it.

Gary’s writing style is so accessible and makes his books so easy to read. Each word feels carefully picked. There are times, when Jamie is in juvie, that the writing becomes short and sharp, kind of like a stunted poem, and while the change took me by surprise at first, I quickly realised how much sense it made. Gary handled Jamie’s time in juvie with sensitivity but also with the urgency of the matter.

We Didn’t Think It Through should really be compulsory Australian YA reading material! I loved it so much and I can’t wait to hear what everyone else thinks of it on its release. It’s a powerful reminder that it takes all of us to make to a difference.

I am jealous of the generation coming through that has access to incredible stories like the ones Gary Lonesborough tells. These stories are real, stereotype-breaking and are sent with a message.

The story follows Jamie, a young Aboriginal boy who is caught up making bad choices and ends up in Youth Detention. Lonesborough tackles this with the heartbreaking reality that is Youth Detention, the devastating cycle and the people who reach out to help and want to ensure a favorable path for young people. I really hope these books are stocked in schools and encouraged to read by all young adults, because the issues that Gary talks about are real, they are authentic and they are happening now. The more young people who understand this, the more we can do to assist the system.

I love Gary’s writing and adored The Boy from the MIsh, this is a great follow up and encourage all to sit down and inhale it as I did.

As soon as I saw this pop up on @netgalley I knew I had to request it! I absolutely adored The Boy From The Mish – so original and stereotype breaking. YA storytelling that is not only enjoyable but also has a message with heart and a point to be made.

I admit I was a little concerned with how this topic would be handled – as it is based around a young Aboriginal boy who ends up in Youth Detention. But I needn’t have worried at all. Lonesborough handles the issues and story with sensitivity, and of course with a great deal of cultural awareness. A few of the scenes in the Detention Centre were so heartbreaking in their accuracy, as was the racism evident in the town and police and guards.

I thought it was a great read and a brilliant follow up to Boy From the Mish. I love that Lonesborough is bringing YA stories that have not been told or heard before in this format. And I love that once again he is challenging stereotypes and educating people on the ongoing issues that effect First Nations people in this Country.

I hope schools are stocking up and pressing both these books into the hands of young people of all backgrounds. This one is out July 4 and I'm predicting it will be a huge success.