Description
Nooooo,’ I yelled and then Mum ran into the room in panic.
‘What is it, what is it?!’ she yelled, shaking me by the shoulder.
‘Mum, Marcus took the Xbox,’ I cried.
‘Good!’ Mum said, ‘Maybe now you can help out with the chores a bit more.’
Dusty spends a lot of time playing games online, and usually with his stepdad, Marcus. One Saturday morning, Marcus loads his things into his car and leaves, taking his Xbox with him. Dusty is determined to buy an Xbox of his own and tries odd jobs that don’t quite work out. That is until cool Uncle Rick turns up. Uncle Rick introduces Dusty to surfing and teaches him about his culture and connection to Country. Dusty swiftly discovers that there is more to life than gaming.
A coming-of-age story for young gamers, that offers gentle insights into growing up, family and finding your place not only in a digital world, but in the messy soup of life.
From the author of The Game Day series, My Spare Heart, Calypso Summer, and Songs that sound like blood, Jared Thomas has sensitively captured Dusty’s world and childhood challenges, with integrity, humour and heart.
Review
When Dusty’s stepfather leaves and takes the Xbox with him Dusty is shattered. He knows Mum can’t afford to buy him a new one - she can’t even afford to buy a used car.
Dusty feels inadequate for not having things like good shoes at school, and he gets picked on by the school bully.
But Dusty is actually really good at soccer, and pretty handy at cricket too.
To try and sort out his financial woes, Dusty gets a job doing various things for Diego, an older man who lives down the street. And things start to look up when Uncle Rick comes to visit and takes Dusty surfing - which opens a whole new passion for him.
So when the time comes and Dusty finally has some money what should he buy? That much wanted Xbox? New soccer boots? Or a wetsuit so that he can surf in winter?
Uncle Rick tells him stories about their culture and connection to Country, and how people used to gather around to listen and learn when these stories were told by their elders - gathering around like Dusty and his friends now do around an Xbox.
This is as easy read, with themes of First Nations' culture and connection to Country, family, having a go and getting outdoors, that would best suit reluctant lower secondary readers because of both the length and content, although the story but is certainly suitable for upper primary readers as well.
Reviewed by Rob
