Description
In Bo Mitchell's country town, a 'White Night' light-show event has the potential to raise vital funds to save the skate park. And out of town, a girl from a secretive off-the-grid community called Garden of Eden has the potential to change the way Bo sees the world. But are there too many secrets in Eden?
As Bo is drawn away from his friends and towards Rory, he gradually comes to believe that Eden may not be utopia after all, and that their group leader's goal to go off the grid may be more permanent - and more dangerous - than anyone could have predicted.
Review
This is a fantastic, topical Australian young adult novel that handles lots of issues and will start a lot of school based discussion. It covers growing up in a rural setting and finding your place in the world. In this case, our main character Bo decides to forget the footy scouts and concentrate on something he thinks he might love, cooking.
Then Bo is suddenly confronted with a step-brother that no one besides Bo’s Dad knew existed. The step-brother himself is not the problem, it’s that his Dad was keeping such a massive secret. Can Bo and his heavily pregnant mother trust his Dad after this?
Bo also falls for the new hippie girl, Rory, who has decided to break free from her home schooling Garden of Eden cult group, but this also raises many complex issues.
Finally, we see a community come together through an unlikely hero, Bo's mate Sprog, taking on the council’s recent decision to close the skate park when there is nothing else to do in town. Lot's of issues, a great storyline and wonderful teenage characters, just the type of book we love!
A great read best suited to teenagers 14 and older.
Reviewed by Rob
