Welcome back book-a-lugs to this month’s review where we will be diving into a brilliant and compulsive YA novel for readers of all ages. 

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Good Young Men is a contemporary coming-of-age story set in the small town of Carraway’s Point where three Aboriginal teenagers – Kallum, Jordy and Dylan – who were once part of a tightknit foursome, are rocked by the sudden death of their childhood friend Brandon, who was shot by a local white cop. 

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The aftermath of Brandon’s murder spreads through Carraway’s Point as his family, friends and supporters fight for justice with racial tension brewing in the background. 

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Dylan, the key witness to what happened that night, is faced with pressure beyond his years to testify on Brandon’s behalf in court while navigating his own grief and trauma from the event. 

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As all three young men struggle to come to terms with their own emotions, they find solace in rekindling their friendship. 

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Told in three parts from each of the friends’ perspectives, Good Young Men explores a bevy of sensitive topics with moving insight and realism that makes each character leap off the page. Kallum, a promising football player, loses a scholarship in Sydney after a betrayal from a fellow student that he hides from his family, and chooses to suppress his own desires to meet the high expectations of his dad. Jordy, the only out gay kid at school, is burdened with taking care of his younger siblings after the death of their mother has left their dad grief-stricken, and is torn between staying at home and pursuing his dream of being an actor. The exhausting family pressures and culture of toxic masculinity isolating both Kallum and Jordy is heartbreaking, but there are lighter moments in the novel as well, with Jordy and Dylan finding a personal release through the arts and Kallum in exploring his connection to Country. Also, Jordy’s on point Kylie Minogue playlist (that I just can’t get out of my head*). 

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The last third of the novel from Dylan’s perspective is the most searing as we learn the details of what happened that night and a terrifying threat that hangs over Dylan before his testimony. The support he receives from both Kallum and Jordy is a touching moment as suspense builds towards the trial’s outcome. 

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At risk of sounding like an emotional wreck (because I am), the uplifting renewed bond of this trio reads as a commemoration of Brandon, and choosing to pursue their dreams in the wake of such loss is another way for them to keep Brandon’s memory alive. 

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Gary Lonesborough has delivered an exceptional and deeply affecting novel about male friendship, grief, queerness, justice, racism and identity that addresses the urgent issue of unchecked police violence against Aboriginal people and its impact on individuals and communities. 

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With a final message of hope and the power of solidarity, Good Young Men is vital reading for adults and teenagers alike.

  

5 out of 5 Kylie Minogue albums (specifically Fever) 

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*Sorry, had to do it. 

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SIMILAR TITLES

 

The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough 

A funny and heartwarming queer Indigenous YA novel, set in a rural Australian community, about seventeen-year-old Jackson finding the courage to explore who he is, even if it scares him. 

 

We Didn't Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough 

From the author of the award-winning The Boy from the Mish, comes a compelling coming-of-age YA novel about sixteen-year-old Jamie Langton finding his future and navigating the challenges of racism, family and friendship in a small Australian town. 

 

I'm Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough 

A wonderful coming-of-age queer romance from the multi award-winning author of The Boy from the Mish. Jonah is the new kid in a country town. When he joins the local footy team to be closer to his crush, Harley, it feels like a fresh start – but he still has to navigate new friendships, an unresolved past, and the same body image issues he's always had. 

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