Borderland

Jono, a city-born Indigenous teenager, is trying to figure out who he really is. Life in Brisbane hasn’t exactly made him feel connected to his Country or community. Luckily, he’s got his best friend, Jenny, who has been by his side through their hectic days at St Lucia Private.

After graduating, Jono and Jenny score gigs at the Aboriginal Performing Arts Centre and an incredible opportunity comes knocking – interning with a documentary crew. Their mission? To promote a big government mining project in the wild western Queensland desert. The catch? The details are sketchy, and the land is rumoured to be sacred. But who cares? Jono is stoked just to be part of something meaningful. Plus, he gets to be the lead presenter!

Life takes a turn when they land in Gambari, a tiny rural town far from the hustle and bustle of the city. Suddenly, Jono’s intuition becomes his best guide. He’s haunted by an eerie omen of death, battling suffocating panic attacks, and even experiencing visions of Wudun – a malevolent spirit from the Dreaming.

2024, Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Older Readers, Nominated

2023, Aurealis Award Best Young Adult Novel, Short-listed

2024, Queensland Literary Awards Queensland Premier's Award for a Work of State Significance, Short-listed