MY SPARE HEART BY JARED THOMAS

17-year-old Phoebe is trying to fit into her new life. Her parents have divorced and she has moved to a quite village to live with her dad and his yoga-loving girlfriend. Although her best friends, Katie and Jane are not too far away, Phoebe is having trouble navigating her way through the ups and downs of trying to keep everyone happy. Her new school is full of hippies and there isn’t a school basketball team. Phoebe wonders how she will cope with this and the all-white school environment, as being part aboriginal makes her stand out.

In amongst these problems is another far greater one. One that effects everything. Her mother’s drinking is ruining Phoebe’s life. As her mum becomes more and more unreliable, Phoebe worries that her dad will be furious if he finds out. She is having a hard time juggling these stresses as well as having to deal with quiet but blatant racism from one of her classmates.

Phoebe manages to get a place on the local basketball team and still enjoys time with her old friends as well as a few new ones, but her mum’s drinking is getting out of control. She feels she can’t share her mother’s problem with anyone and the pressure is breaking her heart.

Jared Thomas’ YA novel delves into the world of a complicated teenage life. The pressures from friends, family and oneself are explored in a carefully crafted and, ultimately accepting narrative.

For Ages: 12+ years

Number of Pages: 384

Published: May 2022 Allen & Unwin

Themes: Alcoholism, divorce, relocating and being let down by parents