Dusty is a young Indigenous boy who loves surfing with his Uncle Xbox. Dusty was smashed by a big wave, though, and doesn’t like to surf if the waves look huge. Like a lot of athletic kids, Dusty’s good at more than one sport. He’s selected to represent Adelaide in a junior soccer match against Melbourne over Easter. His surfing’s improving with coaching, so he’s also asked to compete in the Indigenous Surfing Titles at Bells Beach … where the waves could be enormous. The two events are on at the same time, so he’s got a big decision to make.
Dusty’s the sort of person we should all aspire to be. He’s genuinely humble; he’s generous and respectful to his fellow competitors; and he’s grateful for the help he’s received from his family and friends. Whether he wins or loses, he’s a champion human being. This is a terrific book.
Reviewed by Bob Moore
Age Guide 6+
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Jared Thomas is a Nukunu person of the Southern Flinders Ranges and the Adelaide University Coordinator of Indigenous Collections and Archives.
His novel Calypso Summer (Magabala Books, 2014) joined the 2015 International Youth Library White Raven list of books that deserve worldwide attention because of their universal themes and exceptional artistic and literary style.
Jared’s recent releases include Uncle XBox (Magabala Books, 2023), Songs that Sound Like Blood (Magabala Books, 2016) as well as the ‘Game Day’ series which was written with NBA player and Olympian Patty Mills. Jared loves surfing with his family and friends.
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