As a debut novel, Bernard Gallate’s The Origin of Me is incredibly impressive. It manages to cover serious issues in a compulsively readable way, and despite the fact that the main protagonist is a young male, as an adult female reader I still found much that resonated with me.

Lincoln Locke is in Year 10, and his life is turning upside down. His parents have just split, and some bad judgement calls have taken him out of his familiar surroundings, into his father’s new bachelor pad, and into an elite private school where they are under the mistaken impression he is an outstanding swimmer.

While built for swimming, Lincoln will do anything to avoid being seen in speedos, having recently discovered he is developing what he initially calls a ‘nub’ at the base of his spine, but soon realizes is actually a tail. His deep embarrassment at all of this, and his longing for friendship and connection also affects his self-esteem, and his inner voice, which he calls Homunculus, starts to whisper all his fears to him.

Whilst dealing with all of this, Lincoln comes across a book in his school library called My One Redeeming Affliction by Edwin Stroud, who it turns out joined a ‘freak show’ in the 19th century where he showcased the exact same genetic anomaly. Reading the book makes Lincoln feels a little more normal … until it begins to seem as if the book is coalescing into his own life in mysterious ways.

I completely loved the characters in this book – and how Lincoln dealt with everyday teenage issues amongst the more challenging ones. The ending was a little convenient, but never spoilt the journey towards it. This is the kind of book where you laugh and cry with the characters, and look forward to picking it up in every quiet spare moment.

Reviewed by Lauren Cook