Reach

Shy Will is finally forced to come out of seclusion, and reach past the myths of his past and the fantasies of his future, to grab hold of life. This witty first novel will wrap you up in its delightful word play as you join Will on his journey.

Raised by octogenarian grandparents after his narcissistic mother left to join a retreat centre, Will Clark is an uncomfortable mix of teenage shyness and adult candour. Fiercely loyal to his mother, he resents his father, whom he blames for her leaving. Convinced his Year twelve classmates think he's a loser, he retreats into the imaginary world of fantasy novels every chance he gets, entertaining himself between times with fantasy takes on the real life around him, with himself cast as the hero Superclerk. But, try as he might, Will can't keep reality at bay. As his first full-contact taekwondo fight looms ever closer, Woody the bull-necked prop starts bullying him, and his grandfather is taken to hospital with suspected cancer. And when his mother returns, his schoolmates begin treating him as if he's their friend - and Conway, the girl of his dreams, starts treating him like more than a friend - and Will is forced to question his vision of himself and his version of reality. Finally he musters the courage to join his peers, confront Woody, talk to Conway, and accept his parents for who they are. Ages: 10+