by Craig Silvey
First published 2020
Sam Watson climbs over the rail of a quiet overpass at fourteen, staring down at the road below. Across the bridge, Vic lights his final cigarette. Their eyes meet in the darkness, sparking an unexpected bond between two people who found their way to the same desperate place. Sam struggles to survive as their authentic self while trapped between a troubled mother and a volatile stepfather. Vic carries his own burden of pain. Each secretly vows to rescue the other, though neither knows how. Their friendship pulls them into a chaotic world of petty crime, failed heists, and animal rescues. Sam discovers new allies who show unexpected kindness, but loyalty to family threatens to destroy any chance of escape. The story follows both characters as they navigate the line between holding on and letting go, finding hope and redemption in their unlikely connection.
Genres: literary-fiction, coming-of-age, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, redemption
Setting: Overpass
Period: 21st-century
421 pages · Paperback · Allen & Unwin
Content warnings: abuse, mental-illness, suicide