Don’t let the cover fool you, this is not just a book about basketball. Seventeen-year-old Phoebe’s life has been turned upside down. Her dad has moved her away from her home, her mum, her school and her friends to live with his new health-obsessed girlfriend, Caitlin, and to attend a ‘hippie school’ where she’s the only First Nations student. Phoebe loves her mum, who’s the constant target of criticism from her dad and Caitlin. Yes, her mum drinks, but so does everyone else’s parents. But when her mum keeps letting her down, Phoebe starts to realise that the drinking isn’t as harmless as she thought.

This is a tender story about the struggles of growing up. Phoebe is dealing with a lot: dividing her loyalties between her parents, confronting the ignorance and racism of her fellow students, experiencing her first crush, and of course, making it onto the local basketball team.

Jared Thomas seamlessly weaves First Nations culture into the narrative; when Phoebe is overwhelmed by external pressures, her dad takes her to Country, helping her to re-centre through their powerful connection to the land. Phoebe faces a lot of trauma, which at times can feel overwhelming to read. What I loved most, however, is how Thomas uses the narrative to debunk the racist myths regarding Aboriginal people and alcohol abuse, showing that it’s a much broader multifaceted issue.

My Spare Heart is a powerful and crucial story by a First Nations YA writer that explores alcoholism, racism, sexual assault, bullying and family dynamics. It is a welcome addition to school and library collections for readers ages 15+.

Lucie Dess is the marketing assistant at Readings