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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
A lot
Significant violence; drug trade violence and assault throughout
Language
A lot
Heavy strong language; authentically Australian and working-class
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief sexual content
Substance Use
A lot
Drug dealing and heroin addiction are central to the world
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Childhood trauma, survival, and the extraordinary resilience of a boy in dire circumstances
What this book is about
Eli Bell grows up in Brisbane's most troubled suburb in the 1980s — his mother's boyfriend is a drug dealer, his stepfather is in prison, his best friend Slim is a legendary escape artist. Through poverty, crime, and family dysfunction, Eli develops a singular vision of the world. Dalton's debut is rawly Australian, frequently violent, and genuinely moving.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Drug trade violence
Heavy language
Child in dangerous environment
Adult themes throughout
Reader Verification
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