Overview

Luka was supposed to be a girl. He knows he was supposed to be a girl because his older brother Ray told him so. It's not that he always believes what Ray says, under normal circumstances he doesn't trust Ray at all, but in this case he knows Ray's telling the truth because he heard his mother say the same thing. Well not exactly the same, but almost. It was late one night when she'd had a bit to drink, she was crying and telling his father over and over again how unfair it was that he had his boys and she would never have her girl. Luka knows he was meant to be a girl because when he was eleven his mother had another baby, the baby he was meant to be, a baby girl, his baby sister, Jazzie. Luka wanted to hate Jazzie, thought it would be easy to hate her because she'd breezed into his life being what everyone had wanted him to be, but he found he couldn't, found he ended up loving her just as much as everyone else in the family did. Now things are completely different though, Jazzie and Luka's mother are dead. Luka's surprised at how much he misses Jazzie, how much he wants her back. More surprising than even that though is how angry he is at his mother for choosing Jazzie when she could have chosen him and Ray instead. In the days after the bomb blast that tore Luka's mum and Jazzie away, Luka's family begins to fall apart. His dad retreats to his bedroom with the blinds closed and the bed covers pulled up to his chin, refusing to eat and unable to string more than one or two words together. Ray slips into vigilante mode and starts stalking a family from school who he insists is responsible for the bombing. Luka, who has always been the peacemaker, tries desperately to hold everyone together whilst at the same time battling his own demons of guilt and rage. In the end Ray is arrested for harassing the family he thinks are responsible for the bombing. When the police bring Ray home Luka's dad is forced to get out of bed and face the world outside his bedroom. Sitting with the police in the lounge room it's the first time Ray, Luka and their dad hear about Luka's mum and how she talked her way into the kindergarten, past a policeman and in through the back door. Whilst the police are apologising and saying that the police officer concerned has been forced to resign, Luka, thinking he has found the final proof that his mother loved Jazzie more, collapses and looses consciousness for three days. When Luka finally wakes he starts crying and can't stop. He blurts out words to his father that he doesn't want to say, 'Mum chose Jazzie over me! If it had been me in the kindy she would have still chosen Jazzie, she would have come home instead of getting blown up.' Luka's both horrified and embarrassed by what he's saying, but his body won't let the words hide inside anymore. Luka thinks his dad will be angry, thinks his dad will tell him that he's being selfish and stupid, but all his dad does is sit and hold Luka to him, telling him over and over again that it's OK, that he understands, that sometimes he's felt exactly the same way himself. Luka, with the love of his father and surprisingly Ray, and the help of birthday presents and a card that his mum had prepared for him before she died, comes to realise that his mum did love him. He starts to accept that whether she loved Jazzie more is something he will never know and probably doesn't need to.

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9780987112361

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Reviews

"Beautifully written and heartfelt entry into a young child's life Amazon Australia 2016 'I loved this book. As a Mom I could relate to this story on so many levels. I thought the writing from a teenage boy's perspective was brilliant. The journey that you'll take with this family will engage you emotionally from start to finish. I was overcome many times and my heart broke for this boy more than once. I would recommend this book for adults as well as young adults and I really look forward to reading more from this author.' Paula Ellery - editor 'Luka is an ordinary teenage boy in many ways, but the tragedy that befalls his family is anything but ordinary. Luka is a heartbreaking story that only an experienced and talented writer could pull off, but fortunately we are in good hands here with Sarah James. Sarah's talent and skill allows the reader to gently sink into Luka's world and walk with him on his painful journey towards healing, while also healing ourselves at the same time. Though Luka is a teenager, his story and his needs are universal and will relate to readers of all ages and from all walks of life. Sarah forces us to ask certain questions of ourselves and the world we live in, but she never preaches or condemns, allowing us to find the answers for ourselves. Luka is a rare gem and confirms the arrival of a major Australian writing talent. I can't recommend Luka highly enough.' Nicola Taylor 'I sat up half the night reading this book and then got up the next morning to finish it. I loved it! I wept like a baby in the last three chapters. I could so relate to how Luka was feeling and thinking. The dynamics of the characters really drew me in. Luka's sensitivity was beautifully written. I can't wait to read Sarah Anna James' next book. She has a talent.' Caitlyn finished Luca and loved it and passed it on to me yesterday afternoon. I sat up half the night and got up early to finish it! I really enjoyed it. You have such a beautiful way with words. I wept like a baby in the last three chapters and my little Sarah said ""Aww Mum, is Sarah's book really sad."" I said ""yes the topics sad but I'm crying because Sarah wrote so well that I can relate to how Luca's feeling and thinking."" The dynamics of your characters really drew me in. Luca's sensitivity reminds me of your beautiful Kai. So that just made me cry harder! I can't wait to read your next book. You truly have a gift. finished Luca and loved it and passed it on to me yesterday afternoon. I sat up half the night and got up early to finish it! I really enjoyed it. You have such a beautiful way with words. I wept like a baby in the last three chapters and my little Sarah said ""Aww Mum, is Sarah's book really sad."" I said ""yes the topics sad but I'm crying because Sarah wrote so well that I can relate to how Luca's feeling and thinking."" The dynamics of your characters really drew me in. Luca's sensitivity reminds me of your beautiful Kai. So that just made me cry harder! I can't wait to read your next book. You truly have a gift. finished Luca and loved it and passed it on to me yesterday afternoon. I sat up half the night and got up early to finish it! I really enjoyed it. You have such a beautiful way with words. I wept like a baby in the last three chapters and my little Sarah said ""Aww Mum, is Sarah's book really sad."" I said ""yes the topics sad but I'm crying because Sarah wrote so well that I can relate to how Luca's feeling and thinking."" The dynamics of your characters really drew me in. Luca's sensitivity reminds me of your beautiful Kai. So that just made me cry harder! I can't wait to read your next book. You truly have"

Author Information

I have had many different roles in my life - nurse, midwife, craniosacral therapist, mother. The constant thread though, weaving its way through everything, including my heart, is writing. Midwife Wisdom, Mother Love ( my first published book), was the natural culmination of these different aspects of my life. It was a privilege and so rewarding to share my experiences of pregnancy and birth - both professional and personal - with so many. Nonfiction is definitely a love of mine, but my true passion lies with fiction. Since I was a little girl hanging upside down on the monkey bars at school I have been dreaming up stories, imaging the time when I would have my very own novel on the bookshelf.In 2015 that dream came true. My first novel Luka, a young adult novel, was published. The weight of the book in my hand, the smell of the pages, the pelican on the front cover. It was as if I had birthed (sorry, midwife writing here) my very own book baby. I was infatuated. But shortly after the book launch, in-fact the day after, my life took an unexpected turn, blocking my creativity and leaving Luka stranded without having really taken his first steps. It was a deeply traumatic time in my life, that seemed to be never ending, but finally, slowly, the tiniest buds of creative longing started to sprout in my heart and the urge to write returned in a powerful way.Since then I have completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in creative writing at Southern Cross University and my creative drive is at an all-time high. I am currently editing a new novel while in the process of writing a memoir. I have never been busier on the creative front, but also never more fulfilled. Writing sustains me in a way that nothing else does.Luka, after a wobbly start all those years ago, has been selected to be part of the high school curriculum in several schools throughout Queensland. I am thrilled to be sharing this novel with students and looking forward to workshopping it in the classroom. This is the beginning of what I hope will be a long-term and successful partnership with many schools throughout Australia.

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