Awards

• Long-listed for Indie Book Awards 2026 (Australia)
• Long-listed for Best Young Adult Novel 2026 (Australia)
• Short-listed for Indie Book Awards 2026 (Australia)
• Short-listed for Book of the Year: Older Readers 2026 (Australia)

Overview

SHORTLISTED: 2026 CBCA Book of the Year, Older Readers SHORTLISTED: 2026 Ethel Turner Prize for Young People's Literature LONGLISTED: 2026 Indie Book Awards, Young Adult Award Two things that are true and one that is a lie: I think my mother is dead and alive. I think if I work hard I will be very good at something. I've tried to please my dad but I don't think I ever will. Thirteen-year-old Morgan lives with his dad and his older brother, Mitch. He hasn't heard from his mum since she left when he was two. He works hard on his football skills, striving to meet his father's high expectations and 'be a man'. But what that means isn't always clear-cut. When Morgan makes a friend at school, gets injured in a game, and his long-lost mum turns up, everything changes. Then, when he meets an old woman in need of help, Morgan must decide what kind of man he wants to be. Shining a timely and much-needed light on different kinds of masculinity, Darkest Night, Brightest Star is a unique and compelling novel from a masterful storyteller.

Full Product Details

9781761180385

Table of Contents

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Author Information

Barry Jonsberg has won numerous awards for his books, both nationally and internationally. He has been published in twenty countries and translated into many languages. His bestselling novel, My Life As An Alphabet, was made into an award-winning film, H is For Happiness, released throughout the world to great critical acclaim.

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