Losing It (Julia Lawrinson, Penguin)
Award-winning YA novelist Julia Lawrinson’s latest book, Losing It, is a sassy coming-of-age tale with a uniquely Australian twist: in a bid to preserve their sexual dignity and avoid the stereotypical drunken grapple in the bushes, four high school friends make a pact to lose their virginity before schoolies week. Inevitably things don’t go according to plan, and Abby, Mala, Bree, and Zoe find themselves negotiating a complex and confusing maze of sex, relationships and secrets. When the girls compare experiences at the end of Year 12, they’re all in for a few surprises. The four protagonists take turns narrating the novel, and Lawrinson fully inhabits her characters: each voice feels distinct and authentic, and each girl shares a story that’s as awkward and confronting as it is entertaining. Although Losing It deals with serious issues, Lawrinson never patronises her audience—she tackles the frustrations of growing up with honesty and humour, taking a suitably light approach to a topical subject. While the action feels a little contrived at times and the ending is predictably pat, Losing It is still great fun; it’s sure to appeal to older high school readers keen for an alternative to the supernatural romances and dystopian thrillers currently lining YA shelves.
Carody Culver is a part-time bookseller at Black Cat Books in Brisbane, a full-time PhD student and a freelance reviewer
Category: Reviews
