My Spare Heart (Jared Thomas, A&U)
There’s a lot to unpack in this YA novel, which covers issues including alcoholism, climate change, divorce and racism. At the centre of it all is 17-year-old Phoebe. She is struggling with life, having started at a new school and moved in with her dad and his girlfriend while her mum battles with her drinking problem. Phoebe’s mainstay is her love of basketball, and My Spare Heart will definitely appeal to fans of the sport, as author Jared Thomas goes into great detail about the game (which he is obviously very familiar with, being co-author of the ‘Game Day’ series with Olympian Patty Mills). Phoebe is a talented player but feels like she needs to prove herself to be accepted, while her own acceptance of her mum’s alcoholism—an issue handled with care by the author—is another huge step she needs to take. My Spare Heart is told from Phoebe’s perspective as a First Nations person, adding another layer to the story, which Thomas utilises to address themes of racism and prejudice. The ‘spare heart’ of the title gives an indication as to the amount of energy needed for Phoebe to navigate her tumultuous life, and Phoebe’s innumerable problems can feel overwhelming at times, for both the protagonist and the reader. Nonetheless, while the novel’s messaging about certain issues might feel a little didactic in parts, the overall message is one of hope.
Katie Haydon is a library officer in Geelong and a former assistant editor of Books+Publishing.
