Who Cares?

A junior novel published by Lothian Books in March 2003.

Toby is a young teenager who is staying in beachside Lorne with Rhys, a boy he doesn't actually know. Their mothers went to university together and circumstances are such that it's convenient for Toby to stay with Rhys and his mother for one week of the summer holidays.

Both boys are uncomfortable with the arrangements, but for very different reasons. They are both hiding major secrets, which neither intends to share with the other. Rhys, who dreams of becoming a surfing champion, encourages Toby to overcome his fear of the surf and teaches him to ride a surfboard. By chance he discovers Toby's secret - he's a dancer.

Through a series of minor clues, Toby realises that there's something weird going on with Rhys's mum, but it is only by accident that he finally discovers the tragic situation with which Rhys has been dealing on his own.

During their week together the boys find that they unexpectedly relate to each other. The resulting friendship may be what each of them needs to tackle their individual challenges when they return home to Melbourne.

This novel for readers aged 10-15 is about keeping significant secrets, family loyalty, true friendship and the stultifying peer group disapproval still experienced by some young male dancers in Australia today.

Who Cares? is the winner of the 17th annual Australian Family Therapist's Association (AFTA) award for Children's literature, presented in 2004, for books published in 2003.

Chapter 1 extract.

'No. I'm not going!' Toby stuck his hands defiantly in the pockets of his board shorts, and tried to keep his emotions under control. It was not like him to argue with his mother, but then again it was totally unlike her to organise his life without asking him first. 'It's stupid. I don't like the beach - you know that, Mum. And I don't even know this guy.'