Donkey Drop: A Novel

Shortlisted for the Australian/Vogel's Literary AwardIt's 1999. High school dropout Joel is drifting through suburban dead-ends with a mum who drinks away her past and calls him 'pathetic' so often he starts to believe her. With little else to do but hang out with his stoner best mate, Joel takes an apprenticeship at Hannells Panels, where he learns more than just how to fix car wrecks.Joel looks up to his smooth-talking foreman and soon finds himself caught up in the shop's dodgy dealings. For a while, he sees himself differently. But getting high is still his way of keeping his troubles at bay, and his new sense of worth only steers him further off course.As his relationships break down, one reckless night leaves someone hurt. Joel must reckon with what he's done - and whether he can make things right.Donkey Drop is a wry and intimate look at growing up without direction.