{"product_id":"9781925410785","title":"Beautiful Mess","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e‘This is a strong, character-driven story from a talented playwright and novelist, which tackles some hefty issues with lightness and humour. It is an impressive debut.’ \u003ci\u003eBooks+Publishing\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Since Ava lost Kelly, things haven’t been going so well. Even before she gets thrown out of school for shouting at the principal, there’s the simmering rage and all the weird destructive choices. The only thing going right for Ava is her job at Magic Kebab.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Which is where she meets Gideon. Skinny, shy, anxious Gideon. A mad poet and collector of vinyl records with an aversion to social media. He lives in his head. She lives in her grief. The only people who can help them move on with their lives are each other.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e The winner of the 2016 Text Prize, \u003ci\u003eBeautiful Mess\u003c\/i\u003e is funny and sad and a bit screwed up and romantic and absolutely real. In other words, a lot like life.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eClaire Christian\u003c\/b\u003e is a novelist and playwright who lives in Brisbane. She has had three plays published by Playlab, and her play \u003ci\u003eBloom\u003c\/i\u003e was shortlisted for the Griffin Award in 2009. She was one of YWCA Queensland’s 125 leading women of 2013.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘A raw, affecting coming-of-age story that starts a conversation about mental health.'  \u003cb\u003eReadings\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘\u003ci\u003eBeautiful Mess\u003c\/i\u003e is a powerful, poignant novel about love, loss, and learning that even though we might feel cracked or broke at times, we are still beautiful…Claire Christian must be commended for tackling some of the most confronting themes in YA with sincerity and heart.’ \u003cb\u003eWritten Word Worlds\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘An engrossing read that brings together Ava and Gideon, two emotionally flawed and troubled characters not unlike Libby and Jack in Jennifer Niven’s \u003ci\u003eHolding Up the Universe\u003c\/i\u003e or Eleanor and Park of Rainbow Rowell’s book of the same title.’ \u003cb\u003eReadings \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘\u003ci\u003eBeautiful Mess\u003c\/i\u003e tackles young adult issues head on, but with a lightness of touch that lifts it from the dark topics it explores. A debut novel with memorable, authentic characters that touch your heart, float into your life and leave you wanting more.’ \u003cb\u003eMagpies \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘A truly touching story of young people trying to navigate their way through real problems. I highly recommend this novel and congratulate Claire on a great debut.’ \u003cb\u003eLamont Books\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Claire is such a lovely bubble of positivity. I'm excited to see what she brings to Aussie YA.' \u003cb\u003eDanielle Binks,\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eAlpha Reader\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003ci\u003eBeautiful Mess\u003c\/i\u003e is a stunning read. Claire Christian has delivered a raw and moving debut with beautifully flawed, well-drawn characters who you can’t help but fall in love with.’ \u003cb\u003eGabrielle Tozer \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Claire Christian delivers an honest and searing depiction of the flow-on effects of grief…A book with a lot of heart and hope and a useful compass for teens facing similar issues.’ \u003cb\u003eKids’ Book Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Bittersweet and funny…A beautiful book with important words to say about mental health, love and brokenness.’ \u003cb\u003ePaper Fury\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘\u003ci\u003eBeautiful Mess\u003c\/i\u003e is a wonderful reflection of complexities of adolescence. Palpable, poignant and captivating, the narration of two adolescents finding moments of solace in one another. Claire Christian is a captivating, compassionate and remarkable debut author composing a narrative that will linger long after the final page.’ \u003cb\u003eDiva Booknerd\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘\u003ci\u003eBeautiful Mess\u003c\/i\u003e is the most sensitive explanation of depression and how it affects lives that I have ever read. If you read any other book and felt a bit uncomfortable about the depiction of depression, read this one and understand more. Recommend it to your teenagers, your students, your friends with teen kids. It might help them understand and recognise themselves in some of the pages.’ \u003cb\u003eThe Sapling\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Tender and insightful…An enlightened look at youth suicide and mental health.’ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew Zealand Herald\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘Claire has created an authentic and informative book for young adults, while also an enjoyable read.’ \u003cb\u003eTea in the Treetops\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘The characterisation is strong and works wonderfully with the sinuous dialogue. In these darkened lives there are some light and funny moments, cleverly crafted by Claire Christian…All libraries for young adults should stock at least one copy of this book.’ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eReading Time\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e‘A raw, beautifully written story that sensitively tackles grief, suicide, self-harm and first sexual experience.’ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNZ Women’s Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e‘A funny and sad rom-com that doesn’t sugar-coat the grittier parts of teenage angst.’ \u003cb\u003eReadings Best Young Adult Books 2017\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘The issues that are tackled in this book are important…Anxiety and depression, self-harm, suicide and grief are covered without making it feel like that’s all the book was written to do.’ \u003cb\u003eBoffins Books\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e ‘\u003ci\u003eBeautiful Mess\u003c\/i\u003e doesn’t shy away from how rough the teen years can be, but also demonstrates the possibilities of healing and provides quite a few laughs to boot.’ \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eReadings\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Text Publishing Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47141253906672,"sku":"9781925410785","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781925410785_p0.jpg?v=1763634698","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781925410785","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}