Lynne Lancaster

ANYTHING BUT FINE : A NEW BOOK BY Tobias Madden

 

Tobias Madden is an author and editor from Sydney, Australia. This is his terrific debut YA fiction novel.

Originally from Ballarat, Madden worked for ten years as a performer, touring Australia and New Zealand with musicals such as Mary Poppins, CATS, Singin’ in the Rain, and Guys and Dolls. In 2019, he edited and published UNDERDOG, the first #LoveOzYA short story anthology for previously unpublished Aussie young adult fiction writers. Also in 2019, he wrote the cabaret show Siblingship, which played to sold out audiences in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. Madden is a passionate member of the #LoveOzYA and LGBTQ+ communities, and currently works in publishing as a Digital Marketing Executive and YA Publicist.

ANYTHING BUT FINE is of small to medium size, and divided into 47 relatively short chapters. It is written from the main character’s (Luca Mason’s) eyes .It is warmly , empathetically written.

Set in Ballarat , Luca , a terrific young dancer , at 16 and in Year 11 , is all set to audition for the Australian Ballet School. BUT he slips on the stairs at the ballet studio (the Gwen Anderson School of Ballet) and has a major life changing accident , breaking his foot .( No mention of OHS ? ) In one way the book could be said to be a quest for self discovery as Luca is forced to deal with physio and healing , changing schools and giving up dance ,which until then was his life. What will his future be now ? His previous school which he loved was St Thomas’ (St Tom’s ) now he must attend Ballarat North Secondary Colle ( known as ‘ North ) .

Who is he without ballet ?

There are terrific word portraits of Luca’s father Robert and Luca’s dance teachers and friends at the ballet school , as well as his lovely OT Sami among others.
When he changes schools and is battling with medical appointments and awkward crutches almost the only good thing that happens is that Luca first meets Jordan Tanaka-Jones ( ‘TJ” ) in his OT waiting room .It turns out that terribly handsome Jordan is in Year 12 at the school Luca now attends and is school captain as well as being a rowing star and captain of the footy team – and is ‘ straight’ with a glamorous girlfriend .Luca and Jordan become friends – and Luca begins to wonder …perhaps ….

There is also Amina Ahmad , Luca’s friend at North. She is an outsider – a female , part Indonesian , a Muslim , very intelligent .She is also nerdy , an extrovert and very garrulous .Her parents expect her to study and become a medical doctor but Amina wants to be a teacher . There are some awkward mistakes made in their relationship but Luca learns how to be more of a better friend to Amina and his old ballet pals He also sorts out his dealings with his father Robert and other adults who have supported him . He bravely acknowledges his mistakes .
With regards to Jordan – he is ‘ in the closet ‘ and petrified of being found out , while Luca is quite comfortable with being gay . Their growing relationship is at times tense , twisted and problematic.

The problem is that Jordan has a pack of friends who are vituperative and homophobic .It takes a while for Jordan to deal with his friends and work out who he really is .There is some terrible bullying , discrimination and racism depicted and we see how Jordan , Amina and others eventually take a stand against the abuse.

ANYTHING BUT FINE asks a major question – what does a dancer do when they are badly injured and unable to dance any more ? How , if possible , do they transition careers ? It also looks at the stress of dealing with this as well as the healing and rehab . Eloquently told and including a first love gay romance , the story is compelling and inspiring .Although Luca’s situation appears very grim , things do work out in the end.

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/anything-but-fine-9781761042027

ISBN: 9781761042027
ISBN-10: 1761042025
Audience: Children
For Ages: 14+ years old
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 352
Published: 31st August 2021
Publisher: Penguin Australia Pty Ltd
Dimensions (cm): 19.7 x 13.0 x 2.7
Weight (kg): 0.25
Edition Number: 1

Published by Lynne Lancaster

A passionate theatre person Lynne is originally from Sydney and holds a B.Ed (Art) - a postgraduate Diploma in Information Management (Librarianship) and an MA in Theatre. While living in London ( 2002 -2007 ) Lynne completed the dance criticism course at Sadlers Wells linked in with Chichester University. Lynne has worked for both Ticketek and Ticketmaster here in Australia and was involved with the original production of THE BOY FROM OZ An Ausdance member Lynne is passionate about dance and has studied ballet and Flamenco. Before moving to London she photographed the Sydney Dance Company and Australian Ballet among other companies and has exhibited internationally. Lynne is a SAMAG member and a volunteer at the Art Gallery of NSW. Currently Lynne writes for arthub, danceinforma and sydneyartsguide.