Poster Boys (Scott Woodard, Lothian)

Poster Boys follows Edward, a “try-hard” who navigates school life alongside space cadet Nolan and popular jock James when their paths collide at Highview Grammar. Each boy has his own reasons for growing disillusioned with school life, particularly the annual house competition sports day, a 140-year-old tradition that pits four houses against one another. United by shared frustration, the unlikely trio vow to start a revolution, dismantle the house system and bring an end to the sports day. As James puts it, “Someone needs to put the school in its place, and I think it’s us.” Scott Woodard’s debut novel is a confident coming-of-age story anchored by three distinct and authentic characters. Edward, Nolan and James are as ridiculous, funny and satirical as they are heartwarming and sympathetic. Told through Edward’s sharply observed lens, the novel also explores masculinity, peer pressure and the unspoken rules that shape teenage behaviour in competitive school environments. In some ways, reading Poster Boys feels like a peek behind the curtain of private schools, revealing their culture, traditions and elitism. Readers aged 12 and up may find that Poster Boys serves as a mirror of their own adolescent reality, regardless of the broader public-versus-private education conversations the book may prompt. A strong addition to secondary school reading lists, Poster Boys is a great read for fans of Randa Abdel-Fattah, Holden Sheppard and Will Kostakis.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Bohdi Byles is a queer, Indigenous freelance reviewer with a background in bookselling, library work, publishing and writing. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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