DARKEST NIGHT, BRIGHTEST STAR

Morgan Pickford is keen to make a friend and to please his dad. But sometimes the simplest of things are the hardest to achieve. A life-affirming novel exploring masculinity, friendship and family from an internationally acclaimed, bestselling Australian author.

"Two things that are true and one that is a lie.
I think my mother is dead and alive.
I think if I work hard I will be very good at something. I've tried to please my dad but I don't think I ever will."

Thirteen-year-old Morgan Pickford is kind yet flawed, naïve and sensitive, determined and courageous. He lives with his dad and his older brother Mitch and he hasn't heard from his mum since she left when he was two. He strives to make his dad proud but is always quietly navigating the uneasy landscape of his father's high expectations.

When Morgan makes a friend at school, he is delighted but wary about what his father may think of the friendship.

A unique and compelling novel from a masterful storyteller, Darkest Night, Brightest Star shines a light on different kinds of masculinity as Morgan and his new friend Gray carry the story beautifully through to an ending that is wonderfully satisfying and hopeful.

Barry Jonsberg has won numerous awards for his books, both nationally and internationally. He has been published in twenty countries and translated into many languages. His bestselling novel, My Life As An Alphabet, was made into an award-winning film, H is For Happiness, released throughout the world to great critical acclaim.