Dirt Bomb — Fleur Beale

A coming of age story for teenage boys, especially car lovers. Shortlisted for the 2012 NZ Post Book Awards and the 2012 LIANZA YA Award. Jake's life is sweet. He's got no money and doesn't have a mobile, but he's got two best mates; Buzz and Robbie. Buzz is generous and doesn't mind buying stuff for his mates. Jake wouldn't change a thing. But then Robbie has the idea of the century: rescue the old wreck from the ditch and make it into a paddock basher. Yes! Buzz, however, puts a spanner in the works by saying he's not paying for it all. Even stevens or no deal. Robbie gets a job. Jake refuses. It's just not his style to work for a boss. But he desperately wants to drive that car, and the others are going to go ahead without him. The summer holidays are looming ahead of him in a desert of boredom and friendlessness. He needs a game plan...A writer with an uncanny understanding of young male teenagers, Fleur Beale also wrote Slide the Corner which won the Storylines Much-Loved Book Award - and teachers have been crying out for more books in this genre. Dirt Bomb fills this gap beautifully.