Sarah Anna James
Writer
“The day I missed the school bus home was April Fools’ Day, the day before my birthday. At first, before I knew all the details, I thought if I’d caught the bus, been sitting there between the window and Tom, I might have heard the explosion or seen the smoke shooting straight up, angry and racing, then watched as the smoke slowed and puffed, gently settling in the air.” .
EXCERPT FROM LUKA
In the days after the bomb blast that kills Luka’s mum and sister, Luka’s family begins to fall apart. His dad retreats to his bedroom, his brother slips into vigilante mode, and his uncle tries to rescue them all, when all they want is to be left alone. Luka, who has always been a peacemaker, tries desperately to hold what’s left of his family together, but he finds he’s teetering on the edge himself, struggling to keep his own demons of guilt and rage under control.
Luka is a story about men and boys, how they cope with grief and anger when the emotional glue of women is no longer there to support them. It’s a story of pulling the pieces back together when it seems there are no pieces left to find. Ultimately, it’s about acceptance, forgiveness, and the realisation that life isn’t always about getting the answers you think you need.