UNTIDY TOWNS
‘Written with heart and humour, this gorgeous tale will leave you smiling.’ – Fiona Wood
‘I adored this book. Read it.’ – Cath Crowley
‘Untidy Towns is full of truth about the messiness of life ...’ – Vikki Wakefield
A heartfelt tale about love, friendship and finding your own way.
Seventeen-year-old Adelaide is sick of being expected to succeed on other people’s terms. She knows she just has to stick it out at school for one more year and then she’ll be free. Instead, she runs away from her fancy boarding school back to her sleepy hometown to read and dream.
But there are no free rides. When Addie’s grandad gets her a job at the local historical society, she soon finds out that it’s dusty and dull, just like her new life. Things change when she starts hanging out with Jarrod, a boy who seems full of possibilities. But it turns out he’s as stuck as she is. And Addie realises that when you want something in life, you’ve actually got to do something about it.
Shortlisted, 2018 Indie Book Awards – Young Adult Category
Shortlisted, 2018 The Readings Young Adult Book Prize
Longlisted, 2018 Australian Book Industry Awards – Book of the Year for Older Children
Published by University of Queensland Press
Teaching notes available for download
‘A delightful, gentle novel that perfectly captures the on-the-fence feeling of finishing high school and wondering about the future.’ – Tamsien West, Babbling Books
Untidy Towns is available from all bookshops in Australia. If it’s not on the shelf, just ask the bookseller and they can special order it for you. You can also order it directly from UQP.
If you would like to buy a personalised copy for yourself or for a gift, just buy Untidy Towns through the Sun Bookshop and leave all instructions in a note upon checkout.
“Kate O'Donnell's outstanding debut…is authentic and tender, and expertly focuses on the small moments that make up a big life.”
– Frances Atkinson, Sydney Morning Herald
“Untidy Towns is a thoughtful, deeply immersive novel – reading it is like slipping into a warm bath.”
– Nina Kenwood, Readings