Felix Catalan loves numbers and the science behind them, and wishes he wasn’t ”the weirdest 16 year old in the universe.” He doesn’t have many friends, has never been kissed, and knows that if he told anyone how he uses counting and prime numbers to help with his anxiety and general day to day living, he would be teased and bullied even more than he is now.

Bailey Hunter is new at Felix’s Wellington high school, in the same year and missing his home town of Auckland. He is the oldest of his siblings and often looks after them while his parents are at work or busy. Bailey has his own secrets. Secrets he is keen to escape but cannot.

They meet in class and soon find a connection – not knowing they share one secret. The secret that is most important of all. Something that shows them who they really are.

With genuine characters, true to life NZ settings and building tensions in their home and school lives, Felix and Bailey captured my heart. These boys loved their families but struggled with choices made by their parents. Both are used to mistreatment by their peers and wonder if they have finally found someone they can trust. Loved it!

Author – Eileen Merriman

Age – 16+

Teacher’s Notes here

Read an extract here

Read more reviews of Eileen Merriman’s novels (Click on a Cover)

(2019, Penguin NZ, LGBTQ+, New Zealand, NZ, High School, Martial Arts, Judo, Abuse, Gay, Growing Up, Identity, Spectrum, Bully, Secret)