Shannon Molloy is Fourteen, attends an all-boys, rugby-mad Catholic High School, and is gay. He and his family live in a small town where you can’t hide if you’re different. He has very close friends (at another school), and life was okay when he was at primary school, but high school is a whole different existence.

Shannon is bullied mercilessly, making high school – Hell. He is elbowed between classes, beaten often and verbally abused almost every day. This never-ending attack hurts even more when his own teachers turn a blind eye in class, condone or even agree with the classmate’s taunts at Shannon.

His big brother looks out for him and his mum is his rock, but Shannon struggles through every day, counting down to when he will be free from the small-town, narrow-minded, bigoted, prejudiced, aggression. He hates himself and how he is and decides on a solution. Even that goes wrong, compounding his self hate.

Then another window reveals itself. Something that will not only allow him an escape but will show him that he has every right to be himself, like himself, and be proud of who he really is. His battle for this one thing that others take for granted is hard-fought for but eventually the change and space that Shannon needs to become Shannon.

Heart-breaking is often used in a review of a particularly sad story, but with Fourteen it is even more so because it is true. This one year of the author’s life is so maddening, excruciating, and painful to learn about, that at times I wanted to scream at the teachers and bullies, strike out at those who struck Shannon, or just pull him into a protective cocoon where he could feel safe for even just a little while.

The meat-head, follow others, demeaning, and often vicious behavior is still out there in our communities and if only they would read Shannon’s story to see the damage they are inflicting on another – for life. As expected with the no punches pulled and authentic narration, Fourteen contains the strong language and sexual references used by high school boys, but the journey he shares with the reader should be read by all 16+.

Author – Shannon Molloy

Age – 16+

(Gay, Bisexual, LGBTQ, Growing Up, Bully, Bullies, High School, Acceptance, Family, First Love, Betrayal, Autobiography, Fashion Show, Australia, Catholic School, Prejudice, Hate, Non-Fiction, Courage)