To be Under the Radar is all Sione wants this year. No trouble. Unfortunately, it’s only the 2nd week back at Manawahe East High School  after the holidays and Sione is in the principal’s office. He wasn’t in the wrong. He was just trying to stop friends from fighting.

Now both of them are trying to recruit him into their separate gangs (crews) with promises to be like family and look out for one another. He doesn’t want anything to do with it, and not just because his Dad warned him against it. From watching friends, Sione’s seen the chaos and fallout of belonging to a gang.

There’s a new girl at school this term. Her name is Theresa, and despite being bigger than her class mates, she is quiet and shy and not keen to stand out. Sione and his friends help her settle in to school, but she still finds being the new girl difficult.

It’s not until practising for the upcoming School Athletics Day, that Theresa discovers a natural skill in a particular sport. Sione’s hoping that this will help her connect to her new school.

In the meantime, the crews at school are still recruiting members and are watching out for each other at the school gates. Fists begin to fly and Sione is caught up in it no matter how hard he tries to avoid it. When his little brother Ronnie thinks the gangs are a good idea, Sione and his quiet friend Redemption set out to rescue him from the dark streets, before he gets in too deep.

Unfortunately Sione seems to keep running into a local king-pin in the area, nicknamed Turtle. Everyone is scared of Turtle as he is driven around in his shiny black Mercedes. He is not all bad though as Sione finds out when his whole street needs someone like him the most.

Under the Radar is different to any YA I’ve read in a while. Set in a South Auckland (NZ) School and local area, it immersed me in the melting pot of cultures, families and friendships that are a huge part of South Auckland. After many years as a high school teacher, the author knows his students well, and captures their dialogue perfectly. 

The characters can face drugs, alcohol and violence all in one day, whilst avoiding certain houses, staying out of parks, and like Sione – trying to keep their head down. Regardless of these challenges, they are also immersed in loving, kind, and hardworking families and neighbourhoods, all looking out for one another. There is also a blend of religions that are respected among the characters – even if joked about in good-natured teasing.

The banter between the main characters is often hilarious, filling whole chapters. I especially liked the insight into all the different families on the morning of the School Athletics Day – jumping from one character’s house to another.

Short chapters, authentic characters and settings and the ‘slice of life’ theme underpinning Under the Radar makes this a true kiwi read.

Author – Des O’Leary

Age – 13+

Find your copy here

(2021, NZ, Cuba Press, New Zealand, Aoteroa, South Auckland, Drugs, Gangs, Crews, Recruiting, Alcohol, Violence, School, Athletics Day, Cultures, Pasifica, Aorere College, Faith, Respect, Family, Church. Traditions)