Story Behind The Book
THE BOOK EVERY TEENAGER WILL WANT ...to hide from their parents. A group of high school students deal with sex, love, bullying, family and betrayal. (Edgy YA) Life is turned upside down for Ash Rata and Tiana Lilu after they skip school to take their relationship to the next level. When their family and friends find out they are forced to deal with rumours, bullies, an overprotective brother and mortified parents. Amongst the turmoil Ash grows closer to his stepdad, learning to trust again after years of holding a grudge against his jailed father. But following a guys' night out together, Ash's life is shattered when he wakes up in hospital to find out his stepdad has done something unforgivable. Traumatised, he pushes everyone he loves away, terrified that they will discover what really happened that night. Set in the year 2000, ten years prior to Behind the Hood, Graffiti Heaven is the first in a series that follows Ash Rata's teenage years, a coming of age tale where both comedy and tragedy battle it out on a New Zealand stage.