Blind Spot
Robyn Dennison
Shortlisted for the 2021 Text Prize
When Dale stumbles into a bedroom at a party and sees a drunk girl being undressed by a group of guys, he backs away and runs. He’s pretty drunk himself, but he knows what he saw.
Why didn’t he stop them? Why did he run?
These questions haunt him. He wants to make things right but he doesn’t know how.
There’s no way he can talk to his dad. His mum walked out months ago. And his best friend, Kieran, wouldn’t understand. Dale’s not even sure Kieran would see a problem with what happened. Kieran is so casual about sex. And drugs. And life in general. The opposite of Dale.
Then Max arrives, Dale’s cousin. She’s older, smart, cool—with her own perspective on Dale’s problem, and her own problems. And there’s Brent. He’s a year older than Dale, and hot—everything Dale is looking for, but will he have the answers Dale is looking for?
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‘Blind Spot is a raw and honest depiction of adolescence in Australia, with all the joys, agonies and consequences that come with it. This is a compelling and emotional tale of feeling broken, of aching to put yourself back together, and wondering if it will ever truly be possible. Robyn Dennison’s writing is razor-sharp and nuanced, perfectly capturing the emotion, restlessness and ambivalence of youth. Blind Spot is a bold debut that doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of growing up. A brilliant read.’
‘A sophisticated, challenging novel that explores themes of personal responsibility alongside a duty of care for others…Dennison writes Dale with great depth and empathy…A compelling, important novel for young people.’
‘Vulnerable and compelling, and I particularly enjoyed the relaxed treatment of queerness (no traumatic ‘coming out’ story or bullying narrative), as well as the sensitive and introverted narration inside the mind of a teenage boy.’
‘An honest, authentic and compelling insight into the complexity of [Dale’s] life…You won’t be able to put this book down.’
‘A raw and unflinching depiction of teenage life with some heavy hitting, complex issues. It’s a hard read, but one that I struggled to put down…It’s an impressive debut, full of empathy, raw and gritty, and not afraid to tackle the big issues.’
