‘A richly metaphoric tale of a character’s dualised search: how to come to terms with the loss of her beloved mother and her own role in that loss; and how to interpret and align her mixed heritage identity. The strengths of the novel lie in the protagonist Dylan’s fierce and uncompromised voice, and in the originality of the aesthetic. Moore writes with the technical skill and linguistic panache of an author who is in complete control of her material. Her take on the ‘road trip’ novel is replete with irony, compassion, humour and near-tragedy, and is further distinguished by Dylan’s ability to move between the known and unknown worlds, a device that allows Moore to explore the entanglements of other lives more fully. Metal Fish, Falling Snow is concrete and lace, a multi-layered, poetic work which delves hard and often surgically into the hearts of its characters and allows readers significant insight into the interplay of despair and hope that characterises being human.’

‘A breathtaking debut with such an assured, original voice—one page and I was all in. I wanted to remember every line but it felt like trying to catch handfuls of stars—in the end every piece fell into place so beautifully and I sat there in gobsmacked silence…you know the feeling that hits after you’ve read an extraordinary book? Metal Fish, Falling Snow is one of the most moving books I’ve read in ages and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.’

‘Astonishingly original, heartfelt and funny.’

‘This wonderful Australian debut paints a whirling, raging, intense portrait of a teen who experiences the world in ways that she struggles to communicate to others. The reader is taken deep into Dylan’s mind and heart and senses, in ways that are sometimes deeply humorous, and at other times deeply painful. Layers of ideas about race, identity, grief and family run through this book, but the focus never wavers from Dylan’s funny and profound voice. This is a really moving, original and thought-provoking novel.’

‘This wonderful Australian debut paints a whirling, raging, intense portrait of a teen who experiences the world in ways that she struggles to communicate to others. The reader is taken deep into Dylan’s mind and heart and senses, in ways that are sometimes deeply humorous, and at other times deeply painful. Layers of ideas about race, identity, grief and family run through this book, but the focus never wavers from Dylan’s funny and profound voice. This is a really moving, original and thought-provoking novel.’

‘[Cath Moore] brings a wealth of deep thinking on race to this beautiful and tender novel, exploring themes of familial legacies, finding a place to belong, grief, and what it means to be an Australian of mixed heritage.’

‘My favourite Australian book so far this year. It’s one of those books that’s beautifully multilayered and can be read by teens (I would recommend it for ages 14 and up), but adults will also love it. Dylan’s Mum has passed away, in an accident she thinks was her fault, and now her Mum’s rough gambler boyfriend Pat is driving her across rural Australia to deliver her to the Guyanese blood family she has never known, and a Blackness that terrifies her. And everywhere she goes, water is calling her. This is a debut, but it reads like a third or fourth novel: the writing is beautifully lyrical, and every character is like an absolute Masterclass in characterisation.’

‘Refreshingly original’

‘A brilliant debut…the novel stares back at the White gaze and demands that it set aside its entitlement and its self-imposed authority…Metal Fish, Falling Snow carries the pain of loss, the nuances of race and the longing for family, and interprets the world anew with immense literary skill and just a little bit of magic.’

‘A remarkable creation…Metal Fish, Falling Snow is a young adult novel…but given the timeliness of its themes and the beauty of its prose, it would be a shame for adult readers to miss out.’

’This is a beautiful and touching story about grief and identity for a girl who has a unique–and magical–view of the world.’

‘A sometimes funny, often profound story that will reward the effort of reading Dylan’s own voice narrative.’

‘Guyanese-Australian writer Cath Moore’s debut novel, Metal Fish, Falling Snow (Text), is a lyrical and moving road trip across regional Australia with a fascinating young protagonist.’

‘Full of spark and humour, and each page is imbued with striking and unforgettable imagery…This is a novel for both young and old; a brilliant and heartfelt work of Australian fiction.’

‘Emotional and raw… debut author Moore uses spare, pointed and poetic language to evoke Dylan’s search for magic in everything, including herself.’

‘This beautifully written novel is a confident and creative YA debut that explores the themes of grief, family and identity with wonderful imagery and genuine humour. The language used is awe-inspiring and unique.’

’Dylan is lost. In her own words, she ‘could be anywhere’. The child of an Afro Caribbean father and a French mother—the girl who was predicted to be a boy—this fourteen-year-old whirlwind rages against a world which always seems set to move against her with cold, dispassionate certainty. As Dylan battles to understand and negotiate this world, her rage is fuelled by a single question: how can she possibly survive without knowing where and how she belongs?

Metal Fish, Falling Snow is a richly metaphoric tale of a character’s dualised search: how to come to terms with the loss of her beloved mother and her own role in that loss; and how to interpret and align her mixed heritage identity. The strengths of the novel lie in the protagonist Dylan’s fierce and uncompromised voice, and in the originality of the aesthetic. Moore writes with the technical skill and linguistic panache of an author who is in complete control of her material. Her take on the ‘road trip’ novel is replete with irony, compassion, humour and near-tragedy, and is further distinguished by Dylan’s ability to move between the known and unknown worlds, a device that allows Moore to explore the entanglements of other lives more fully.

Metal Fish, Falling Snow is concrete and lace, a multi-layered, poetic work which delves hard and often surgically into the hearts of its characters and allows readers significant insight into the interplay of despair and hope that characterises being human.’