A Good Kind of Trouble

By Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward

Reviewed by Lauren Spencer

Brooke Blurton is the first Indigenous and bisexual woman on The Bachelorette. Her advocacy for First Nations people and the LGBTQ+ community continues, alongside writer, editor and Bigambul and Wakka Wakka woman, Melanie Saward, in their debut YA series, A Good Kind of Trouble.

A Good Kind of Trouble follows Jamie Hunter as she navigates the teenage perils of high school life. Proud Noongar and openly queer, Jamie stays true to herself and her beliefs, unless it’s admitting her love for her best mate, Loz. But, like every other girl at school, Loz has a crush on Jamie’s big brother, Poss. Nothing much happens for Jamie Hunter in the small town of Parkerton, she lives for footy, her best mate Loz and looking after her mob. But that all changes when new girl Stella Jones arrives. After questioning the colonialised history curriculum in class, Jamie is surprised when Stella backs her up on the argument. This sparks Jamie and Stella on a journey to inspire change, not just in the school, but in themselves.

The narrative includes intermittent diary entries that offer insight into Jamie’s conflicted thoughts and feelings, which parallel the moments in her daily life. Identity and family are constant themes, and the cultural dialogue adds a nice touch. However, the timeframe doesn’t quite accommodate all the topics in enough depth, causing the ending to fall short.

Nevertheless, A Good Kind of Trouble is a heart-warming story with a fresh protagonist, shining a light on current issues for Indigenous youth today. Suitable for older middle grade (11+) and young adults.

Teaching Guide

Harper Collins AU 2025

Brooke Blurton

Melanie Saward