The devastating and gritty fourth novel from Miles Franklin shortlisted author, Michael Mohammed Ahmad.

Some scars can never be seen, but will always be felt . . . long after the damage is done.

Hamoodi may only be ten years old, but he already knows that to speak out is dangerous. Lessons from the mother-land have taught him that standing out can see you lose everything. Or disappear. In a new place, he has learned to be quiet, contained. He carries the wisdom and knowledge of his mother and father. They have told him to trust no one - except family.

Alooshi understands first-hand the hurt words can bring. As a teenager, he's learned that knowing how to wound someone gives him power. But words can only give him so much. And when his younger cousin Hamoodi is bullied at school, Alooshi sees a way to get something else he wants.

Over one day and one night, Hamoodi will come to understand how vulnerable he is. He will discover that family is complicated and trust is a cruel weapon. For him, there will always be a before and an after. He will forever struggle to un-know. But maybe, in the knowing, he will find a way to take back his power. Maybe . . .

With a devastating poignancy and gritty tenderness, award-winning author Michael Mohammed Ahmad's new novel, Bugger, reveals an uncompromising representation of abuse and explores the impact one day can have on a lifetime.

'Unflinching. Devastating. Uncompromising' THE AGE

'Layered and politically attuned, attentive to the intersections of race, class, gender and power . . . Ahmad's grasp of his craft and his unflinching honesty are to be lauded' THE GUARDIAN

'Heart-wrenching. Meticulously realised. An expertly crafted novel. It will resonate with readers drawn to emotionally confronting, voice-driven literary fiction, particularly fans of Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain and Anne Enright's The Gathering' BOOKS+PUBLISHING

'Incredibly powerful . . . An exceptional portrait' AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW

'This is a novel like no other . . . Poetic, powerful and painful' THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLY

'A convincing and evocative portrayal of the life of a child through their eyes' ABC THE BOOKSHELF

'Ahmad realises some exquisite moments, when the heightened register soars and the reader is transported. In those moments, we remember that art is not so much about perfection as transformation' THE CONVERSATION