Rocks in the Belly a novel

WINNER OF THE 2011 INDIE AWARD FOR DEBUT FICTION SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL IMPAC DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD LONGLISTED FOR THE 2011 MILES FRANKLIN AWARD How far can you push a child? Rocks in the Belly follows a precocious eight-year-old boy and the volatile adult he becomes. During childhood his mother fosters boys despite the jealous turmoil it arouses in her son. Jealousy that reaches unmanageable proportions when she fosters Robert, and triggers an event that profoundly changes everyone. Especially Robert. At twenty-eight the son returns to face his mother. He hasn’t forgiven her for what happened. But now she’s the dependent one and he the dominant force — a power he can’t help but abuse. PRAISE FOR JON BAUER ‘A compelling look at how childhood egos stay with us long after we've grown up.’ The Sunday Herald Sun ‘Kept me pinned to the page.’ The Age