In te reo Māori, ‘auē’ is used as an exclamation of pain, distress, or astonishment, a wail in the face of loss. It is an apt title for Becky Manawatu’s gut-wrenching debut – possibly one of the most devastating books I have ever read. After 17-year-old Taukiri drops his little brother Ārama off at their Aunty Kat’s house, he flees, trying to run from the ghost sand in his lungs, his fear of the sea, the loss of two sets of parents, and the guilt of abandoning Ari to a violent home. Eight-year-old Ari is sure that Tauk will return, though, but until he does, his new friend Beth and Beth’s dog Lupo (and the occasional box of plasters) will help him face down the world in his own way. Auē’s exploration of New Zealand gang culture, domestic violence, and grief feels at times too raw to handle, but it is ultimately a powerful, nuanced story about the bonds that could lead to some form of healing. Not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination, but deeply worthwhile.
Reviewed by Mindful Puzzles Editor, Donnay Torr.
