Boy Swallows Universe facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Trent Dalton |
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| Audio read by | Stig Wemyss |
| Cover artist | Darren Holt |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Bildungsroman, crime thriller, magical realism |
| Publisher | Fourth Estate (HarperCollins) |
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Publication date
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18 June 2018 |
| Media type | Print, ebook, kindle, audiobook |
| Pages | 488 pp. |
| ISBN | 9781460753897 |
Boy Swallows Universe is the exciting first novel by Australian writer Trent Dalton. It was first published in Australia in 2018. This book has won many awards and was even turned into a play by the Queensland Theatre in 2021. Netflix also made it into a popular television series with the same name – Boy Swallows Universe.
Contents
What is the Story About?
This story is set in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, in 1983. It follows a young teenager named Eli Bell. Eli faces many challenges in his life. He lives with his older brother, August, who doesn't speak. Their mother is not always there, and their stepfather faces tough situations. The novel is a Bildungsroman, which means it's about a character growing up. It shows Eli trying to understand the world around him and find his own path.
Who Are the Main Characters?
- Eli Bell – He is the main character and also tells the story.
- August Bell – Eli's older brother. He does not speak.
- Frankie Bell – Eli and August's mother.
- Lyle – Frankie's boyfriend.
- Robert Bell - Eli's and August's father.
- Caitlyn Spies – A journalist and Eli's childhood crush.
- Tytus Broz – A powerful and mysterious character.
- Iwan Krol – Tytus's helper.
How the Book Became Popular
The book was first published in Australia in 2018 by Fourth Estate. After that, it was published in other countries too:
- HarperCollins, US, 2019
- Fourth Estate, Australia, 2019, 2023
- The Borough Press, UK, 2019, 2020
The novel was also translated into many different languages. These include Spanish, Swedish, French, Dutch, Finnish, Turkish, Portuguese, Chinese, Czech, and Lithuanian in 2019. It was also translated into Italian, Polish, and Russian in 2020. Later, in 2021, it was translated into German, Korean, Japanese, and Hebrew. This book became a very popular first novel in Australian history. It sold more than a million copies around the world.
What Awards Did It Win?
The book received many important awards:
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Dymocks Book of the Year | — | Won | |
| 2019 | Australian Book Industry Awards | Australian Book of the Year | Won | |
| Australian Literary Fiction Book of the Year | Won | |||
| Matt Richell Award for New Writer | Won | |||
| Australian Booksellers Association Awards | BookPeople Book of the Year | Won | ||
| Colin Roderick Award | — | Shortlisted | ||
| Indie Book Awards | Book of the Year | Won | ||
| Debut Fiction | Won | |||
| Miles Franklin Award | — | Longlisted | ||
| MUD Literary Prize | — | Won | ||
| New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards | UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing | Won | ||
| People's Choice Award | Won | |||
| 2020 | International Dublin Literary Award | — | Longlisted |
From Book to Screen and Stage
In 2021, the book was turned into a play. This play was performed by the Queensland Theatre. It became the most popular show in the theatre's history.
The book was also made into a 7-episode TV mini-series. This series premiered on Netflix on January 11, 2024. The story was written for TV by John Collee. The episodes were directed by Bharat Nalluri, Jocelyn Moorhouse, and Kim Mordaunt. The main roles were played by Lee Tiger Halley and Felix Cameron.
See Also
- 2018 in Australian literature
