Xavier wants to be a stand-up comedian. But does he have what it takes to stand up?

Xavier Gency, 12, knows the world is pretty much doomed, but that doesn't stop him cracking the jokes about it wherever he goes. In his country town, where politicians are bulldozing trees to ‘prevent’ bushfires. At home, even though his dad’s sense of humour is just like nativewildlife – extinct. And at his new boarding school, where he’s stuck with Charlotte, his headstrong do-gooder neighbour.

But when Xavier hears some devastating news about his family's farmhouse, he knows he’s got a serious decision to make. Should he sit back and poke fun, like he’s always done? Or should he take action, even if that means sneaking off campus, having run-ins with the law, and – even worse – teaming up with Charlotte?

Set in the not-too-distant future, this middle-grade cli-fi tackles serious issues in an eye-wateringly hilarious way. Perfect for fans of Nat Amoore and Matt Stanton, it's a fun, thrilling story that shows hope is worth holding out for.

Perfect for:

• Readers aged 9–14 who love comedic adventures set in the real world.
• Readers seeking realistic stories about climate change.
• Fans of humorous novels such as Carla Fitzgerald's How to be Prime Minister and Survive Year Five and Nat Amoore's The Power of Positive Pranking.
• Book clubs, teachers and educators wanting a fun page-turner that also has meaningful themes such as climate change and politics for discussion.