Wrong Answers Only

Gr 10 Up–Marco di Mario is set to study biomedicine at the University of Melbourne. As the golden child, it is everything he ever wanted. Just before he is about to leave for school, he finds himself on the ground unsure of what is happening to him—he has never felt panic like this before. Sofia, Marco’s loving grandmother, suggests that he spend some time on the Ocean Melody, a cruise ship sailing the Mediterranean, under the careful eye of his estranged uncle and ship staff captain Renzo. Soon after settling into his new life, he meets and develops a relationship with Hunter, a troublesome, albeit handsome dancer with a reputation for always getting what he wants. Marco challenges himself to step outside his comfort zone and, in the process, learns more about himself and his family than he ever imagined. Marco’s unique situation may not be relatable, but his emotions are universal. The novel toes the line of YA and new adult; however, it never strays from its underlying theme of self-discovery. Marco’s tale is a reminder that getting things wrong, losing oneself, and then finding oneself all over again is a natural part of growing up. Marco and his family are Italian Australian while supporting characters include a range of diverse ethnicities, gender identities, and sexual orientations.