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My First Lesson: Stories Inspired by Laurinda
“The stories in this anthology are special because they capture the school experience with rare authenticity. These are not adults writing about teenagers, but real young adult writers .” —Alice Pung
Award-winning author Alice Pung has selected 25 diverse stories written by high school students inspired by her bestselling YA novel, Laurinda . The collection features an impressive range of genres by exciting new voices, exploring themes as varied as intergenerational friendship, cultural identity, bullying and heartbreak. From epiphanies on an African safari to trying to cope with the death of a parent, from a prank gone wrong to finding love in unexpected places, the stories in My First Lesson are vivid and imaginative, funny and surprising, poetic and moving.
Alice Pung is the author of Unpolished Gem, Her Father’s Daughter and the editor of the anthology Growing Up Asian in Australia . Her first novel, Laurinda , won the Ethel Turner Prize at the 2016 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.
Award-winning author Alice Pung has selected 25 diverse stories written by high school students inspired by her bestselling YA novel, Laurinda . The collection features an impressive range of genres by exciting new voices, exploring themes as varied as intergenerational friendship, cultural identity, bullying and heartbreak. From epiphanies on an African safari to trying to cope with the death of a parent, from a prank gone wrong to finding love in unexpected places, the stories in My First Lesson are vivid and imaginative, funny and surprising, poetic and moving.
Alice Pung is the author of Unpolished Gem, Her Father’s Daughter and the editor of the anthology Growing Up Asian in Australia . Her first novel, Laurinda , won the Ethel Turner Prize at the 2016 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2016
4 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Alice Pung
38 books371 followersAlice was born in Footscray, Victoria, a month after her parents Kuan and Kien arrived in Australia. Alice’s father, Kuan - a survivor of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime - named her after Lewis Carroll’s character because after surviving the Killing Fields, he thought Australia was a Wonderland. Alice is the oldest of four - she has a brother, Alexander, and two sisters, Alison and Alina.
Alice grew up in Footscray and Braybrook, and changed high schools five times - almost once every year! These experiences have shaped her as a writer because they taught her how to pay attention to the quiet young adults that others might overlook or miss.
Alice Pung’s first book, Unpolished Gem, is an Australian bestseller which won the Australian Book Industry Newcomer of the Year Award and was shortlisted in the Victorian and NSW Premiers’ Literary awards. It was published in the UK and USA in separate editions and has been translated into several languages including Italian, German and Indonesian.
Alice’s next book, Her Father’s Daughter, won the Western Australia Premier’s Award for Non-Fiction and was shortlisted for the Victorian and NSW Premiers’ Literary awards and the Queensland Literary Awards.
Alice also edited the collection Growing Up Asian in Australia and her writing has appeared in the Monthly, the Age, and The Best Australian Stories and The Best Australian Essays.
Alice is a qualified lawyer and still works as a legal researcher in the area of minimum wages and pay equity. She lives with her husband Nick at Janet Clarke Hall, the University of Melbourne, where she is the Artist in Residence.
Alice grew up in Footscray and Braybrook, and changed high schools five times - almost once every year! These experiences have shaped her as a writer because they taught her how to pay attention to the quiet young adults that others might overlook or miss.
Alice Pung’s first book, Unpolished Gem, is an Australian bestseller which won the Australian Book Industry Newcomer of the Year Award and was shortlisted in the Victorian and NSW Premiers’ Literary awards. It was published in the UK and USA in separate editions and has been translated into several languages including Italian, German and Indonesian.
Alice’s next book, Her Father’s Daughter, won the Western Australia Premier’s Award for Non-Fiction and was shortlisted for the Victorian and NSW Premiers’ Literary awards and the Queensland Literary Awards.
Alice also edited the collection Growing Up Asian in Australia and her writing has appeared in the Monthly, the Age, and The Best Australian Stories and The Best Australian Essays.
Alice is a qualified lawyer and still works as a legal researcher in the area of minimum wages and pay equity. She lives with her husband Nick at Janet Clarke Hall, the University of Melbourne, where she is the Artist in Residence.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 6, 2017
Some fantastic writing from young Australians. There were quite a few that I wished were longer because I wanted to read more.
My friend's daughter is featured in this collection, and I can't help but be biased and say her story was the best. It was beautifully written, honest and very moving.
My friend's daughter is featured in this collection, and I can't help but be biased and say her story was the best. It was beautifully written, honest and very moving.
September 6, 2016
As someone who enjoyed writing in high school, this book made me reminisce and smile so hard because I recognised parts of my teenage self and writing style in these writers. I love Young Adult books, but they're mainly written by adults. As this was written by numerous teenagers, being able to glimpse into their minds was interesting. Maybe it’s because I’m only a few years out of my teenage/high school years, but I found their experiences and thoughts to be so relatable.
Although each story was different, I recognised and remembered similar experiences or feelings that I went through in high school in every story. From problems like wanting to fit in to panicking over the thought that my ATAR would ultimately determine my whole future, this book made me remember how big these problems were for me then, even though they seem so silly now. I guess it was also kind of funny to think that I’m now one of those older people who would say to teens, “I remember that’s how I felt in high school too and don’t worry – it’ll work out.” (I hated those people in high school because they just didn't understand.)
Each story varied in genre and touched on important issues such as belonging and finding your sense of identity, bullying and domestic violence and the shifting and intricate nature of many different relationships. It was even told from different points of view, like the perspective of the bully and the bullied, the confident and the meek, etc.
I know as we grow older, it becomes easy to dismiss a teenager’s problems and views because – as we know – it will work out and more than likely be replaced with more serious “grown up” problems. This book serves as a good reminder of how intricate teenagers’ thoughts and emotions are despite their age; and how fundamental it is to listen to them to help them grow into the kind of adults we would want to exist in our world tomorrow.
Although each story was different, I recognised and remembered similar experiences or feelings that I went through in high school in every story. From problems like wanting to fit in to panicking over the thought that my ATAR would ultimately determine my whole future, this book made me remember how big these problems were for me then, even though they seem so silly now. I guess it was also kind of funny to think that I’m now one of those older people who would say to teens, “I remember that’s how I felt in high school too and don’t worry – it’ll work out.” (I hated those people in high school because they just didn't understand.)
Each story varied in genre and touched on important issues such as belonging and finding your sense of identity, bullying and domestic violence and the shifting and intricate nature of many different relationships. It was even told from different points of view, like the perspective of the bully and the bullied, the confident and the meek, etc.
I know as we grow older, it becomes easy to dismiss a teenager’s problems and views because – as we know – it will work out and more than likely be replaced with more serious “grown up” problems. This book serves as a good reminder of how intricate teenagers’ thoughts and emotions are despite their age; and how fundamental it is to listen to them to help them grow into the kind of adults we would want to exist in our world tomorrow.
May 16, 2025
kinda forgettable
June 4, 2017
Like any collection of short stories, most were good, some were a bit meh, and one or two were standouts. The only probably I had reading the stories (but not with the stories) was that because there were all about 2 or 3 pages long, each was finished very quickly, and it was hard to stop reading after such a short period, so some I found bled into the next because I didn't take the time to let the story sink in properly before moving on.
For me the two standout stories were "The Broken Fairytale" and " Words on the Back of Bathroom Doors". I wont say much about the first - it would just spoil it. The second I liked because I used to enjoy reading anonymous comments on the back of bathroom doors like the narrator. I also noticed they provided a safe way of people asking for help and/or advice that allowed them to express themselves without exposing themselves. I remember this being particularly true in some of the toilets when I was at university.
For me the two standout stories were "The Broken Fairytale" and " Words on the Back of Bathroom Doors". I wont say much about the first - it would just spoil it. The second I liked because I used to enjoy reading anonymous comments on the back of bathroom doors like the narrator. I also noticed they provided a safe way of people asking for help and/or advice that allowed them to express themselves without exposing themselves. I remember this being particularly true in some of the toilets when I was at university.
November 16, 2019
Kind of nostalgic, kind of cute.
November 21, 2017
Short and sweet.
I find short story collections a mixed bag, but a lot of these stories had precious insights in them- most simply put in a way that I could easily understand.
There is something to be said about simplicity, and this collection captured the innocence but also the complexities of young adult life in different perspectives.
I enjoyed it.
I find short story collections a mixed bag, but a lot of these stories had precious insights in them- most simply put in a way that I could easily understand.
There is something to be said about simplicity, and this collection captured the innocence but also the complexities of young adult life in different perspectives.
I enjoyed it.
February 4, 2018
This review was originally posted on The Bumbling Bookworm
This was a collection of short stories edited by Alice Pung, the author of Laurinda (which is sitting on my shelves but I have yet to read it... story of my life). These short stories were all written by teens inspired by Laurinda, and it was a fantastic collection. This is a brilliant platform for Australian teen writers, having their stories published in a collection like this, and there needs to be more of this out there to show teens that they can do it if they want to.
On the whole, the collection was quite strong. Some stories were better than others, and some just weren't long enough IMO - I needed more! There weren't any stories I considered bad or even that I didn't enjoy, I breezed through this quite quickly and it was fun to read. I haven't read anything quite like this before, and I'd definitely read it again or another similar anthology - 4 stars.
Check out the rest of my review here!
This was a collection of short stories edited by Alice Pung, the author of Laurinda (which is sitting on my shelves but I have yet to read it... story of my life). These short stories were all written by teens inspired by Laurinda, and it was a fantastic collection. This is a brilliant platform for Australian teen writers, having their stories published in a collection like this, and there needs to be more of this out there to show teens that they can do it if they want to.
On the whole, the collection was quite strong. Some stories were better than others, and some just weren't long enough IMO - I needed more! There weren't any stories I considered bad or even that I didn't enjoy, I breezed through this quite quickly and it was fun to read. I haven't read anything quite like this before, and I'd definitely read it again or another similar anthology - 4 stars.
Check out the rest of my review here!
October 16, 2022
why did i feel like finding out the authors were high school age was such a plot twist lol anyways some of the short stories were rlly relatable and made me scream cry bash my head against the wall and whatnot and some of them just weren’t my type tbhs! the lengths were v enjoyable though, i liked it :)
April 1, 2024
The way the stories flowed from to another was great. It felt rhythmic and intentional.
However. The stories themselves left me asking for more. A new story every 2-5 pages was hard for me to get invested. I wanted to spend more time with the characters and their worlds. This one was just not for me.
However. The stories themselves left me asking for more. A new story every 2-5 pages was hard for me to get invested. I wanted to spend more time with the characters and their worlds. This one was just not for me.
February 7, 2018
These stories were way too short.
June 21, 2018
This was a short but interesting book, which was an enjoyable quick read with a range of stories.
July 25, 2025
DNF. It’s fine but short short stories aren’t for me
March 14, 2017
Honest and compelling stories that give first-hand insight into teenagers' issues and emotions.
Read
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2017
3.5 Stars. I loved the different stories, all inspired by Laurinda. I think I probably should read Laurinda and that may give them more meaning. I also liked that they were written by teens.
did-not-finish
December 13, 2017I had the audio book which had been read by someone so boring I couldn't put up with it.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews