Getting Dusty is the much-anticipated sequel to Jared Thomas’ CBCA longlisted junior fiction, Uncle Xbox (2023). When Dusty bloodies his bully’s nose in a soccer tournament, he finds himself grounded for a week. Feeling this is unfair, Dusty gets upset and it’s up to Uncle Xbox to help him understand why his actions have consequences and that he can learn from his mistakes. If this lesson includes spending time on Country, catching some nice waves and making new friends, well, who is he to argue. From the author of The Game Day series, My Spare Heart, Calypso Summer, and Songs that sound like Blood, Jared Thomas has sensitively captured Dusty’s world and childhood challenges, with integrity, humour and heart.