"Welcome to the weird and wonderful universe of Trent Dalton, whose first work of fiction is, without exaggeration, the best Australian novel I have read in more than a decade. . . . The last 100 pages of Boy Swallows Universe propel you like an express train to a conclusion that is profound and complex and unashamedly commercial. . . . The book is jam-packed with such witty and profound insights into what's wrong and what's right with Australia and the world. . . . I read it in two sittings and immediately want to read it again. In its deft integration of the sacred and the profane, of high ideals and low villainy, it somehow reminded me of a favorite French movie, Diva. A rollicking ride, rich in philosophy, wit, truth and pathos."--Sydney Morning Herald
"It is such a pleasant shock to encounter a new Australian novel in which joy is shamelessly deployed. . . . It is a story in thrall to the potential the world holds for lightness, laughter, beauty, forgiveness, redemption, and love. . . . [Dalton] invests this unlikely cast and milieu with considerable energy, wit and charm. He delights in the play of language and imagination that a child can summon: the sense in which the clear moral eye of youth can critique and adore simultaneously without judgment or adult moral finessing."--The Australian
"Trent Dalton is the most extraordinary writer--a rare talent. A major new voice on the Australian literary scene has arrived."--Nikki Gemmell
"An astonishing achievement. Dalton is a breath of fresh air--raw, honest, funny, moving, he has created a novel of the most surprising and addictive nature. Unputdownable."--David Wenham
"Joyous. Simply joyous. I hugged myself as I read it. My heart raced, swelled, burst; my eyes leaked tears; my stomach ached from laughter. Boy Swallows Universe is--I can't think of a word more apt--magical. This vibrant, vital, altogether miraculous coming-of-age novel marks the debut of an exquisitely gifted storyteller. . . and what's more, it's transformative: After reading Trent Dalton's book, you won't be the same as you were before."--A.J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window
"Dalton's splashy, stellar debut makes the typical coming-of-age novel look bland by comparison...In less adept hands, these antics might descend into whimsy, but Dalton's broadly observant eye, ability to temper pathos with humor, and thorough understanding of the mechanics of plot prevent the novel from breaking into sparkling pieces...This is an outstanding debut."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A splashy, profane, and witty debut."--USA Today
"A marvelously plot-rich novel, which...is filled with beautifully lyric prose....Exceptional."--Booklist (starred review)
"An insightful coming-of-age novel."--Book Riot
"A wonderful surprise: sharp as a drawer full of knives in terms of subject matter; unrepentantly joyous in its child's-eye view of the world; the best literary debut in a month of Sundays."--The Weekend Australian
"A captivating and quirky life story that leads the reader on an intense and rewarding journey; highly recommended."--Library Journal (starred review)