Whiti Hereaka

Huia

2014

 

 

 

Bugs, by Whiti Hereaka, is an honest narrative that confronts the reader with the everyday life of Bugs, “as in bunny”. Sixteen year-old Bugs is struggling to hold onto childhood pal Jez, as he introduces the new girl in town, Charmaine, into their friendship. Charmaine, with her wealthy parents and “frickin’ castle” of a house, comes from a different world to Bugs and Jez, and while looking down her nose at the homes of Jez and Bugs, is too privileged to appreciate what she has. Jez sits on the opposite end of the spectrum to Charmaine; neither he nor his dreams have ever been nurtured by his parents and, when told by the schooling system that statistically he would fail, he accepts it as his future, leaving Bugs to decide whether to follow her dreams or her friendships.