julie gittus

Eight weeks before Sun’s final school exams she meets Tycho. Invited to a party at his parents' place by the beach, Sun hopes to deepen their relationship that's begun through a sensitive exchange of poems, but confusion about the afternoon's events leads her to believe Tycho is involved with someone else.

And then there's Mark who just happened to have dumped Sun's best friend the week before.

Messages for Sun captures the aching sadness of teenage relationships. It explores the complexities of friendship, love and loss amid the intensity of a first romantic relationship.

'... After it was finished, he kissed me between the eyes and told me I was a fast learner, and I looked down at Tycho's painting and I thought: Is this me? Has all my goodness vanished within a week? Good ... bad ... I decided they were baby words. Meaningless ...'

A version of this novel titled 'Saltwater Moons' was published in 2008 and is no longer in print. 'Messages For Sun' is a revised edition with an additional chapter at the end.

Praise for Saltwater Moons:
‘I read this book with a constant pricking of tears – this writing is so beautiful, so subtly balanced, so human, so filled with gentle sadness and understanding. This is a book readers will love.’
Peter Bishop, Creative Director of Varuna, The Writers’ House, Australia

'Gittus movingly depicts the complexities of friendship and sex ... Sun's voice is literate, authentic and realistic. ...'
Australian Book Review

'While I was reading this book it was as if the book was flipping the pages for me. I don't remember turning the pages at all.'
Danielle Kaitlyn Wood, teenage reader, Canada