Broken

de Emma White

Four and a half months after her boyfriend became a paraplegic in a motorbike accident, he and Emma travelled to Australia, Emma's home country, and embarked upon a 15,000 kilometre backpacking trip. This story takes the reader on a whirlwind trip around Australia. A young woman struggling to accept her boyfriend's paralysis, and a paraplegic man backpacking during a time many spinal injured patients remain in hospital. Written with honesty, insight and dark humour, Emma examines the dynamics of the relationship, impact of the injury, difficulties faced learning to live in a wheelchair in a challenging country, and encountering perceptions of the disabled. Ultimately, this is a compelling love story.