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In a Common Hour

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In a Common Hour

By: Sita Walker
Narrated by: Sonya Kerr
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Sometimes the most important lessons are learnt at lunchtime


Parks State High is a melting pot of misfits. There is Oliver Fish, the teen philosopher hiding a secret relationship; Dev Patel, hopelessly in love with the brilliant Maryam Fadel; and a staffroom thick with gossip, camaraderie and burnt out teachers. At the centre of it all is well-loved teacher, Paul Bush. But when a disgruntled student makes a devastating move – one lunchtime is all it takes for Bushie’s life to change forever.

With a cast of unforgettable characters, In a Common Hour is a smart, funny and wise novel that shows us all the ways we are connected.


‘a hope-filled masterpiece about contemporary high school classrooms and the people that inhabit them.’ GABBIE STROUD, author of Teacher and The Things that Matter Most

‘I read this in a gulp. In a Common Hour marks the arrival of a major new talent. Sita Walker makes me fall in love with reading all over again.’ NIKKI GEMMELL, author of Wing

‘Walker’s novel is unputdownable. I was charmed, moved, and so sorry to close the covers.’ SHARLENE ALLSOPP, author of The Great Undoing©2026 Sita Walker (P)2025 W. F. Howes ltd. Coming of Age Genre Fiction Funny
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Such a beautiful book, highly recommend booking yourself 2 quiet days to devour this novel

Incredibly written

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In a Common Hour by Sita Walker
I can't remember who recommended this one to me. Usually, I note who recommended it so I can thank or curse them in my review. Let me know if it was you. I'm not cursing anyone this time.

Set at Parks State High, context clues tell me it's an Australian High School, but I couldn't pin it down to a state. It felt a little like the TV show Sex Education, which is filmed to make it feel like it could possibly be anywhere. The parallels are there—like how rumours spread through the school, from the staffroom to the student body, and how the community comes together to support its own. It really captures the essence of school life, and the school and the bushland that surround it almost become characters in their own right.

"Sometimes the most important lessons are learnt at lunchtime"

The story is broken down into chapters that each represent a ten-minute slice of the lunch hour, narrated from the perspectives of both students and teachers. It all feels familiar and truthful, even though I've been out of high school for longer than I want to remember. The author, Sita Walker, spent 20 years as a high school literature teacher, so the narrative has a sense of authenticity, and she nails the complex tapestry of contemporary high school life; it feels optimistic and full of human connection.

In a Common Hour by Sita Walker was released. It's the 28th January, so it's out now if you want to grab a copy. I can't think of any other book that's truly similar to this one.

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#booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf #InaCommonHour
@UltimoPress #UltimoPress @mama_sita_1981 #SitaWalker

The essence of school life

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I wouldn’t caution against giving this one a listen, it’s not without interest. After hearing the author talk about her inspiration from different types of literature and how she layered in meaning, I was keen to listen. I just struggled with being bored part way through, I struggled with the fact that even though most characters had some growth, really nothing actually happened - everyone went for a walk, it rained, there was some high school drama. And I struggled with the lack of depth of some characters and the highly stereotyped nature of others. And what was up with the birds? I know I should have been able to connect the different birds with what was going on, but there were so many to keep track of!
And for the reviewer who struggled to place the location, it’s definitely Brisbane, the forest with its diversity of closely linked features and running track is reminiscent of Toohey Forest and the school reminds me of several of Brisbane’s biggest schools including the author’s own.

I’m not sure what I just listened to

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I loved how the traumas being dealt with by the characters moved and flowed through the hour.

Heartfelt and compelling

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It was interesting and I did like how everything was woven together, but not really my flavour of book. Too much swearing and a little graphic at times.

Twisted plot line weaves nicely

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