Author's Note

Part 1 A Handful of Ashes
Part 2 Friends
Part 3 Ostriches

Translator's Note

The Ostrich Boys meet again with a new look

Keith Gray's novel "The Ostrich Boys," published by Jecheolso in 2016, has been republished in a new form to coincide with the domestic original musical performance.
British author Keith Gray began his literary career in earnest in his early twenties when his first full-length novel, Creepers (1996), was shortlisted for the UK Guardian Fiction Prize.
Since then, every work he has published has swept various literary awards and received praise from both the public and critics.

His masterpiece, The Ostrich Boys, tells the story of three British boys who steal the ashes of their dead friend and embark on a journey, experiencing twists and turns as they embrace death and loss in their hearts and encounter their true selves.
The author adds a powerful engine called 'adventure' to this meaningful story, increasing its speed.
The fast-paced development is remarkable, as if you were riding a scooter with three boys.
The book was a great hit in the UK when it was published, thanks to its wonderful blend of unique characters, solid narrative, and weighty message.
In an interview with an online media outlet, the author said, “Most books written for boys are about spies, gunfights, space travel, etc.
There are very few books that talk about what it's like to be a teenage boy.
He revealed his intention to write, saying, “I am trying to fill that gap.”

Loss to Loss!

Blake, Sim, and Kenny, who lost their best friend Ross in an accident, are outraged that the funeral was not "Ross-like."
They plan a funeral just for themselves, excluding the family, teachers, and friends who had caused Ross nothing but pain while he was alive.
As the three friends ponder an event they will remember for a lifetime, they think of Ross, a small Scottish seaside town that Ross has been talking about for a long time.
Ross used to say, as if it were a habit, that he would only become a "real Ross" if he went to a "Ross" that was similar to his name.
They immediately put into action their plan to secretly 'kidnap' Ross's urn and take it to 'Ross'.

On a journey of over 400 kilometers, the three boys embark on adventures and escapades they would never normally engage in, such as bungee jumping to earn money and spending the night in a haunted house in the middle of nowhere.
He also meets suspicious young men and takes taxis, and dreams of having a strange romance with girls his age he meets on the train.
Meanwhile, they get closer to the truth surrounding Ross's death.
And in the end, they face another side of themselves that they wanted to ignore.

The truth they face in the latter half of the novel is not just theirs.
The passage where the three boys admit that they have been burying their heads in the sand like ostriches poses another question to us: “Who am I?”
As the author himself has stated, "The Ostrich Boys" is a novel about growing up.
The author suggests that we, who are no longer children but not yet fully grown adults, go on a journey with the boys.
Death, friendship, relationships, guilt, etc. are put into a backpack along with an urn of ashes.

The ostrich finally raises its head!

‘Growing up’ is not just for teenagers.
It is still a valid life principle even for adults who believe they are not yet fully grown.
Especially for Korean youth who spent their adolescence preparing for college entrance exams, concerns about growth are ongoing.
Ironically, it is after adolescence that we begin to seriously contemplate our self and identity.
So readers of this book will likely project themselves onto one of Blake, Sim, Kenny, and Ross.
In this way, "The Ostrich Boys" fully captures the narrative fun of an adventure story through bold storytelling, while also not missing out on moment-by-moment reflection.
Perhaps the greatest gift that travel and adventure can offer is seeing yourself fully.

The great virtue of "The Ostrich Boys" as a coming-of-age story is that it allows readers to look back on and reflect on the past.
This process of exploration is not just a matter of a specific time, but permeates our entire lives.
Bildungsroman is literally for those who are 'growing up'.
This book demonstrates the obvious proposition that good coming-of-age literature is not just for teenagers.

Author's Note

I always try to remember that some of the teenagers who read this book and watch the show will one day become welders, tailors, soldiers, sailors, and so on.
Some people may get lost along the way, but others may wish that the road was twice as long.
Some people may like to joke around, while others may long to fall in love.
Some will feel far ahead of the game, while others will struggle to catch up.
Some people are happy to be different, while others are afraid of standing out from the crowd.
Some people hide the marks of their lover's kisses, others hide the bruises.
People who secretly care for someone, people who cry silently, people who are noisy rebels, people who fight quietly, people who admire celebrities, people who want to be famous, people who feel special.
Everyone is finding their own path, their own way of 'getting old'.

Don't let anyone fool you.
You have just the amount of time you need to 'get your act together'.
Isn't it inevitable? If you can just stick your head out of the sand and get out, your life will always be filled with joy, love, thrills, and adventure.