In the dojo, Olive discovers her empowering strength. Outside, she faces her greatest challenge.
Sixteen-year-old Olive has always been an outsider and when her family uproots her from the bustling city to sleepy Buxton, she's sure her life is over. That is, until she stumbles upon a local martial arts, karate school.
The dojo becomes Olive's sanctuary, and her natural talent catches everyone's eye-especially Boyan, the enigmatic adopted son of her sensei. As Olive and Boyan's connection deepens, she realises he's fighting battles of his own.
But just as Olive begins to find her footing, a devastating secret threatens everything she's built. Now, she must summon every ounce of her newfound strength to fight for her place in a world that seems determined to push her out.
Osu is a gripping, empowering coming-of-age-tale of self-acceptance, resilience, and the transformative power of finding where you belong.
In this unforgettable debut, Sensei Sarhn reminds us that the stories we tell ourselves can be our greatest enemy-or our most powerful ally.**2025 Wishing Shelf International Book Awards - Silver Winner in the category 'Teens'
Editorial Reviews"Sarhn compels Olive to rely on the emotional strength and discipline she's learned in karate to finally come to terms with who she is and who she can become, a sweet moment of victory that readers will relish being part of. Osu not only captures the struggles of adolescence-both silly and monumental-but also celebrates the victory of forging one's path."
- Publishers Weekly
"The heroine's relationship to karate, paired with the dash of romance, social commentary, and interpersonal conflict, adds to its complexity and makes for a poignant reading experience. Sarhn skillfully conveys the subtleties and frustrations of training in martial arts, ensuring appeal to a broad range of readers, even if they've never set foot in a dojo."
- BookLife Fiction Book Prize
"Osu is more than a coming-of-age novel, it's a powerful call to strength, self-discovery, and the quiet courage of belonging. With lyrical prose and deep emotional insight, Sensei Sarhn crafts a story that is both grounded and elevated, real and transformative. Sixteen-year-old Olive is a heroine readers will root for as she navigates the complexities of identity, change, and inner power. The dojo scenes pulse with authenticity, clearly drawn from the author's lived experience in martial arts, and every moment of challenge becomes an opportunity for growth, both on and off the mat. What makes Osu truly unforgettable is its message: greatness isn't about being extraordinary, it's about choosing to rise, again and again, with heart."
- Marianne Pestana, ABC Radio Show 'Moments with Marianne'
"An empowering tale of adventure and personal growth, 'Osu' offers a deeply moving portrayal of self-acceptance and resilience. Truly uplifting!"
- Curtis Lewsey, coauthor of Appreciation Marketing
"Thought-provoking, empowering, uplifting and wonderfully entertaining. 'Osu' stands as a beacon of hope to my daughters' generation."
- Sherree Sparks, TV Presenter
"'Osu' echoes the empath's journey with rich spiritual undertones and a path of self-awareness. A wonderful read."
- Psychic-junkie.com
Sarhn, Sensei: - Renowned and highly trusted in the 1990s and 2000s for her striking and distinctive flair as a professional photographer, Sarhn photographed four Australian Prime Ministers, immortalised numerous celebrities, and vividly captured a plethora of sporting legends through her lens.After retiring her camera, Sarhn followed her passion for martial arts into founding a karate dojo, channelling her desire into making a profound and positive impact on the lives of her students. Imparting invaluable life skills such as strength of character, compassion, respect, self-awareness, focus, courage, self-acceptance, determination, discipline, and confidence.Her commitment to empower the next generation is now vividly captured in her debut novel Osu, where she continues her mission to inspire healthy self-image and resilience in young adults and teenagers.
