Runt - Craig Silvey (Allen & Unwin, $24.99)
Reviewed by Louise Ward, Wardini Books
Craig Silvey, author of Jasper Jones and Honeybee, turns his skilled pen toward children's fiction in this novel for readers of about 8 years and up.
Annie Shearer lives on a sheep farm in the Australian town of Upson Downs. The town has had no rain for 300 days and its dustiness is exacerbated by a rich and greedy landowner diverting and hoarding water and buying up devastated farms. Annie is 11 years old, a fixer, and her trusty toolbelt is always attached. She wants to save her family's farm and realises that she has a secret weapon – Runt.
Runt is a dog, formerly the town's chief accidental criminal. Of unknown origin, Runt stole to survive until he met Annie, who was kind to him and offered him a home, and love. Clever, speedy Runt has eyes for no one else.
At the town fair, Annie stumbles across a dog agility competition and knows that Runt would ace it if only he would perform in front of other people. With the top prize of half a million dollars to be won at the Krumpets Dog Show in London, Annie embarks on a scheme to get herself and Runt there and to save her family. But how to make Runt perform when others are watching?
