Kids into Books: Dead Man's Head

Author: Jack Lasenby

Illustrator: David Elliot, Jenny Cooper

Publisher: Longacre Press, $14.95

Age: 10+ years


"Show us your penny?" Pete James asked, and Denny brought out the thin, copper disc. Pete's had been under a few goods trains, but they didn't count, not like the Express. Joe, his twin, looked and whistled.

Both Pete and Joe had blue eyes, and, when they were excited, their fair hair stuck up like the rough coat on a horse. Their father used to work for Old Man Wilson but got the sack when he said he was going to vote Labour.

"I'm not having any red-fed Bolshy working for me," Old Man Wilson told Mr James. "your'e down the road." Jobs were scarce because of the Depression, but Denny's father got Mr James into the milk-powder factory, and Pete and Joe now lived a couple of houses from Denny.

He was pleased because that made five of them in Seddon Street, enough for a gang. Besides, pete reckoned Joe could talk to horses. That's why he didn't say much to people, Pete told Denny.