The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton

The Shepherd's Hut

Tim Winton

A coming of age novel and a life changing adventure. Sixteen-year-old Jacksie sets off on foot and alone across the vast Western Australian wheatbelt. He needs to reach the one person left who loves and understands him - and he can't risk being caught by the authorities. I loved Jacksie's continual monologue and his language; crude and blunt perfectly matching his situation. You'll be rooting for Jacksie all the way. Brilliant!

Extract
The day the old life ended I sat up under the grandstand nursing me bung eye and hating on old Wankbag till the sun went down. Mum always went crook when I called him that behind his back. Captain Wankbag. The Captain. Or just Cap for short. Said that was no way to talk about your father, but it was no odds to me. That bucket of dog sick was a bastard to both of us, I wished he was dead. And right then I was praying for it.
Parallels
  • Young God by Katherine Faw Morris
  • The Boy behind the Curtain: Notes From an Australian Life by Tim Winton