Customer Reviews (1)

Poetry
"By the River" is a novel written in poetic verse.The story of Harry Hodby is told through small glimpses into his life.One poem about sitting with his friend Linda listening to her read stories she's written, another poem about weeding the patch of daisies that grow at her grave site a year later.We learn Harry's story: his friends, his family, the town where he lives, and his thoughts on life through the most poignant little scenes.I love all of Herrick's works.His characters are so relatable and vulnerable.Each poem is written in the way my thoughts run: slightly disjointed and rambling, but with a clear idea or emotion behind it all.By the river will take you into the mind of a young teenage boy who is learning about friendship, love, family and himself.I highly recommend this book, and I would also like to recommend my favorite Steven Herrick novel: "The Simple Gift". ... Read more

Product Description

I'm not proud.
I'm sixteen, and soon
to be homeless.

Weary of his life with his alcoholic, abusive father, sixteen-year-old Billy packs a few belongings and hits the road, hoping for something better than what he left behind. He finds a home in an abandoned freight train outside a small town, where he falls in love with rich, restless Caitlin and befriends a fellow train resident, "Old Bill," who slowly reveals a tragic past. When Billy is given a gift that changes everything, he learns not only to how forge his own path in life, but the real meaning of family. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Poetry
I was not expecting to enjoy this book nearly as much as I did.It surprised me at first to discover that the story was written in a poetic form, but this simply enhanced the entire experience.I was truely touched by the simple pure relationships formed between the characters.Herrick doesn't weigh down the plot with too many detailed descriptions.The characters and events of the story speak for themselves.Each 'scene' stands on its own as a glimpse into the lives of the three characters.This book is highly reccomended to any readers who are prepared to sit back and enjoy a heart warming, thoughtful book.

Richie's Picks: THE SIMPLE GIFT
In a counterpoint to THE LORD OF THE FLIES, and other grim tales where a lack of structure or authority leads to chaos and harshness and evil intent, Australian author Steven Herrick has created a world in which a young man striving for autonomy is able to attain an idyllic existence away from the rule makers and the rule breakers.

When sixteen-year-old Billy Luckett packs a few things (including the old man's booze and cigarettes) into his schoolbag, says good-bye to his dog, and walks out of the house, he doesn't know where he will end up. But Billy's certain that anything will beat living with his abusive father.

"Please don't tell what train I'm on
And they won't know what route I've gone"
--Elizabeth Cotton, "Freight Train"

Hopping a westbound freight train in a teeming rain, Billy immediately crosses paths with the first of a series of characters who will each enrich and transform his life with their kindness, and who will each in turn take something away themselves for having been able to see through Billy's exterior.

"Men...........Billy

There are men like Ernie,
the train driver, in this world.
Men who don't boss you around
and don't ask prying questions
and don't get bitter
at anyone different from them.
Men who share a drink and food
and a warm cabin
when they don't have to.
Men who know the value of things
like an old boat
built for long weekends on a lake.
Men who see something happening
and know if it's right
or wrong
and aren't afraid to make that call.
There are men like Ernie
and
there are other men,
men like my dad."

"When we came to the station all the trains were rusty
The doors were open and the windows broken in
There was grass in all the cracks and the air hung musty
The travel posters were flapping in the wind"
--Al Stewart, "Apple Cider Re Constitution

Billy reaches the end of the run at an old railroad town named Bendarat, and takes refuge in a lovely old abandoned train car. When he purchases a lemonade at the McDonald's in town, and proceeds to gather himself a fine meal from what fellow diners leave behind, he meets Caitlin, a well-off teenage schoolgirl who is working for The Clown as a way to gain her own measure of independence, in her case, from doting parents.

"Caitlin and mopping...Caitlin

When I first saw what he did
I wanted to go up
and say,
'Put that food back.'
But how stupid is that?
It was going in the rubbish
until he claimed it.
So I watched him.
He was very calm.
He didn't look worried
about being caught
or ashamed of stealing scraps.
He looked relaxed,
as though he knew he had to eat
and this was the easiest way.
I had work to do,
mopping the floor,
which I hate,
so I mopped slowly
and watched.
He read the paper
until the family left,
then helped himself to dessert,
and as he walked back to his table,
holding the apple pie,
he looked up and saw me
watching him.
He stood over his table
waiting for me to do something.
He stood there
almost daring me to get the Manager,
who I hate
almost as much as I hate mopping.
So I smiled at him.
I smiled and said,
'I hate mopping.'
He sat in his chair
and smiled back
and I felt good
that I hadn't called the Manager.
I kept mopping.
He finished his dessert,
came over to me,
looked at my badge,
looked straight at me,
and said, 'Goodnight, Caitlin,'
and he walked out,
slow and steady,
and so calm, so calm."

The story's third principal voice and pivotal character is Old Bill, an alcohol-dependent hobo with long grey hair and beard who inhabits a nearby train carriage along the string he facetiously refers to as 'The Bendarat Hilton.'

"Sorry..........Old Bill

I feel sorry
for swearing at the kid,
abusing him for bringing me breakfast,
Breakfast! Of all things.
A good kid,
living like a bum
and I knew he'd need money,
even bums need money to live.
So this morning, early,
far too bloody early for me,
I knock on his door
to return the bowl and spoon
and he opens it slowly,
invites me in,
and I tell him
about the Cannery and work.
How every Monday during the season
they offer work,
and if he needs money
that's the place to go,
and he says,
'Sure, great. Let's go.'
And because I'm still sorry
about swearing at him
I find myself
walking to the Cannery
with the kid
looking for work,
work I don't need,
or want.
Walking with the kid
early Monday morning."

"Every happy ending needs to have a start."
--The Moody Blues "You Can Never Go Home"

As we're uncovering the tales of how they got to those bad spaces in which we first meet them, Billy and Old Bill are moving inexorably forward and upward as a result of their relationship with each other. Caitlin is a genuinely likable girl whose difficulties--while not in the same league with those of Billy and Old Bill--will ring true to teen readers who desire, like she does, to be accepted for who they really are. I have great affection for THE SIMPLE GIFT's fairy tale-like sensibilities and for the story's message (that harkens back to the Sixties) about avoiding the rule breakers and rule makers and, instead, paying attention to treating people kindly. A quick and enjoyable easy-reading verse novel imported from Australia and published in paperback, THE SIMPLE GIFT is a Great Escape Package I can highly recommend.

... Read more

Product Description
Cowards don't always hide. Sometimes they're so gutless they need to stand out.'

Eddie doesn't want to be in school, he wants to work in the mine. But his dad won't go down the coal pits and he won't let his sons go either.

Nothing much happens in Burruga, except for fights at the pub. Then one Friday night a girl is found dead by the river, and every man in the town comes under suspicion. Eddie is drawn into secrets and a bitter struggle for revenge.

Steven Herrick deftly reveals a cast of vivid characters in this chilling story of malice, power, and the courage to forgive. A riveting new YA novel from the author of By the River and other popular, award-winning books.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A chilling murder in a small town.
Burruga is a small mining town located in Australia. The most exciting thing that happens are the fights at the local pubs. That is, until a local girl, Colleen, is found murdered. Now, among the townspeople there lives a murderer. The question is who? Could it be Albert Holding, a man who refuses to go to the mine? Or maybe the murderer was one of his sons, Eddie or Larry? Perhaps the murderer is Mr. Butcher, who mysteriously disappears every weekend. Or what about Mayor Paley, who loves talking about his victory. Then again, no one else wanted the position of mayor.

Cold Skin is a story told in verse. This helps create an intense atmosphere that goes perfect with the storyline. Another thing to know about Cold Skin is that there are about 8-10 different point of views. Each point of view was about a short 1-2 pages. For a book that's less than 300 pages, that can seem like too much in a little amount of space, but Herrick effectively incorporated them in the book. The many point of views helps readers get an idea of what Burruga and its people are like. Herrick did a great job creating Burruga. Not only is Burruga a realistic town, but it's also distinctive which really sets it apart from other fictional towns.

The different point of views also meant that guessing the murderer was hard. Once the murderer was revealed, I was shocked! I was not really shocked at who the murderer was, but rather how the murderer was caught and who caught him/her.While overall, the many point of views and the verse worked effectively, there were a few problems. Following the different point of views could be confusing. Several times I had to go back and remember exactly who was who. Because of the verse, several parts of the book have to read slowly and carefully. Otherwise, readers will miss important details. Having said that the pros of using different point of views and verse greatly exceeded the cons.

Very Good
Cold Skin is a quietly riveting novel in verse. Herrick builds tension by alternating points of view; each character has a vested interest in the outcome of the murder that shakes up the town, and not one sees things in the same light as another. In that regard, Eddie stands out in the crowd, provoking sympathy with his protective, simple ways. A solid mystery, Cold Skin is also a story about family ties, and facing the consequences of one's actions. I was irrevocably drawn in from page one and never thought of putting it down until all had been resolved. Bravo to Front Street for producing a book that has a relevant cover, and for the quality of the book itself.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Set in a small Australian town and the area surrounding it, COLD SKIN is the story of brothers Eddie and Larry Holding, their parents, friends, and townspeople.What ties them together besides community connections is the disappearance and murder of a young girl.

Eddie Holding is on the edge of adulthood.He'll be finished with school soon, and his dream is to put his size and strength to good use by working in the mines.It's a dangerous occupation and his father disapproves, but for years Eddie has watched the local young men leave school to work the difficult job and make a decent wage.His father, on the other hand, fought hard in the war and then came home to do a boy's job working at chore-like jobs for a neighboring farmer.Eddie has never understood why his father puts up with ridicule from the locals about his cowardly job.

An observer of people, Eddie watches those around him.

He watches as his older brother Larry drinks himself into a stupor each night at the local bar and then comes home to vomit in the garden and snore in bed until morning.There's the local mayor who never got a chance to fight in the war with the rest of the town's men.He spends his time bragging about his uncontested victory and gathering votes to assure he continues as leader of the town.Mr. Butcher, a high school teacher, leads a mysterious double life.During the week he teaches at the local high school and each weekend heads to the city.Eddie decides to follow his teacher one weekend and discovers he has a fondness for young girls.And speaking of young girls, Eddie experiences his first love with Sally and, at the same time, fantasizes about Colleen, whose disappearance and death tear apart the town.

Author Steven Herrick tells the story of Burruga, Australia, in prose verse.The alternating view points give readers a glimpse into the minds and hearts of all the characters.Young Eddie guides the fast-paced story and provides the connections necessary to understand the people of this tiny town.

Reviewed by:Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Lucy is worn down by the physical and emotional abuse from her father. Nothing she ever does is right. Her mother provides zero support by allowing her father to continue the abuse. Lucy feels as though she is totally alone.

Jake has a wonderful life and family. They work together on their Australian farm and enjoy each other's company. A story his father always tells is about when he saw The Wolf. His father was twenty years old when he saw what looked like a wolf while he was fishing. The wolf came to the creek to get a drink of water. They made eye contact and then the wolf ran away. His father never saw the wolf again. People say he never saw one at all. Wolves don't live in Australia, people say.

Recently, howling has been heard every night. Of course, Jake is thinking of the wolf, desperately wanting to see him for himself. He wants to be able to share the experience with his father and prove to everyone who has ever doubted him that his father was right all along.

Living in the same community, Lucy and Jake know each other. They just don't know each other well. One day Jake and Lucy see each other at the creek between their houses. They begin to talk about the wolf and wanting to see it. Lucy sees this as a way to escape from her abusive father and tells Jake she know where it lives. They make plans to leave the next morning to find it. Along the way they experience tragedy and discovery. Lucy realizes the strength she has inside and is able to use it help Jake in more ways than one.

Steven Herrick has written an emotional survival story. The alternating points of view allow the reader insight into each character. THE WOLF is told in verse, which moves the story at a fast pace. If you like stories dealing with family struggles and first love, this would be a good choice for you.

Reviewed by:Karin Perry ... Read more

Product Description
Herrick delves into the murky waters of a Year 6 classroom, complete with nerdy vegetarian teacher, Mr Carey. What a crazy class! And what a funny, unpredictable year the year of Naked Bunyip Dancing when the kids in class 6C find out who they are, what they re good at, and how to put on a fantastic show. This cast of likeable characters includes Mr Carey the Hairy, Billy the punk genius, J-man the rapper, Sophie the poet, Ahmet the soccer star, Jason the good kisser, Anna the yoga master, Peter the boy with the talking bottom, Emily the ballerina, Alex the artist, and Michael the salesman. With Carey the Hairy as their teacher, the students in class 6C are trying out strange, new activities from belly dancing to poetry jams. Mr Carey teaches the class with humor and grace- and the class of eleven and twelve year olds responds with eagerness and a passion for learning. Each student has a story to tell- and each student is valued, and encouraged to strive to excellence by the unconventional teacher. The night of the class concert will undoubtedly be one of the best nights of their lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good but not his best
Steven Herrick is a vastly underated author from Australia. Naked Bunyip Dancing is an easy to read and fun book for early teens. If you enjoy this book, seek out his 'By the River'. Much darker but wonderful imagery!

A wonderful free verse novel on adolescence and school
I had to read this for a graduate class and not being a fan of poetry made me assume that I would not like it. Well, I am glad to be proved wrong! I not only liked it, I absolutely loved it. In fact, as soon as I finished reading the loan book from my local library, I ordered one online as I would love to re-read it again and share it with others who might enjoy it. Yesterday, I read it aloud in the car and both my husband (who was driving) and kindergartener enjoyed it too!

The novel takes a look at class 6C in an Australian school (author/poet Steven Herrick is Australian). The students are anxious to meet their new teacher and when they do meet him, they are quite taken aback. Mr. Carey is unlike any other teacher they've had, with his unconventional approach to teaching (daily yoga sessions before lessons), and great love for poetry. As time progresses, each student begins to discover there's more to Mr. Carey than meets the eye, and discover individual strengths and hidden talents.

The novel is filled with humorous and at times poignant observations and the multiple point-of-view narration gives readers insight into each character. This is an excellent read aloud book and will inspire children (I would recommend this for ages 9 and up) to try their hand at composing free verse, and might just convert those previously averse to poetry! ... Read more

Product Description

I want to leave town

I want to leave town

I want to leave.

Jack and Annabel have decided to put off university and drive around the country. It all seems wildly romantic, but when their car dies two days into the trip, they end up at George1s apple orchard, figuring it1s just a temporary place to stay and earn some money.

And at first it is. They fill bins with tart, crunchy apples all day, and drink cold beers while snuggling in the hayloft at night. But then Jack recognizes something in George1s family that his own family suffered from. So Jack and Annabel decide to stay for a while. They1re not sure how to help, but the know they want to try¨ ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A bit of a letdown
this book is a bit of a letdown after love ghosts and nose hair.i didnt find the characters fresh, instead they were simply 2D cardboard figures.but the story deals with lifes problems, the ups and downs and its an ok book to read.i suggest u borrow it from a library

A verse novel for teenagers.
This book has been shortlisted for numerous awards in australia, and it's easy to see why. It's an easy-to-read verse novel for teenagers dealing with love, and self-image. This book is highly recommended for anybody whothinks that teenagers can't be excited and motivated by poetry. Well worthreading aloud to school classes. A unique and original novel for youngpeople. ... Read more

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Twelve-year-old Sam has soccer fever. He lives witheccentric Auntie Ashmara and Ronaldo his dog. His best friend isGoose, Captain of the local soccer team ... that is, until soccercrazed Jessica Bowles moves in next door. Sam soon discovers thatthere is more to life than just soccer... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a verse-novel for children
this story was wonderful - hard to believe that poetry can tell a story with so much power and enjoyment. This book shows children that poetry can utilize the storytelling medium as effectively as prose. a rare andvaluable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

poetry for the family
this is an excellent book. the poems are fantastic, and tell true stories about family life with humour, seriousness, and moments of great poignancy. Each poems echoes with the voice of young people, telling their story ofschool, family, and friends. ... Read more

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When it's their weekend to spend together, Joe and his dad watch the planes take off and imagine faraway destinations such as Brisbane, Darwin, Singapore, and Canada. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Poetry that children will love (& read aloud)!
A wonderful collection of poetry for children that is funny, touching, and thought-provoking. Written with honesty and an ear for the voice of children. The two poems about "Ten things your parents (&teachers)will never say to you" are simply classic! So nice to seepoetry that doesn't rhyme, but still speaks to children in an appropriatevoice. ... Read more

Product Description
father [fahdh] n. 1. someone who is meant to live with you, answer your questions, NOT watch soaps and most importantly take you to fatherson events. Jayden Hayden, wordsmith, a.k.a rhyming boy, doesnt have a dadjust a mum obsessed with Jayden Finch, the footballer, and an embarrassing name that gets him teased. When a school fatherson day is announced, Jaydens quest for answers becomes a puzzle he needs to solve, and quickly. Could Jayden Finch be more than just a footballer? With the help of his ananswertoeveryquestion friend Saskia, aims to track down his namesake and his father all in one go. From the awardwinning poet and author, Steven Herrick, comes a novel about a young boys search for family, friendship and wellfootballers. ... Read more

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I'm a normal guy.

An average sixteen-year-old.

I think about sex, sport, & nose hair.

Sex mostly.

Jack's got a lot on his mind: He's trying to figure out the mystery of the opposite sex, he can't stop wondering about facial hair, and he won't let go of his mother's ghost, even though she died seven years ago. Jack knows he can't hang on to the past forever, but what he doesn't know is how to let go.

Then he meets Annabel. She's beautiful, smart, and she gets him. Suddenly love makes sense, and the future seems hopeful. And for the first time, Jack feels ready to leave the past where it belongs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I Enjoyed It
I enjoyed this book very much.I am a fan of Steven Herrick's books in general, but I have to say this one is not my favorite of his works.If you are new to Steven Herrick I would recommend "The Simple Gift" which is my favorite.What I enjoy so much about all of his works is that while he writes in verse, the story unfolds quite clearly and naturally.The plot line isn't told directly, rather the story unfolds slowly through small scenes and images and thoughts from the characters.One snippet might be about one of the characters looking at herself in the mirror, but so much is said about the characters, their history and their emotions.The issues in all of his works, including this one, are very real to life, and in some ways very heavy, but they are not really depressing because the story is told in such a light simple way.This is such a different and refreshing way to read a book, please read this and other Steven Herrick stories because they are always beautiful. ... Read more

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Product Description
Word count: 1765. ... Read more