A Small Free Kiss in the Dark

Description

Skip's an outsider, a quiet observer. He draws pictures to make sense of the world. He's never fitted in. So he takes to the streets. Life there may be hard, but it's better than the one he's left, especially when he teams up with old Billy. Then come the bombs which leave little Max in his care, and also Tia, the sad dancer, with her sweet baby, Sixpence. Scavenging for food, living on love and imagination...how long can Skip's fragile new family hold out as war grips the city?

Glenda Millard began thinking about the main character for this book after noticing a newspaper headline about 'urban tribes', and she wondered what life would be like for a young homeless boy, living with people thrown together in circumstances beyond their control. While the backdrop for this story is war, her intention was to capture the indomitable nature of hope. Glenda has written picture books, short stories and novels for children and young adults. The Naming of Tishkin Silk was an Honour Book in the 2004 CBC Awards and shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards. Layla Queen of Hearts was a winner in the 2007 Queensland Premier's Awards and was shortlisted in the CBC awards. Kaito's Cloth was also shortlisted in the 2007 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards.

This book shows how the kindness of strangers can often be purest, and how those who have nothing can be the richest people in the world.'name to come, age 15It made me think about what was important in life.'Keely, age 13