Timber Creek Station

Gr 8 Up—Originally published in the UK, this 2012 Carnegie Medal shortlist title is a peek into the Australian rancher's lifestyle. Danny lives on a cattle station and not only helps his family with the livestock but has to grapple with the recent death of his older brother and his older sister coming home from boarding school pregnant. Were these troubles not enough for the 13-year-old, Danny's mom hires a clueless English backpacker to help around the house right before the annual muster (roundup of livestock), Danny's favorite time of year. Drought, racism, and family strife run rampant in Danny's world and threaten to tear an already fragile family apart if they cannot work together to survive despite their misfortunes. Rife with Australian colloquialisms that can be figured out easily enough through context, this title toes the line between a difficult and compelling read. The abundant use of exposition may slow some readers down, but those who stay the course will be greatly rewarded in the end.