THE RUNT BY CRAIG SILVEY AND PUBLISHED BY ALLEN & UNWIN

Runt is one of those books that makes you feel good inside. It’s the story of Annie Shearer, who likes to fix things and her quest to help save her family property from the clutches of a greedy, unscrupulous neighbour. Upson Downs is a small town that is shrinking even more because Earl Robert-Barren is intentionally blocking the flow of water through the area. Earl is a collector of things. He doesn’t necessarily need the things or even want to use them, he just has an unnatural desire to own them.

 Annie and her dog Runt, have a special bond. Because Runt spent the first part of his life dodging people trying to catch him, he is incredibly agile. He can work his way around any set of obstacles so quickly and with such ease, it’s a thing of beauty to watch. There’s just one catch – he will only ever do these feats of wonder just for Annie. If there is any kind of human audience he sits and doesn’t move, no matter what commands Annie tries.

 One day Annie overhears her parents discussing their double overdraft, and along with the threats from the horrible neighbour, she decides she must try and fix the situation. Also, in her spare time, she is trying to fix the drought and general lack of water by rebuilding her grandfather’s Rainmaker. She enters Runt into a regional agility course competition and against the odds, he wins. This means they are eligible to enter the Agility Course Grand Championships at Krumpets Dog Show in London.

 Annie has a seemingly overwhelming mountain of obstacles in the way of her dream. The cost of the airfare and accommodation in the UK, beating the wildly confident Fergus Fink and his whippet, Chariot and most of all, the audience. How will she and Runt manage it? Will her parents be able to keep the farm? Will the nasty Earl Robert-Barren stop harassing everyone?

 Craig Silvey’s middle grade novel is a lively tale of determination, family relationships and man’s best friend. I loved the references to Annie’s name, Shearer, and her family’s sheep herd, “Krumpets”, the famous British dog show and Earl the robber baron, oops, sorry, Robert-Barren. The illustrations throughout the book, by Sara Acton, are cheerful pictures that take the reader straight into the story. The little black and white vignettes add so much to the narrative. This is a gentle adventure with a positivity flowing through it that is instantly refreshing. The characters of Earl and Fergus, the dishonest and ruthless badies give a lovely counter balance to the positivity and enduring kindness of the inhabitants of Annie’s world. This is a must read for all gentle souls.

 For Ages: 8+ years

Number of Pages: 352 Hard back edition.

Published: October 2022 Allen & Unwin

Themes: Friendship, challenges in life and being yourself.

Purchase here: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Craig-Silvey-Runt-9781761067846