Image:Allen & Unwin, 2024
'You don't have to carry the weight of the world in your tool belt.'
Annie Shearer lives in the country town of Upson Downs with her best friend, an adopted stray dog called Runt. The two share a very special bond.
After years evading capture, Runt is remarkably fast and agile, perfect for herding runaway sheep. But when a greedy local landowner puts her family's home at risk, Annie directs Runt's extraordinary talents towards a different pursuit - winning the Agility Course Grand Championship at the lucrative Krumpets Dog Show in London.
However, there is a curious catch: Runt will only obey Annie's commands if nobody else is watching.
With all eyes on them, Annie and Runt must beat the odds and the fastest dogs in the world to save her farm.
Runt is a heart-warming and hilarious tale of kindness, friendship, hurdles, hoops, tunnels, see-saws, being yourself and bringing out the best in others.
Craig Silvey is an Australian novelist famous for his young adult books. Born in 1982, Silvey has become a hugely successful author, winning several awards. He has been deemed one of the Best Young Australian Novelists by The Syndey Morning Herald.
Silvey grew up in the south-western town of Dwellingup in Australia. His parents were both teachers in the Arts. After graduating from secondary education at Frederick Irwin Anglican School, Silvey chose not to proceed to higher education or university, but instead took on labour and cleaning jobs to fund his writing career.
Silvey published his first novel, “Rhubarb”, when he was just 19 years old in 2004. This first novel was hugely successful and gained much critical acclaim.
