'GUNNEDAH HERO'
by
CLANCY TUCKER
- BOOK REVIEW -
G'day folks,
Well, here is a top 5-star book review from a recent guest on my blog - Diana Sobolewski from Canada. This was my first book and it went on to win two awards in the Australian National Literary Awards - as a paperback and as a manuscript. Many thanks to Diana for taking the time to not only purchase my book, but also to read it and write a review on Amazon.
So, here it is ...
So, here it is ...
Customer
Review
By Amazon Customer on February 27,
2018
Fourteen year old Gunnedah 'Gunnie' Danson inherits a manuscript written
by his great-great-great grandfather. As he's reading about Smokey 'Gun'
Danson's adventure when he was exactly the same age, Gunnie takes us along for
the ride.
Award-winning Australian author Clancy Tucker tells two stories at once going seamlessly between drought-ravaged Australia in 1910 and modern-day Australia where farmers also face hardships due to drought. And Mr. Tucker involves the reader with the lives of the two boys simultaneously.
Tasked with a job that would normally have been undertaken by older 'drovers' Smokey moves cattle away from his homestead Wiralee Station to a destination many towns away with only his trusty dogs, a pack-horse and the horse he rides. Along the way he learns the value of his animals, to trust his instincts, and the meaning of friendship. In the process, he is introduced to Aboriginal 'bush magic' for food and medicine. Smokey's journey is fraught with danger; the terrain, the elements, wild life and some unscrupulous characters. But the young man finds his inner strength and shoulders his burden well to surpass the expectations of family, friends and his love interest Molly.
With a selfless act and guided by a true sense of what is the right thing to do, Smokey is rewarded for his good deed and recognized for the hero that he is. That in turn allows him to repay some kindnesses and ensure that his family's land and homestead withstand the threat of drought in the future, and that the family business thrives for generations to come.
Gunnie reading Smokey's detailed account from Wiralee Station, the exact place his great-great-great grandfather had been so passionate about, comes to share in that passion. When Wiralee is under threat once more, Gunnie vows to protect it and Smokey reaches out from the past to help.
Gunnedah Hero is about perseverance, respect, generosity and believing in yourself; woven into a delightful, heartwarming, hopeful tale that is just plain fun to read. The author infuses the story with 'Aussie' expressions and vivid descriptions that really bring it to life and give it that sense of time and place.
I think this book is classroom-worthy. I would also encourage adults to read it and to get it for the young people in the family. What a wonderful way to encourage young people to read and bring about some great discussion.
Love ya work Mr. Clancy Tucker and I'll be reading the sequel 'A Drover's Blanket' next!
Award-winning Australian author Clancy Tucker tells two stories at once going seamlessly between drought-ravaged Australia in 1910 and modern-day Australia where farmers also face hardships due to drought. And Mr. Tucker involves the reader with the lives of the two boys simultaneously.
Tasked with a job that would normally have been undertaken by older 'drovers' Smokey moves cattle away from his homestead Wiralee Station to a destination many towns away with only his trusty dogs, a pack-horse and the horse he rides. Along the way he learns the value of his animals, to trust his instincts, and the meaning of friendship. In the process, he is introduced to Aboriginal 'bush magic' for food and medicine. Smokey's journey is fraught with danger; the terrain, the elements, wild life and some unscrupulous characters. But the young man finds his inner strength and shoulders his burden well to surpass the expectations of family, friends and his love interest Molly.
With a selfless act and guided by a true sense of what is the right thing to do, Smokey is rewarded for his good deed and recognized for the hero that he is. That in turn allows him to repay some kindnesses and ensure that his family's land and homestead withstand the threat of drought in the future, and that the family business thrives for generations to come.
Gunnie reading Smokey's detailed account from Wiralee Station, the exact place his great-great-great grandfather had been so passionate about, comes to share in that passion. When Wiralee is under threat once more, Gunnie vows to protect it and Smokey reaches out from the past to help.
Gunnedah Hero is about perseverance, respect, generosity and believing in yourself; woven into a delightful, heartwarming, hopeful tale that is just plain fun to read. The author infuses the story with 'Aussie' expressions and vivid descriptions that really bring it to life and give it that sense of time and place.
I think this book is classroom-worthy. I would also encourage adults to read it and to get it for the young people in the family. What a wonderful way to encourage young people to read and bring about some great discussion.
Love ya work Mr. Clancy Tucker and I'll be reading the sequel 'A Drover's Blanket' next!
BOOK'S BLURB:
Fourteen-year-old Gunnedah ‘Gunnie’ Danson has a 500-word assignment on drought. His late grandfather has left him a box containing a manuscript. It’s been written by Gunnie’s great-great-grandfather, Smokey ‘Gun’ Danson after his journey up the long paddock during a harsh drought as a fourteen-year-old drover in 1910. At the back of the manuscript is an envelope. It’s NOT to be opened until Gunnie has read the entire story.
Gunnie spends the weekend at Wiralee Station; a cattle station that’s been in the family since 1848. There, he reads the awesome manuscript and learns of Smokey’s adventurous journey.
Gunnie overhears several secretive conversations. His snobby Aunty Kate wants to divorce his uncle and sell Wiralee Station. He finishes the manuscript and opens the mysterious envelope. Will it legally prevent his aunt from selling Wiralee Station?
DIANA SOBOLEWSKI
AMAZON REVIEW PAGE
Clancy's comment: Many thanks to Diana for a splendid review. Love ya work, Diana Sobolewski. Gunnedah Hero should soon be a movie, so watch this space. Paperbacks and e-books are available. Just head up to the right hand side of this page and buy a copy. You won't regret it.
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