![]() The sentences ramble on, with erratic punctuation (which kids would probably enjoy), but it is never confusing. The poetic format makes it physically very easy to read, too. It was never confusing whose chapter it was, but I thought each character narrated in the same tone and language, almost as if Billy were telling their stories, too.īeautiful style, good characters and story, and an excellent one to get young readers started on, with its many types of language, metaphors, descriptive phrases, etc. He scavenges McDonald’s left-overs, adopts “Old Bill” (probably still in his 40s, but from the vantage point of a 16-year-old kid, that’s old), and squats in the old railroad carriage next to Old Bill’s adopted accommodation.Ĭhapters alternate between Billy, Old Bill, and later Caitlin, a 17-year-old McDonald’s employee, daughter of a local well-to-do family. It's the sort of place he probably first read about hobos and dreamed about adventure. ![]() He doesn’t have much, but he has his freedom and has found a friendly local library where he’s allowed to sit and read to his heart’s content-so he does. No arty rhymes or fancy rhythms, just a flowing, straight-forward, thoughtful story.īilly is a 16-year old kid who’s walked out on his drunk, abusive father and hopped a train, in the tradition of the old-time hobos ridin’ the rails. ![]() ![]() The layout is long, slender strings of free verse. What an absolutely delightful Aussie book this is for both adults and young readers. ![]()
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