The Apostle Bird is a beguiling tale set in Noltenius Creek, Southern Australia, during the bleak 1930s where scratching for gold is the only hope of survival for Neil's ailing family. They have fallen on hard times, and as Neil struggles with the bitterness he feels about his change of lifestyle he becomes entranced by the mysterious Kitty. At first he lacks the confidence to fight his only friend--the bullying Humphrey--for her affections, but just as the apostle bird of the title strengthens and flourishes following its brush with death, so too does Neil as he gains respect for himself, and from Kitty. Garry Disher cleverly uses the backdrop of a harsh, cruel landscape to echo the emotions of a boy about to face his own personal demons, making The Apostle Bird a poignant and intelligent novel that glistens as brightly as the gold that is hidden in Noltenius Creek. -- Susan Harrison

 

This book is part of a book series called Signature Series .

There are 122 pages in this book. This book was published 1998 by Hodder & Stoughton Childrens Division .

Garry Disher is one of Australia s best-known novelists. He s published over forty books in a range of genres, including crime, children s books, and Australian history. His Hal Challis and Wyatt crime series are also published in the United States by Soho Crime. He lives on the Mornington Peninsula, southeast of Melbourne.