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'Twelve-and-a-half-year-old Henry Hoey Hobson is drowning in the dangerous waters of Year Seven. He arrives at his sixth school in as many years, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, to discover that he is the only boy in the grade. The tiny school in inner-city Brisbane has lost most of its older boys to bigger Catholic colleges, leaving only a trio of male misfits a year below him, and in his year, an intimidating all-female line-up.
'Fatherless, friendless and non-Catholic, Henry earns a reputation as a vampire on his first day, when ill-fitting braces make his mouth bleed. His mum, Lydia, is no help - she's running around town, in bright red platform heels and a skirt that's too short and too tight, chasing a pot of gold at the end of a real estate rainbow. Due to a recent growth spurt, Henry towers over his tiny, doll-like mum and swings between feeling protective and angry that she has abandoned him to his fate as a Perpetual Sucker.
'To make matters worse, a pack of weirdos moves in next door. Manny, Vee, Caleb and Anders are creatures of the night. With their pale skin, black clothing and eerie coffin, they freak out the local kids. When they befriend Henry, they drive a stake through the heart of any chance he might have had of fitting in.
'Henry's only chance to redeem himself is the school swimming carnival. But first he must deal with the withdrawn and tortured Anders' attempts to overcome his own dark past and earn a place in the light, at Henry's side.
'Finally, Henry and his motley cheer squad must choose how they want to live their lives. Is living life at the margins enough for any of them?' (From the publisher's website.)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Also dyslexic edition
Works about this Work
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The Children's Book Council of Australia Judges' Report 2011 : Book of the Year : Younger Readers - Short List Books
2011
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Childrens' Book Council of Australia , August vol. 55 no. 3 2011; (p. 6)
— Review of Henry Hoey Hobson 2010 single work children's fiction ; Duck for a Day 2010 single work children's fiction ; Toppling 2010 single work children's fiction -
Judged By More than Their Covers
2011
single work
column
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 16 April 2011; (p. 50-51) -
Henry Hoey Hobson by Christine Bongers
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: Buzz Words , September 2010;
— Review of Henry Hoey Hobson 2010 single work children's fiction -
Christine Bongers – Author Interview
2010
single work
interview
— Appears in: The Australian Literature Review , August 2010; -
[Review] Henry Hoey Hobson
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , November vol. 54 no. 4 2010; (p. 32-33)
— Review of Henry Hoey Hobson 2010 single work children's fiction
-
[Review] Henry Hoey Hobson
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: Bookseller + Publisher Magazine , July vol. 89 no. 9 2010; (p. 41)
— Review of Henry Hoey Hobson 2010 single work children's fiction -
[Review] Henry Hoey Hobson
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: Magpies :Talking About Books for Children , July vol. 25 no. 3 2010; (p. 34)
— Review of Henry Hoey Hobson 2010 single work children's fiction -
[Review] Henry Hoey Hobson
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: Viewpoint : On Books for Young Adults , Spring vol. 18 no. 3 2010; (p. 45)
— Review of Henry Hoey Hobson 2010 single work children's fiction -
[Review] Henry Hoey Hobson
2010
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia , November vol. 54 no. 4 2010; (p. 32-33)
— Review of Henry Hoey Hobson 2010 single work children's fiction -
The Children's Book Council of Australia Judges' Report 2011 : Book of the Year : Younger Readers - Short List Books
2011
single work
review
— Appears in: Reading Time : The Journal of the Childrens' Book Council of Australia , August vol. 55 no. 3 2011; (p. 6)
— Review of Henry Hoey Hobson 2010 single work children's fiction ; Duck for a Day 2010 single work children's fiction ; Toppling 2010 single work children's fiction -
Snapshot : Christine Bongers
2010
single work
column
— Appears in: Brisbane News , 1 - 7 September no. 799 2010; (p. 7) -
Judged By More than Their Covers
2011
single work
column
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 16 April 2011; (p. 50-51) -
Christine Bongers – Author Interview
2010
single work
interview
— Appears in: The Australian Literature Review , August 2010;