The Cabby's daughter

Bess, a girl in her teens, and her father, Jack Tillick, live in Mayhill, a former gold town in the Australian bush. It is the year 1903. Jack drives a cab: once he was the best cabby in town, but now he likes the pubs too much. And he hates the new motor cars!

This moving story shows how Bess, after the death of her mother, tries to defend her father against the world and against himself. Her fight to keep the family together - and to buy a stone for her mother's grave - would be almost too rough, were it not for her friendship with the son of the prison warder, Wattie, the boy next door. She has many dramatic encounters: with a talkative stranger in a deserted hut, with a superstitious pawnbroker, and with a certain lady widely known as The Huntsman.

But there are good times too, and laughter. For there's also Horrie, Bess's very earthly young brother, and Gran Tillick, the crazy scavenger. Not to forget Antonia the wallaby, who belongs to Wattie.

In this tale of love and courage David Martin, one of Australia's foremost writers for young people, again shows his compassionate concern for all who must battle to survive