Runt

Runt is a ragged looking dog. He doesn't have a home and roams about the country town of Upson Downs scavenging for food. That is until he finds Annie Shearer and they become best friends. Eleven year old Annie lives on a sheep farm with her parents, Bryan and Susie, her brother Max and her grandma Dolly. Times are hard on the farm and the family is in debt. A large landowner in the area controls the water supply and want to purchase their farm. Annie desperately looks for some way to assist her family.

Annie discovers that Runt has a special talent for tackling agility courses however he will not perform in front of an audience. Annie must find a way of resolving this challenge if Runt is to take part in dog agility competitions and win prize money that will help save the farm.

My eleven year old grandson and I have enjoyed reading and discussing Runt by Craig Silvey. The book is a delight to read. Themes in the novel include the importance of family, friendship, tolerance, resilience, strength of human spirit, acceptance and learning to be yourself. The book deserves the awards it has won including the Australian Book Industry Award, Children's Book Council Award and Indie Book Awards for 2023 as well as the Dymocks' Book of the Year for Younger Readers 2022.

In 2025, Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping - the sequel to Runt - by Craig Silvey was published. My grandson enthusiastically read this book with me and enjoyed trying to anticipate what will happen next, as well as who the baddie is. 

Runt has been dognapped and will only be returned if Annie wins the dog championships to be held at Upson Downs. With Runt missing Annie has to find and train another dog. Fortunately Annie and her family are looking after a dog, also named Annie, and the two Annies train to enter the dance section of the dog show.

Throughout the book we learn not only about the current events in the town but also additional information about events that occurred in the the initial book, Runt. We also learn the story about the mystery of Runt's disappearance. This is another fun book to read with lots of amusing situations and characters.