Home and Other Hiding Places
Jack Ellis
A clear-eyed, big-hearted work of literary fiction, Home and Other Hiding Places is a stunning portrait of a boy navigating the world of adult secrets
Vivid.
Tender.
Poignant.
Pub Date
February 2022
Cost
$34.99
When eight-year-old Fin and his mum Lindy travel to spend Christmas with his Gran in Sydney, Fin assumes they’ll return to their isolated country property – the only home he’s ever known. But he soon discovers that this large and crumbling riverside house, surrounded by bush and unwelcoming neighbours, is his home now. As Lindy’s fragile emotions fracture under the weight of Gran’s disapproval and the pressure of old memories, Fin holds onto a tenderness of spirit and the simple clarity he has learnt from his isolation on the farm – an insight that hasn’t yet been clouded by the secret codes of adulthood. But as the life he has known crumbles around him, Fin learns that no-one is coming to his rescue, and he sets off on a journey to find his way home.
Format
Paperback
Extent
320pp
ISBN
9781761150074
Rights
ANZ
Category
Fiction
Themes
Family
Conflict
Secrets
Praise
‘I loved this wise, tender, funny novel. Fin, having won my heart, will live there forever.’
Fiona McFarlane
‘Home and Other Hiding Places is an astoundingly deep dive into the hearts and heartbreaks of one family – sharply observed, poignant and unputdownable.’
Felicity Castagna, author of No More Boats
‘This novel is full of adventure, humour and astute observations of human flaws. Full of defining moments. A real page-turner...’
City Hub
‘It is a special kind of novelist who can write about young characters yet still engage the adult reader. It’s also a special book that can handle the burden of what cover quotes are fond of labelling ‘warm-hearted’ or ‘big-hearted’ fiction. To me, such descriptions usually mean the kiss of death for credibility, but warm-heartedness is exactly what Jack Ellis’s Home and Other Hiding Places delivers, without lapsing into sentimentality.’
Australian Book Review
About the author
Jack Ellis is a writer and musician based in Sydney. His first novel, The Best Feeling of All, was published by Arcadia in 2014. He has also written for publications including ABC Online, Crikey, Women’s Health Magazine and Men’s Health Magazine. Jack studied classical composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Royal Conservatorium in the Hague. He later studied dispute resolution and law at the University of Technology, Sydney. For the past 10 years, he has worked as a Family Mediator. This work has given him an insight into the complexities of family relationships which has helped to shape his recent writing.