One of our New Gen Debuts of the Year 2011.

A stunning coming-of-age story with a gripping Australian outback setting and a strong and interesting plot.  Danny’s life is in turmoil: his older brother has recently died in a freak accident; his sister is pregnant and won’t say who the father is. Danny observes the profound changes in his family and finds refuge in training a camel and introducing the newly arrived girl from England into the ways of the outback. Passionate about the farm and particularly the cattle mustering, Danny captures the danger and excitement of the farm while also observing his family with affection and some confusion. A debut novel to look out for.

Synopsis

Danny Dawson lives in the middle of the Australian outback. His older brother Jonny was killed in an accident last year but no-one ever talks about it. And now it's time for the annual muster. The biggest event of the year on the cattle station, and a time to sort the men from the boys. But this year things will be different: because Jonny's gone and Danny's determined to prove he can fill his brother's shoes; because their fourteen-year-old sister is pregnant; because it's getting hotter and hotter and the rains won't come; and, because cracks are beginning to show...When Danny's mum admits she can't cope, the family hires a housegirl to help out - a wide-eyed English backpacker. She doesn't have a clue what she's let herself in for. And neither do they.

Reviews

'..Everybody Jam is an engrossing, edgy, fast-paced book and an extremely promising debut.' - Mal Peet, The Guardian

'Accessible, raw and honest' - The Bookbag

About the Author

Ali Lewis was born in rural North Yorkshire in 1976, the second of three children. Being cast as Rose Herriot in the final series of All Creatures Great and Small opened the door to a new world. After graduating from university, she went into a career in journalism, then in 2002 she left to travel the world. It was in Australia, working on an outback cattle station, that she found the inspiration for her first novel, Everybody Jam. Since her return, Ali worked as a features writer and now has moved on to work in public relations.   Ali talks about where she wrote Everybody Jam in this video: More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation