Keepinitreal is the name of Kid Kabula’s racing greyhound and it also describes his attitude to life. Throughout most of the book the Kid is fully expecting a bashing from Fatts Charvetto , chief of the Victory Rats, the local bikie gang. He just can’t seem to keep out of their way, so his relaxed attitude helps him through the day.
Stevie Goodes is the Kid’s friend and the main character in Keepinitreal. Stevie was found in a dumpster as a baby and brought up by Uncle Boffs and Aunty Pat. Look out for a big shock when he finds out who is really his father !
Readers will enjoy Stevie’s humorous and slightly cynical observations of life in the suburb of Victory Gardens. The characters remind me of the cast of the The Castle, Aussie “battlers” fighting against a system which seems designed to keep working class people in their place. Stevie and Uncle Boff are “scrapin ‘by”, collecting cans and other scrap for refunds at the Trojan Rd Recycling Centre, where, happily for Stevie , he is served by Helen, a girl with a beautiful smile. He looks forward to the day when he can actually think of something to say to her.
The humour of the book is balanced by Aunty Pat’s serious illness and the effect her death has on the remaining two members of their little family. The author has captured beautifully the slow days and feeling of grim inevitability of a family who are sitting by the bedside of a loved one who is dying.
Readers will enjoy Stevies’s slowly developing confidence as the Kid and Helen encourage him to take risks and to move out of his comfort zone.
I will be surprised if the CBCA doesn’t shortlist this one next year.
Stevie Goodes is the Kid’s friend and the main character in Keepinitreal. Stevie was found in a dumpster as a baby and brought up by Uncle Boffs and Aunty Pat. Look out for a big shock when he finds out who is really his father !
Readers will enjoy Stevie’s humorous and slightly cynical observations of life in the suburb of Victory Gardens. The characters remind me of the cast of the The Castle, Aussie “battlers” fighting against a system which seems designed to keep working class people in their place. Stevie and Uncle Boff are “scrapin ‘by”, collecting cans and other scrap for refunds at the Trojan Rd Recycling Centre, where, happily for Stevie , he is served by Helen, a girl with a beautiful smile. He looks forward to the day when he can actually think of something to say to her.
The humour of the book is balanced by Aunty Pat’s serious illness and the effect her death has on the remaining two members of their little family. The author has captured beautifully the slow days and feeling of grim inevitability of a family who are sitting by the bedside of a loved one who is dying.
Readers will enjoy Stevies’s slowly developing confidence as the Kid and Helen encourage him to take risks and to move out of his comfort zone.
I will be surprised if the CBCA doesn’t shortlist this one next year.
