First half of this novel is quite shocking as Colm and other orphans from England are sent to WA in the 1950s. Here in a series of terrible boys ‘ homes, he is bashed and witnesses the death of another boy. He decides to run away and runs into Paddy (Billy Dare) who is now the old caretaker of the Fremantle Lunatic Asylum that’s empty. After falling ill, Paddy calls the doctor who threatens to turn Colm in, and so the two set off across Australia for 2 years – visiting outback towns, fixing the dingo fence and trying to protect the “stolen children”. Eventually Colm is passed on to Blue Delaney (Paddy’s daughter) for care.p.106 –110 up to “cried” When the children are stolen.