This is a delightful book about seventeen-year old Hugh who goes on a road trip with his newly found, hippie grandfather, Poppy. Hugh is a self-confessed partial nerd (a ner or erd) who hates sport, plays chess, is a talented cellist with a bright future and comes from a rich, conservative family. However, he is obsessed with cars - especially Holden muscle cars. So when Poppy suggests Hugh takes him, and his 1969 HT Monaro GTS 350 V8, to Uluru to clock up some hours in his log book Hugh finds it impossible to refuse. On the way they make friends, and enemies, explore Australia's natural wonders and create a bond neither expected.

This book is a fun, fast paced, easy read written to wow testosterone pumped teenage boys. It does has a serious side dealing with coming of age, insecurities, friendship, family relations and death, but Poppy and Hugh are two wonderful characters who the reader can't help falling in love with. Their madcap antics and dialogue are delightful and I was hooked from the start. A refreshing read! ( )

Hugh's parents have always ensured that he has had only the best life - best schools, manners, friends and social life - and have his future at the conservatorium of music as Australia' finest young cello player, all mapped out for him. This is until his supposedly dead grandfather appears at his private school gates in hippy attire and spouting philosphies and a lifestyle that Hugh has been closed from his entire life. Despite his ultra-nerd tendencies, Hugh has a secret passion for cars, so when his grandfather asks him to drive a mint-condition Holden Monaro GTS from Sydney to Uluru, Hugh reluctantly agrees on the condition they are back in time for his critical audition. He knows he'll get lots of miles up as he's only a learner driver and he might also see some of the country that he's been sheltered from for so long. A great "road trip" novel where Hugh learns a lot about Poppy, his mother and his sister, and finally himself. There are wild car chases ( a hitchhiker called Bella is being pursued by a black Typhoon) gun shots, drunken parties, robbery by hitchiker, crimes of various degrees, busking, Elvis Presley tunes and much more - all set to the back drop of Australia's stunning if still "rough as guts" interior. For older students sue to swearing and sex.

Hugh has led a very privileged life, living in a better part of Sydney with very busy career-obsessed parents (but parents who have high expectations for their son). He is musically gifted and attends a private school. He also classes himself as a nerd, but one who loves cars, especially Holdens. This later fact he has learnt to keep a secret from everyone. Hugh's comfortable, well-mapped out direction is changed after his supposedly dead grandfather comes into his life. Hugh begins to see his grandfather (Poppy) and this is another secret he keeps from his parents. It seems a case of ‘genes will out’ because Poppy raced cars in an earlier life and hi’s most precious possession is a HT Monaro GTS 350 V8.
One week before the most important engagement of Hugh’s life, his audition for a musical scholarship at the Conservatorium, Poppy tells Hugh he wants to drive to Uluru in the Monaro and it must be now!
So Hugh suddenly decides to take the radical step to head off in the Holden with Poppy, with no planning or preparation, deviating from the path carefully laid out before him. This journey is an eye-opening one for him. He learns more about life and especially about himself, in the short time on the road to Uluru.
Their adventure into the outback proves to be an interesting, hair-raising and life-affirming voyage. ( )