Ratoon

by Mark Morgan

In 1964 Michael Lamond was ten years old and surfing was the last thing on his mind. He lived a dull and stifling existence on a sugar cane farm in remote North Queensland and until his parents bought a holiday house on the coast he had no idea at all what life had to offer.

During the family’s first summer holiday a sequence of events was triggered that would forever change and influence Michael’s life. Through new found friendships he soon discovered a natural affinity with the ocean that allowed him to do things on a surfboard that no-one else had ever imagined possible. Michael’s surfing adventure almost ended before it began and his journey to the final of the local surfing competition takes him through the highs and lows of family conflict, tragedy, romance, and adventure, with plenty of surfing thrown into the mix. Living and surfing in the ’60’s, that was the life.

366 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2014

Reviews

[Steve Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific coming of age story about an Australian country boy who discovers a special talent for surfing. Ratoon is a beautifully written, moving and often very funny account of friendship, loss and discovery during the 1960s with a wonderful cast of characters. Very highly recommended.