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Different
A Different Boy
'The ship was a towering fortress looming over the pier. Anton stared enviously at the emigrants lining up in front of the wide gangplank. Heading off on a voyage to a land of peace and plenty. Leaving the land of broken buildings and crushed hopes behind. Looking forward to sunshine and steaks. How he wished that he was one of the lucky ones.' Loosely based on Paul Jennings' journey to Australia as a 'ten pound Pom', the story of Anton, who escapes from an orphanage and successfully stows away on a boat headed for the land of 'sunshine and steaks' has a timeless reality of its own. It is a tale of loss, guilt, mistaken identity and taking risks but also surprisingly heartwarming and heartbreaking. Perfect for reluctant readers in upper primary and lower secondary, it speaks of loss, migration, reslience and courage. Beautifully illustrated by Geoff Kelly
96 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2018
4 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Paul Jennings
280 books363 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 30, 2019
This is not your typical Paul Jennings fayre. Gone is his usual crazy humour... replaced with an edgy seriousness more akin to possibly Michael Morpurgo - although even that might not be a great comparison! The story is certainly easy to read, like Morpurgo, but there is an undercurrent of darkness which you wouldn’t necessarily find in the Englishman’s writing.
Anton manages to escape a harsh orphanage after the death of his parents and boards a ship to the New Land, thanks to a chance encounter with a mother and her son. But all is not as it seems with these two and Anton learns a shocking truth as he risks his life to keep his future alive.
Anton manages to escape a harsh orphanage after the death of his parents and boards a ship to the New Land, thanks to a chance encounter with a mother and her son. But all is not as it seems with these two and Anton learns a shocking truth as he risks his life to keep his future alive.
December 13, 2018
An exciting story to encourage reluctant readers to stay with it to the end, by a master storyteller. Plenty of heart jolting surprises, some sadness and an ultimate happy ending.
June 26, 2019
Totally gripping. Clever and really well written. Pacy and punchy.
October 5, 2018
Episodic short novel that feels like a prequel to more... the start of an emigrant's story.
I must start by saying that I never knew Paul Jennings was the creator of the 'Round the Twist' stories (TV series from my childhood) and am going to source out a copy of Unseen! post haste. So glad to know it.
This will be my first Jennings, I believe. It felt like a short Morpurgo story, very focused on a troubled boy and his sad life and circumstances, with some coincidences, kindness and cruelty in equal measure bringing the plot on.
Anton is an orphan, his mother lately dead of drowning, and arrives at Wolfdog Hall to be educated and kept by the state. Taking immediately against cruel masters and bullying students, it is not long before he escapes the torturous place and ends up wistfully gazing at a ship bound for Australia, with hope surely on the horizon ahead of it... but can he possibly find a way on board?
The story is in two neat halves, the first a very short stay at Wolfdog Hall, which I was almost disappointed not to see lengthened and elaborated on, the second on board the ship. This could have been a full-length novel, with either setting as the sole location.
Jennings tells the story in a straightforward manner, mostly in Anton's present but with a few references back to scenes in the past. A lot happens in 100 pages, in which Anton manages to meet a new friend and get on board accidentally and becomes involved in another grieving family's life, changing his own forever in the process.
Revelations and scenes of danger flash up quickly, it's all resolved rather quickly, the story is left open to further episodes showing Anton's future life at a later date. I'd be interested to know what his new country has in store for him.
There are a few black and white illustrations and chapters are short, making this ideal for readers in primary school whose concentration needs regular breaks.
The story is set, I believe, around the end of World War II, with emigrants leaving the country, shell-shocked after losses of homes and family members, which may make for a useful segue into the era for primary teachers - this would make an appropriate and appealing class read over a week or two.
For ages 9 and above.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a sample reading copy.
I must start by saying that I never knew Paul Jennings was the creator of the 'Round the Twist' stories (TV series from my childhood) and am going to source out a copy of Unseen! post haste. So glad to know it.
This will be my first Jennings, I believe. It felt like a short Morpurgo story, very focused on a troubled boy and his sad life and circumstances, with some coincidences, kindness and cruelty in equal measure bringing the plot on.
Anton is an orphan, his mother lately dead of drowning, and arrives at Wolfdog Hall to be educated and kept by the state. Taking immediately against cruel masters and bullying students, it is not long before he escapes the torturous place and ends up wistfully gazing at a ship bound for Australia, with hope surely on the horizon ahead of it... but can he possibly find a way on board?
The story is in two neat halves, the first a very short stay at Wolfdog Hall, which I was almost disappointed not to see lengthened and elaborated on, the second on board the ship. This could have been a full-length novel, with either setting as the sole location.
Jennings tells the story in a straightforward manner, mostly in Anton's present but with a few references back to scenes in the past. A lot happens in 100 pages, in which Anton manages to meet a new friend and get on board accidentally and becomes involved in another grieving family's life, changing his own forever in the process.
Revelations and scenes of danger flash up quickly, it's all resolved rather quickly, the story is left open to further episodes showing Anton's future life at a later date. I'd be interested to know what his new country has in store for him.
There are a few black and white illustrations and chapters are short, making this ideal for readers in primary school whose concentration needs regular breaks.
The story is set, I believe, around the end of World War II, with emigrants leaving the country, shell-shocked after losses of homes and family members, which may make for a useful segue into the era for primary teachers - this would make an appropriate and appealing class read over a week or two.
For ages 9 and above.
With thanks to the publisher for providing a sample reading copy.
November 13, 2018
When Anton Muller arrives at Wolfdog Hall, he knows it is a terrible place. The only thing he will learn in his classes is how to survive the bullies and the strict teacher’s punishments. His dead father’s words sound in his head. “If you’ve got a bad deal, get out of it and move on.” And he does just that.
With a constant fear of being chased, hunted down and discovered he finds himself on a migrant ship heading for a better life. He is still grieving for his mum, knows no-one, and has no food or shelter. He’s scared too because he’s heard what happens to stowaways.
There are others on the ship who are also grieving and searching for a better future. A mother and son have lost someone too, and soon see Anton’s need and kindness. After learning Anton’s past, the mother takes him under her wing, hoping he can help her with her mentally challenged son.
It’s only after Anton is in an accident does she learn what happened the night her other son died. Anton is just as shocked as she is, but can finally see a real chance at a bright future.
Another great story for reluctant readers – especially boys, with a surprise twist at the end. At only 102 pages, it is not too challenging, and will capture a reader early in the story. I felt for Anton and his plight, and then the woman and her son who had lost his twin brother. It is also a topical story, portraying kindness between strangers, which our world needs in its ever-growing migrant crisis.
With a constant fear of being chased, hunted down and discovered he finds himself on a migrant ship heading for a better life. He is still grieving for his mum, knows no-one, and has no food or shelter. He’s scared too because he’s heard what happens to stowaways.
There are others on the ship who are also grieving and searching for a better future. A mother and son have lost someone too, and soon see Anton’s need and kindness. After learning Anton’s past, the mother takes him under her wing, hoping he can help her with her mentally challenged son.
It’s only after Anton is in an accident does she learn what happened the night her other son died. Anton is just as shocked as she is, but can finally see a real chance at a bright future.
Another great story for reluctant readers – especially boys, with a surprise twist at the end. At only 102 pages, it is not too challenging, and will capture a reader early in the story. I felt for Anton and his plight, and then the woman and her son who had lost his twin brother. It is also a topical story, portraying kindness between strangers, which our world needs in its ever-growing migrant crisis.
September 11, 2018
Paul Jennings has done it again. This carefully crafted book has emotional resonance, complexity in narrative, and is wrapped in an engaging and approachable narrative that would suit ages 8 and up. It is a simple story, but adds complexity with alternating points of view. Anton the orphan runs away, somewhat inadvertently, and finds himself a stowaway on a ship to the "New Land". There he meets Max, a boy who is has his own struggles - with learning and reading and life in general. Max's mother cares for Anton, planning to adopt him as her own when they arrive at their destination. Then a near-tragedy changes everything. I don't want to give away anything because I like to be spoiler free, but there will definitely be tugging on the heartstrings as this tale reveals its secrets to the reader.
Absolutely recommended and a lovely companion to the earlier A Different Dog by the same author.
Absolutely recommended and a lovely companion to the earlier A Different Dog by the same author.
June 26, 2023
I recently finished A Different Dog and wanted to see how this fit/compared. I thoroughly enjoyed Anton's story at the start. I liked his independence, the description of life in Wolfdog Hall, the mysterious Promised Land and the wonder of how he might manage to remain undiscovered. Meeting Max, their developing friendship. I enjoyed things right up until Anton's misadventure upon the ship. After that, it all wrapped up much too quickly and too much seemed to hinge on the "big reveal". So I enjoyed the first 80 pages more than Dog, but the ending probably took it half a star down. On to A Different Land
September 11, 2018
There is a brevity of language in Jenning’s books in this “Different” series that makes every word significant. In the same way that A Different Dog made us think and feel, so too does this novel. It really is remarkable that there is such depth in such a short book. After the death of his mother Anton is placed in an orphanage and it does not take him long to realise that this place will crush his spirit. Following his gut feeling he escapes and finds refuge with another family, a mother and son, as a stowaway on a boat bound for Australia. Of course, as one would expect with Paul Jennings nothing is quite as it seems and there is definitely a twist in the story. With themes of loss, grief, abandonment, resilience, bravery and migration it is suitable for 10+.
Teacher’s Notes: https://www.allenandunwin.com/documen...
Teacher’s Notes: https://www.allenandunwin.com/documen...
October 5, 2018
This story feels timeless and placeless. Really lovely. Plus the woodcut illustrations are gorgeous!
Jennings spins a small tale of a huge journey, exploring themes of friendship, family, responsibility, hope and self-worth. Rather a lot for such a slim book, but nicely done. I’d recommend for ages 10+ (or a very mature 8 or 9 - my 9 year old loved it, and has been pestering me to read it for weeks!).
Jennings spins a small tale of a huge journey, exploring themes of friendship, family, responsibility, hope and self-worth. Rather a lot for such a slim book, but nicely done. I’d recommend for ages 10+ (or a very mature 8 or 9 - my 9 year old loved it, and has been pestering me to read it for weeks!).
February 18, 2019
Great short read - will appeal to boys and girls of all ages (and adults too). I brought this one for the school library - I have also read A Different Dog. This book touches on the aftermath of the war, immigration, family tragedy and friendship. Would be great if it was expanded into a longer novel.
September 16, 2018
For the most part I enjoyed this story. An orphan escaping a life that was less than appealing joins a mother and son escaping their own pain. While the ending wasn’t expected there were parts of it that were a little too neat, a little too much sunshine and roses. A good, quick read suitable for middle and upper primary students.
May 28, 2019
A short well crafted children’s novel based on the miserable aftermath of war ......and emigration.
For the most part I loved the brevity of language and poignant phrases.
I found the ending too neaty-neat and nicey-nice......however it is a children’s book.
The illustrations by Geoff Kelly are awesome.
For the most part I loved the brevity of language and poignant phrases.
I found the ending too neaty-neat and nicey-nice......however it is a children’s book.
The illustrations by Geoff Kelly are awesome.
November 23, 2018
A striking story, simply told, about young orphan Anton, and the terrible life he has in post-war England. There are plot twists and mysteries, and a satisfying ending. This book would suit younger readers who like to reflect on peoples' lives.
December 21, 2020
I liked this a lot better than A Different Dog, which I read at the end of last year. This is a simple and quick story about an orphan who escapes from an orphanage and ends up on a ship headed to Australia. More adventures ensue! Heartwarming in the way of all good children's stories.
April 27, 2021
Absolutely amazing.
You are invested and hooked from the very first page. The many twists in such a short story is very well done and every word, every event is significant.
A beautiful story of acceptance, love, what family is and adventure.
You are invested and hooked from the very first page. The many twists in such a short story is very well done and every word, every event is significant.
A beautiful story of acceptance, love, what family is and adventure.
December 19, 2022
Great little story, with a reminder of the difficulties for those with special learning needs. Paul Jennings Books usually involves humour and a twist at the end. Well there is a twist the humour is no longer there and this is a serious but pleasant story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2018
I will never outgrow Paul Jennings.
October 11, 2018
A simple and poignant tale, easy to read, about the life of an orphan after War
November 21, 2018
A really good short story with a twist you don't see coming.
December 18, 2018
Not my style of book.
January 1, 2019
Brief, but sweet story of an orphan who finds a family.
March 2, 2019
Short story that follows emigrant/stow away.
Easy read okay for younger readers. Longlisted for Carnegie Award.
Easy read okay for younger readers. Longlisted for Carnegie Award.
May 19, 2019
Nice short book, with a lot of complexities. My full review is here: https://mrskthinks.wordpress.com/2019...
July 25, 2020
This was a really nice story. I will be recommending it to my daughters.
March 18, 2021
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT.
FULLSTOP.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT.
FULLSTOP.
January 5, 2022
A dark and edgy story.
June 6, 2025
A very different book from Paul Jennings. It is a historical novel for children, and is well written, although I would have liked it to be fleshed out more. Another 20 pages would have added a lot of depth to the story.
The content may be a bit much for sensitive souls or those that have experienced trauma. Trigger Warnings for war, death of parents, drowning, house fires, being lost at sea, bullying and an intellectually disabled character.
Personally I'd recommend this for 10-12yos.
The content may be a bit much for sensitive souls or those that have experienced trauma. Trigger Warnings for war, death of parents, drowning, house fires, being lost at sea, bullying and an intellectually disabled character.
Personally I'd recommend this for 10-12yos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2022
A very different Paul Jennings book to his others, short and sweet
Read
November 1, 2018'If you've got a bad deal,' his father used to say, 'get out of it and move on.'
When he finds himself in a cruel orphanage Anton does just that, and hides on an ocean liner. Fear and desperation are his only companions. And this time there is no escape.
Or is there?
Two other passengers have secrets of their own. When nothing is what it seems, can they help each other? Or will they sink into a sea of troubles?
You'll never know. Until the last page.
When he finds himself in a cruel orphanage Anton does just that, and hides on an ocean liner. Fear and desperation are his only companions. And this time there is no escape.
Or is there?
Two other passengers have secrets of their own. When nothing is what it seems, can they help each other? Or will they sink into a sea of troubles?
You'll never know. Until the last page.
Read
April 8, 2019Available to borrow in the SEC at Harcourt Hill Library :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews