Wanderer

by Victor Kelleher

In a dangerous world where predators roam both land and sea, an orphaned young boatman, Dane, wanders alone. Faced with the terrors of the water and the ever-present threat of a warrior group called the Clan, he struggles to survive.
Along with his precious kayak, Dane has one other treasure: a much-loved book given to him by his mother, which is a source of comfort in the hardest of times.
When he encounters Garth, a book-loving old boat builder, and his amazing granddaughter Lana, everything changes, as he and Lana are pitched into a perilous quest that challenges all they hold dear.
The first middle-grade novel in many years, by one of Australia’s greatest storytellers, Wanderer is an exciting adventure set in a brilliantly-imagined world. It is also a lyrical love song to the power of books and stories.

Cover and internal illustrations by Lorena Carrington.

Genres: Young Adult

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2022

About the author

Victor Kelleher is an Australian author. Victor was born in London and moved to Africa with his parents, at the age of fifteen. He spent the next twenty years travelling and studying in Africa, before moving to New Zealand. Kelleher received a teaching degree in Africa and has taught in Africa, New Zealand and Australia. While in New Zealand, he began writing part time, prompted by homesickness for Africa. He moved to Australia in 1976, with his South African wife, Allison, and taught at the University of New England, in Armidale, New South Wales, before moving to Sydney to write full time. Many of the books he has written have been based on his childhood and his travellings in Africa.

Kelleher has won many awards for his books, such as the Australian Children's Book Award.

Reviews

[Anna Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this dystopian adventure story. A perfect read for fans of Bren MacDibble, the Grimsdon series and Hatchet.

[Sarah McCallan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit underwhelming. As a kid I loved Victor Kelleher books but I wasn’t super into this.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non stop action and incredible descriptions of nature and the elements. It is a long book, so best for more committed readers. Bloody too, so 10+

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

How wonderful to have a new Victor Kelleher book to read and this does not disappoint. It was so easy to get caught up in the story of Dane, the wanderer from the title, and Lana, his feisty but talented new friend as they set out on a quest for a better life in a future world run by a warrior group called the Clan.
Described as a “lyrical love song to the power of books and stories” it is also an exciting adventure story.