The Black Dog Gang

by Robert Newton

With our bags full of rats, the five of us began walking towards the line. We'd gone only a few yards when a voice sounded off to our left.'What 'ave we 'ere, then?' it said.We turned our heads and say Bluey Lonnegan lifting himself up off a sandstone wall.'You're lookin' at the Black Dog Gang,' said Mickey.'No doubt ya heard a us?'The gang was Mickey's idea. We'd heard the rumours – rats were coming in off the ships and spreading disease. Then the government started offering tuppence a rat, so we decided to get stuck in. But we hadn't counted on someone getting sick. Or on Mickey's dad finding his rats chaining Mickey up. And what happened next . . . well, it would change things forever . . .

Genres: Young Adult, School, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2007

About the author

Robert Newton works as a full-time firefighter with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. His first novel, My Name is Will Thompson, was published in 2001. Since then he has written four other novels for young people, including Runner, which was published by Penguin in 2005. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and three daughters.

Reviews

[Ben Langdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book which combines historical and fictional elements. It was interesting enough for 12-13 year olds, but there isn't really any attempt to create fully realised characters. Quick pacing, interesting twists which showcase The Rocks of turn of the century (1900) Sydney.

[Riley · Rating 1 out of 5]

shit book

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the poor areas of the Rocks in Sydney in 1900, this is a story about friendship and hardship. Unlike other Newton novels that were for younger readers, this has the main character being (almost) seduced by his middle-aged next door neighbour who's husband has abandoned her and she has no choice but to prostitute herself in order to survive. It is the story of Frankie and his friendship with Michael, a boy who is beaten by his drunken father and eventually it gets so much that Mickey ( as he is known) takes the ultimate revenge and kills him. After doing so, he escapes on one of the ships and makes his way from Sydney. This story shows us how difficult life was for the poor in Sydney at this time. A hard and often violent and confronting book.

Set in 1900 in The Rocks area of Sydney this book explores with humour and a deft touch the lives of a group of young boys – The Black Dog Gang. Frankie is poor but loved, an intelligent child with a love of words, unlike his neighbour Mickey, a complex, troubled character, who is both neglected and abused by a violent father. Together the boys join forces with other local lads to make a place for themselves in what can be a harsh but exciting world of poverty, dirt and hard work. When the plague breaks out in the town the government offers money for captured rats in an effort to get rid of these disease carriers. But the boys, ever resourceful, decide perhaps breeding rats will be a quicker way of making money. This plan has dire consequences for Frankie’s family. Mickey meanwhile survives a series of brutal treatments at the hand of his father but there comes a point where he cannot take anymore. This is a story about family, friendship and loyalty. With accurate reference to time and place Newton has created an historical piece that rings true as an insight into life and its meaning in any time.

[Rhondda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast paced and gritty historical novel set in Sydney in 1900. It is also a story about friendship, loyalty and the bonds that can form in harsh conditions. The world the boys in the book inhabit is full of poverty, dirt and hard-work. Frankie Maguire relates the story of his gang. There are 5 boys from shabby inner city Sydney who form a friendship and bond together. They experience bullying and violence and name their gang after a pirate from the "Treasure Island" story.
At this time Sydney is panicked by an outbreak of Bubonic Plague and there is a bounty of 6 pence on rats. The boys set about making money by finding and catching rats. They come up with an interesting money-making scheme along the way. The era has been well-researched and the characters are believable and likeable. There are wonderful descriptions of school and family life and a rather gross description of the rats eating cats (our boys rather like that). The dialogue is also rich with colloquial language and terms of the time.
This is an interesting story about a time in Australian history that most us know little about today.

[Mark Grisham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this, I felt as if I was running through the alleys and streets of early Australia with Frankie and his mates. It was a brilliant book, its language and imagery drawing me into the world of the Black Dog Gang as they dealt with bullies, girls, sickness and worse. There were a couple of scenes that make this most appropriate for ages 12+.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A striking and moving fictional account, based on the bubonic plague outbreak in Sydney in the early 1900s due to extreme poverty and the rat plague. A group of boys decide to have some fun and band together to make desperately-needed money. They call themselves The Black Dog Gang. But is their decision a deadly one?

[Ben Langdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book which combines historical and fictional elements. It was interesting enough for 12-13 year olds, but there isn't really any attempt to create fully realised characters. Quick pacing, interesting twists which showcase The Rocks of turn of the century (1900) Sydney.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story clearly depicts the lives of families in Sydney in the 1900s and is a great book for anyone looking for a quick read.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was an amazing book, it was simple and unforgettable.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Powerful story!
The descriptions of the cruelty was very confronting.
Thought the ending a bit rushed and not very satisfying,

[D.A. Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific little tale of working class families in Sydney at the turn of the century. Great characters. Great adventures. A heart warming and tragic story of friendship. Teenage awkwardness and bravado, good guys, bad guys, and rats. I loved Frankie and I loved the ending, although I was sorry to reach the end. Surely, there are further stories to tell about Frankie and his life in The Rocks.

[Zoe G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for school and it was surprisingly good!

[Mary Refalo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an engaging read for adolescents. The language is quite accessible for Stage 4 readers and the plot, despite some 'cheap tricks' designed to compel readers early in the novel, has sufficient twist and turns to maintain reluctant readers.

The Black Dog Gang offers a realistic glimpse into the social and economic history of Sydney's The Rocks. It would fit into a range of theme studies, including identity, coming of age and friendship. There is an abundance of resources readily accessible to support readers in their study of this text.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. Ido recommend it. To me, it really showed what it was like in those days and how kids were treated and women as well

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very good book! It was a little bit yucky at the start, but besides that, it was very enjoyable!

[Will Clerk · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very good and taught me about what it was like back then

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read it for school, I probably would've liked it a bit more if it was for pleasure.

[Denis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have no recollection of the plot

[Ivana · Rating 4 out of 5]

REALLY GOOD . It was interesting and kinda touching how mickey was treated at home.

[FluffynCute · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've gotta read this for school, but omg page 10-11 ,just no, no, no, no, wouldn't read this ESPECIALLY if your not the one for inappropriate stuff. Like really his nextdoor neighbor is practically naked, and she just invites him to touch, to touch!! This is not grade 7 material.