About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is grappling with the weight of family responsibility or feeling like an outsider within their own home. It is a powerful choice for families navigating periods of financial stress or significant life changes, offering a lyrical and metaphorical look at how different people cope with hardship. Set during the Great Depression in Australia, the story follows Harper Flute as she watches her younger brother, Tin, literally burrow into the earth to escape the world's harshness. Through a blend of historical realism and haunting magical realism, the novel explores themes of resilience, sibling bonds, and the diverse ways humans seek safety when life feels precarious. It is best suited for mature readers aged 12 and up due to its sophisticated prose and somber themes of poverty and neglect. Parents will appreciate the book's deep empathy and its ability to spark profound conversations about mental health and the different 'tunnels' we all build to survive.
