Following the death of her mother Lara is reunited with the father she hasn't seen since she was a toddler. He is kind and understanding but lives in the Australian Outback with his second wife and their four children He often has to spend long times away from home to earn a living. Not only does Lara's stepmother make it clear she is not welcome, but there is barely room for her (she sleeps on the verandah), and money is very tight. Even though there is some acceptance from her new siblings she has a difficult time at school where a cruel boy torments her on a daily basis, trying to force her to give him the cherished coin collection she had shared with her mother. Lara's only confidantes are an elderly Aboriginal storyteller and a beautiful dog, Thunderwith, the latter with whom she meets regularly on the hill near her house, and who seems to appear whenever she needs comfort. I would recommend this book to upper primary girls. There is a sequel to this book called Chrysalis which I have not read as yet. I must track it down. There is a movie about the book called Echo of Thunder. Here is a clip with Libby talking about her books.
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