The year is 1859 and the Small family arrives in the Canterbury colony without a penny to their name. Mother and six children have a hard beginning to their new life - all the more since they are runaways from a cruel father and husband in Australia. But there are adventures ahead ...This long-established and well-loved classic by renowned author Elsie Locke was first published in 1965.

About the Author

Elsie Locke was born in 1912, in Hamilton; she passed away in 2001. Elsie has been described as a peace campaigner, environmentalist, novelist, historian, community worker and national treasure. Elsie was also a feminist and socialist who campaigned against nuclear weapons and wrote more than 20 books, including a number of historical novels for children and several social histories of NZ.