Blood

'Many of us have known for a long time what a wonderful storyteller Tony Birch is. Blood confirms it - and how. The terrain is hard, unflinching but also imbued with a deeply resonant humanism. For at its heart there is Jesse, the young narrator whose voice is urgent and compelling, sweet and direct.' Christos Tsiolkas 'Irresistibly compelling.' Sydney Morning Herald 'Nothing short of outstanding. Tony Birch could take home a few prizes, deservedly so. Blood is a humanist masterpiece that has been worth the wait.' Australian Book Review 'Blood keeps us on edge from the outset. Jesse is an endearing mix of love, cynicism, patience and survival instincts.' Good Reading 'A novel about what makes and what breaks a family. It is emotional. It is at turns tender and intense. It is a novel worth reading.' Avid Reader 'Darkly suffused with the gritty realism of young children doing it tough in a world of dysfunctional adults.' Sunday Canberra Times 'An absorbing and endearing tale of children in adversity. The story is told from Jesse's point of view, and Birch pulls this off beautifully with a compelling combination of flinty Australian vernacular and boyish candour. It's impressive stuff.' Weekend Australian 'This is a fractured fairytale, a dark Australian road story, but also an affecting tale about the bond between a brother and sister, and how the most unexpected people can transform lives. Birch delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense and engrossing characterisation in equal measures.' Readings Monthly 'The story is gripping, and I am in awe of Birch's ability to paint brilliant scenes and emotions with so few words.' Manly Daily 'The book explodes in its last third with equal parts exhilaration and dread, racing to a seemingly inevitable end that is awful, but not without hope, and leaves you bruised. A fantastic book.' Newcastle Herald