Marty's Shadow by John Heffernan

I picked this one from Taminmin Library as it has a 'short listed' Children's Book Council of Australia medal on the front cover. I'm only one chapter in and the author has given me plenty of reasons to delve into chapter 2. So far there's a couple of abandoned teenage boys, fending for themselves; mum walked out seven years ago and dad is only home on weekends. Next, there's a love interest - Marty is intrigued by the bubbly and energetic new girl Nariah. And finally there's enough foreshadowing to reveal the protagonist as being handy with a hunting knife. There could well be a 'kill' down the track. Watch this space.