Jon Gamble (text), Caroline Rittie (illus), The Field of Hum, Karuna Publishing, May 2018, 184pp., $17.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9780975247372
Here is a story with many threads. Teenage Ruby and her parents live on a farm with their animals – Ruby has two cats, a guinea pig, rabbits, chickens and sheep. The farm is under threat from a mining company which has a license to explore for coal in the whole region. Ruby and her parents are worried about losing the farm, and Ruby is determined to save it. Between a book of Romantic era poetry she finds in the attic, and learning to communicate with her animals, Ruby puts a plan into action to save the region from the threat of coal mining.
This is a well-intentioned book with a message of peace, tolerance and environmental preservation. Although it is never explicitly stated, it is likely that Ruby and her family live in the Southern Highlands of NSW. It also seems likely that Ruby is on the autism spectrum, and she is a positive example of turning this to her advantage in her quest to save her farm. There are moments in the story where the author shows a good turn of phrase, and this book provides an accessible introduction to some of the Romantic poets. However, there are some typographical and punctuation errors, and the overall structure of the book could be tightened and the flow improved.
Teachers Notes can be found on the Field of Hum website.
Reviewed by Rebecca Kemble