{"product_id":"9781922182074","title":"The True Story of Spit MacPhee","description":"\u003cp\u003eWinner of the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, 1987\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWinner of the Ethel Turner Prize, 1986\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHailed as an Australian \u003ci\u003eHuckleberry Finn\u003c\/i\u003e , \u003ci\u003eThe True Story of Spit MacPhee \u003c\/i\u003e is a timeless piece of literature. Originally published in 1986, and set in the 1930s in the fictional Murray River town of St Helen, it captures a time and place with a beautiful balance of realism and nostalgia.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen young Spit MacPhee comes to live with his grandfather, the people of St Helen fear for his future. Fyfe MacPhee is a crazy old man, and barefoot Spit has to fend for himself along the riverbank where they live. While some people feel that Spit can look after himself, others believe he'd be better cared for in a boys' home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Fyfe MacPhee dies, Spit becomes the subject of a court case that polarizes the town. But young Spit is a strong and resolute character, and can more than look after himself. When the truth about his life with his grandfather is revealed, no one is left unchanged. \u003ci\u003eThe True Story of Spit MacPhee \u003c\/i\u003e is a much-loved, quintessentially Australian novel for readers of all ages.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eJames Aldridge was\u003c\/b\u003e a multi-award winning Australian author. His 1995 novel \u003ci\u003eThe True Story of Lilli Stubeck \u003c\/i\u003e was the Children's Book Council book of the year. His novel \u003ci\u003eA Sporting Proposition\u003c\/i\u003e became the 1975 Disney film \u003ci\u003eRide a Wild Pony\u003c\/i\u003e . \u003ci\u003eSpit MacPhee \u003c\/i\u003e was adapted into a TV mini-series in 1988. James Aldridge died in early 2015.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Text Publishing Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47057338532080,"sku":"9781922182074","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781922182074_p0.jpg?v=1763632477","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781922182074","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}