All the Way Home

No Small Thing, Natale Ghent's sensitive novel of a boy and his search for love and identity, wowed critics, prize juries and young readers alike. Now All the Way Home picks up whereNo Small Thing ended, with another compelling story of Nat, his family and Smokey, their pony.    Nat's mom has sold their house so the family wil have enough money to board Smokey at a nearby stable. Although Nat's overjoyed about keeping Smokey, he’s not too sure if the new apartment is going to be like a real home. The move has brought a lot of changes, with Nat’s big sister, Cid, smoking and hanging out with tough new kids. Smokey’s new stable is great, and Queenie, Nat’s little sister, has fallen under the spell of English riding. But not even Smokey can take away Nat’s pain of knowing his father won’t be coming back, as he secretly plays with his dad’s old army rifle, which he found before the move. It’s when Nat’s mother becomes sick and he and his sisters find they may be removed by the social services agency that Nat takes things into his own hands. With Smokey’s help, Nat knows he can find his father.     Once again, Natale Ghent has written another gem, a book that speaks with the  natural voice of a boy on the brink of young adulthood. Hers are nuanced characters who resonate with young readers, their struggles presented with heart and humour, the story gripping until the last page.