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Harry Kruize, Born to Lose
Harry’s mum runs a boarding house for transient old men who are down on their luck. To counter his frustration and anger, Harry longs for the companionship of a dog. The Annual Gala at school features a dog hurdle race and more than anything in the world Harry would love to enter a dog into that race and win it. Such a win would give him a sense of worth and belonging.
A new lodger, Jack Ellis, befriends Harry and shares a wealth of outback adventure stories featuring dogs with him.
A new lodger, Jack Ellis, befriends Harry and shares a wealth of outback adventure stories featuring dogs with him.
224 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2017
About the author
Paul Collins
241 books92 followersPaul Collins has written many books, mostly for younger readers. He is best known for his fantasy and science fiction titles: The Jelindel Chronicles (Dragonlinks, Dragonfang, Dragonsight and Wardragon), and The Quentaris Chronicles ─ co-edited with Michael Pryor ─ (Swords of Quentaris, Slaves of Quentaris, Dragonlords of Quentaris, Princess of Shadows, The Forgotten Prince, Vampires of Quentaris and The Spell of Undoing). His trade books published in America are The Earthborn, The Skyborn and The Hiveborn.
Paul has edited many anthologies which include Trust Me!, Metaworlds and Australia’s first fantasy anthology, Dream Weavers. He also edited The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian SF&F.
Paul has been short-listed for many awards and has won the Inaugural Peter McNamara and the A Bertram Chandler awards, both of which were for lifetime achievement in science fiction, and the Aurealis and William Atheling awards.
His recent fantasy series is The World of Grrym (Allira’s Gift, Lords of Quibbitt and Morgassa’s Folly), in collaboration with Danny Willis. His latest YA book is The Only Game in the Galaxy, Book #3 in The Maximus Black Files.
His book, Slaves of Quentaris, features in 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die (UK, 2009).
Paul’s adult books are the anthology The Government in Exile and Cyberskin. His current adult horror novel, The Beckoning, Damnation Books (US) is available from http://tinyurl.com/ny6urwy.
Other than his writing, Paul is the publisher at Ford Street Publishing, publishing everything from picture books through to young adult literature, and he manages Creative Net, a speakers’ agency.
Paul’s websites are: www.paulcollins.com.au; www.fordstreetpublishing.com and www.fordstreetpublishing.com/cnet
Awards
1980s — 2000s a handful of nominations for Best Editor and Best Short Fiction in the Australian SF Achievement Awards
1999— Winner William Atheling Award for work on The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy; Shortlisted for the Aurealis Convenors’ Award.
2000— The Dog King, Notable Book Children’s Book Council; Shortlisted for the Clayton’s Award.
2001— Winner of the Aurealis Convenors’ Award (With Co-editor Meredith Costain) for Spinouts Bronze published by Pearson Education. Joint winner was Shaun Tan for The Lost Thing.
2002 — Winner of the inaugural Peter McNamara Award for lifetime achievement in SF.
2004 — Home Run (Illustrated by Connah Brecon), Notable Book, Children’s Book Council.
2009 -- Morgassa's Folly (in collaboration with Danny Willis), short-listed for the Chronos Award.
2010 -- The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler, short-listed for The Speech Pathology Award.
2011 -- The Glasshouse (illustrated by Jo Thompson) chosen by international IBBY as an Outstanding Book; short-listed for the CBC's Crichton Award.
2011 --Awarded the A Bertram Chandler Award for Lifetime Achievement in Australian Science Fiction.
Paul has edited many anthologies which include Trust Me!, Metaworlds and Australia’s first fantasy anthology, Dream Weavers. He also edited The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian SF&F.
Paul has been short-listed for many awards and has won the Inaugural Peter McNamara and the A Bertram Chandler awards, both of which were for lifetime achievement in science fiction, and the Aurealis and William Atheling awards.
His recent fantasy series is The World of Grrym (Allira’s Gift, Lords of Quibbitt and Morgassa’s Folly), in collaboration with Danny Willis. His latest YA book is The Only Game in the Galaxy, Book #3 in The Maximus Black Files.
His book, Slaves of Quentaris, features in 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die (UK, 2009).
Paul’s adult books are the anthology The Government in Exile and Cyberskin. His current adult horror novel, The Beckoning, Damnation Books (US) is available from http://tinyurl.com/ny6urwy.
Other than his writing, Paul is the publisher at Ford Street Publishing, publishing everything from picture books through to young adult literature, and he manages Creative Net, a speakers’ agency.
Paul’s websites are: www.paulcollins.com.au; www.fordstreetpublishing.com and www.fordstreetpublishing.com/cnet
Awards
1980s — 2000s a handful of nominations for Best Editor and Best Short Fiction in the Australian SF Achievement Awards
1999— Winner William Atheling Award for work on The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy; Shortlisted for the Aurealis Convenors’ Award.
2000— The Dog King, Notable Book Children’s Book Council; Shortlisted for the Clayton’s Award.
2001— Winner of the Aurealis Convenors’ Award (With Co-editor Meredith Costain) for Spinouts Bronze published by Pearson Education. Joint winner was Shaun Tan for The Lost Thing.
2002 — Winner of the inaugural Peter McNamara Award for lifetime achievement in SF.
2004 — Home Run (Illustrated by Connah Brecon), Notable Book, Children’s Book Council.
2009 -- Morgassa's Folly (in collaboration with Danny Willis), short-listed for the Chronos Award.
2010 -- The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler, short-listed for The Speech Pathology Award.
2011 -- The Glasshouse (illustrated by Jo Thompson) chosen by international IBBY as an Outstanding Book; short-listed for the CBC's Crichton Award.
2011 --Awarded the A Bertram Chandler Award for Lifetime Achievement in Australian Science Fiction.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 7, 2017
This is a peppy little tale told in epistolary style through Harry's diary entries. Harry is short, friendless and terrorised by the local bully, Brick. His life feels empty and meaningless since his dad left. He is convinced a dog will fill the void but is flat out convincing his mum, his more than ineffectual psychologist, Fitzy and Mr Granger, his English teacher that he is mentally equipped and able to have one. When old Jack Ellis turns up and begins sharing stories about the bush and his dogs with him, Harry's wishes slowly begin to materialise and his sense of belonging and purpose reinstall.
There is an inviting air of mystery and speculation about this tale that approaches the topics of bullying, friendship, loyalty with a gentle yet ever twisting hand. There is also a powerful message esconded within Harry's dog obsession and increasing disillusionment that teenage boys in particular but also dog lovers and many tween readers will find solace in. My only slight grievance was the choice of front cover image. It simply did not portray Harry Hobbit as I envisaged him but of course that is purely subjective. Top read for 11 yrs +.
There is an inviting air of mystery and speculation about this tale that approaches the topics of bullying, friendship, loyalty with a gentle yet ever twisting hand. There is also a powerful message esconded within Harry's dog obsession and increasing disillusionment that teenage boys in particular but also dog lovers and many tween readers will find solace in. My only slight grievance was the choice of front cover image. It simply did not portray Harry Hobbit as I envisaged him but of course that is purely subjective. Top read for 11 yrs +.
April 13, 2017
Harry Kruize, Born to Lose
Paul Collins
Publisher: Ford Street Publishing
Format: Paperback Demographic: Upper primary and above
RRP: $17.95 ISBN: 9781925272628
Reviewer: Tia Harris
Harry Kruize, Born to Lose is as much a collection of (and tribute to) Australiana as it is a contemporary Aussie kids’ story. The story, presented in journal form, contains a number of short stories adapted from Henry Lawson’s classic yarns, with a brace of Paul Collins’s own additions, wrapped up in a compelling frame narrative about the title character, Harry Kruize.
The Lawson stories selected for this book all prominently feature dogs, as do the two ‘new’ ones Collins includes. ‘The Dog That Never Was’ in particular feels right at home amongst these stories, with just the right mix of mystery, humour, and a firm historical setting so characteristic of Aussie bush yarns.
The work’s greatest strength lies in its characterisation, which is as efficient as it is compelling. Particularly impressive is Collins’s ability to give each of the many dogs appearing in the story a distinct personality.
Much of the development of the human characters is done through voice, both in the narration and the dialogue. Which of the major characters is speaking at any given time is immediately recognisable from their voice alone, which is a great technical accomplishment and really helps to flesh out and distinguish each character.
Collins’s creative use of font in particular adds to the characterisation of the main narrator and title character. Along with the informal, diary format, this also contributes to making the story an exceedingly easy read, as key words are picked out and emphasised in a manner appropriate to the speaker. While the work does contain some serious issues, the going never gets too heavy, thanks in part to Harry’s unique approach to life.
The denouement is, of course, masterful.
Harry Kruize, Born to Lose breathes new life into Lawson’s tales, and is a worthy addition to any collection of children’s books. I’d recommend it for upper-primary school children, particularly any who like dogs.
Paul Collins
Publisher: Ford Street Publishing
Format: Paperback Demographic: Upper primary and above
RRP: $17.95 ISBN: 9781925272628
Reviewer: Tia Harris
Harry Kruize, Born to Lose is as much a collection of (and tribute to) Australiana as it is a contemporary Aussie kids’ story. The story, presented in journal form, contains a number of short stories adapted from Henry Lawson’s classic yarns, with a brace of Paul Collins’s own additions, wrapped up in a compelling frame narrative about the title character, Harry Kruize.
The Lawson stories selected for this book all prominently feature dogs, as do the two ‘new’ ones Collins includes. ‘The Dog That Never Was’ in particular feels right at home amongst these stories, with just the right mix of mystery, humour, and a firm historical setting so characteristic of Aussie bush yarns.
The work’s greatest strength lies in its characterisation, which is as efficient as it is compelling. Particularly impressive is Collins’s ability to give each of the many dogs appearing in the story a distinct personality.
Much of the development of the human characters is done through voice, both in the narration and the dialogue. Which of the major characters is speaking at any given time is immediately recognisable from their voice alone, which is a great technical accomplishment and really helps to flesh out and distinguish each character.
Collins’s creative use of font in particular adds to the characterisation of the main narrator and title character. Along with the informal, diary format, this also contributes to making the story an exceedingly easy read, as key words are picked out and emphasised in a manner appropriate to the speaker. While the work does contain some serious issues, the going never gets too heavy, thanks in part to Harry’s unique approach to life.
The denouement is, of course, masterful.
Harry Kruize, Born to Lose breathes new life into Lawson’s tales, and is a worthy addition to any collection of children’s books. I’d recommend it for upper-primary school children, particularly any who like dogs.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews