Sun on the Stubble

From the classic Australian children's author. Originally published in 1961, this is the coming-of-age story of a boy and his immigrant family in Depression-era Australia: Bruno Gunther lives on a farm in South Australia, where adventures spring up like wheat shoots. He has to cope with his stern dad, his mother and family--and trickiest of all is the new teacher in town, who is too alert for comfort. Then there are the local arguments, that all seem to flare up around complicated bits of machinery, like water pumps and cars. All they really need is a little help from Bruno to sort everything out . . . .

This novel and three others by Thiele inspired an Australian TV series, 'Sun on the Stubble': The Valley Between, Uncle Gustav's Ghosts & The Shadow on the Hills.