A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard

A Teen Novel About Homelessness, Resilience and Hope

Feb 1, 2009

Australian author Glenda Millard's reputation for producing thoughtful and thought-provoking stories continues in her latest teen novel about a homeless youth.

Glenda Millard brings together an unusual teenage boy, a long time homeless man, a boy separated from his mother by an unexpected war and a vulnerable and fragile teenage mother to explore issues of homelessness, hope, friendship, loyalty and courage in her latest novel A Small Free Kiss in the Dark (Allen & Unwin, 2009)

Skip is a young teen whose life has left him feeling isolated and out of sync with those around him. Deserted or neglected in different ways by his mother, father and the foster care system, Skip decides to live on the streets.

Not long after leaving home, Skip meets Bill, an older man whose own family tragedy led him to live a homeless lifestyle many decades before. Skip’s life has just started to take on a daily routine when it is turned upside down by an outbreak of war that results in the bombing of the city where he lives.

Taking refuge in the State Library, Skip and Bill meet Max, a young boy whose mother promised to collect him from the library on the day that the bombing began. When it becomes clear that Max’s mother will not be coming, Bill and Skip include Max in their patchwork family unit and take him with them to find a place where they can be safe. They take refuge at a fun park, where they meet a fragile teenage dancer named Tia and her baby daughter Sixpence.

Together, this group of damaged and hurt individuals learn that family has more to do with choice than birth and that the people that society regards as the weakest can sometimes prove themselves to be the most courageous.

A Story of Homelessness, Isolation and Choice

From the outset of the novel it is clear that while Skip is incredibly observant, he does not view the world in the same way as most people around him. He is obviously intelligent and artistically gifted. He is keenly attuned to the effects of light and shadow and interprets most things in terms of colour including the sounds of voices, emotions and everyday experiences.

As with the other main characters, Skip is someone that society in general would regard as a little strange and not necessarily of value. As the story progresses and the main characters meet and learn to trust each other, they demonstrate that appearances and generalisations cannot encompass the true worth of an individual.

A Challenging Book for Thoughtful Readers

Readers of Millard’s previous titles, such as the picture book The Heart of the Tiger (Scholastic, 2004) or the children’s novels series The Naming of Tishkin Silk (ABC Books, 2003) and Layla, Queen of Hearts (ABC Books, 2006), will not be surprised to discover that her latest novel offers much food for thought.

As with Reinhardt Jung’s Bambert’s Book of Missing Stories (Egmont, 2008), A Small Free Kiss in the Dark is best suited to younger teen readers who enjoy reading books with greater depth and complexity. It is ideal for inspiring high school class discussions about homelessness, courage and the nature of hope. Teachers discussion notes are available from the Allen & Unwin website.

A Small Free Kiss in the Dark is more than an examination of human resilience and survival instinct in a wartime setting. It is a novel that explores the human need for emotional connection and a sense of hope in the future and the self-sacrifice on several levels that can be inspired by love, loyalty and a sense of justice. It is ultimately a story of hope and a celebration of the worth of the individual, no matter what their appearance or background.

The copyright of the article A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard in Australian Literature is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.