Later that night, Violette chats with Bee and then Gigi and then checks Charlie’s Facebook page. He’s not much of a social networker except when @princec2 is rubbishing something on Twitter. Today he has a new update. He’s finished his A levels. Without cheating. But it’s Charlie’s new profile photo that Violette can’t help staring at. A brand-new travelling backpack with the dumbest-looking kangaroo sticker on it. The kangaroo’s saying ‘G’day.’

And Violette laughs so much she cries and thinks that maybe there is a God.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to my agent, Jill Grinberg, who reads my first drafts and always responds with a profound encouragement that makes me believe in the possibilities. And to everyone else at Jill Grinberg Literary Management: Cheryl Pientka, Katelyn Detweiler, Kirsten Wolf, Denise St. Pierre and Sophia Seidner.

Thank you to my Australian publisher, Ben Ball; editor Meredith Rose, and everyone at Penguin Random House Australia, present and past, who have played such an important part in my writing career.

And thanks to my US editor Asya Muchnick, and the rest of the Little Brown Mullholland team.

Thanks and appreciation to travel research companions, or readers of early drafts, or helpers with Arabic translations, French translations and UK terminology: Barbara Barclay, Marisa Donovan, Maria Boyd, Elizabeth Butterfield, Anthony Catanzariti, Paulette Catanzariti, Patrick Devery, Julia Garcia-Dubray, Laura Harris, Anthony Horowitz, Cécile Lederman, Daniela Marchetta, Adelina Marchetta, Jennifer Naughton, Norma Sarraf, Hannah Sheppard, Louise Smith, Brenda Souter, Joanna Werner, Jo Williams, Markus Zusak.

Big hugs and love to Bianca, Luca, Daniel and Harrison for the delight they bring into our lives.

And to my dog Jasper, a true companion during the writing of eight novels. Rest in peace, beautiful boy.

ALSO BY MELINA MARCHETTA

Looking for Alibrandi

Saving Francesca

On the Jellicoe Road

Finnikin of the Rock

The Piper’s Son

Froi of the Exiles

The Gorgon in the Gully

Quintana of Charyn

VIKING

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First published by Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd, 2016

Text copyright © Melina Marchetta, 2016

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ISBN: 978-1-76014-185-1