B.A. B.Ed. M.P.C.A
2
THE STORY OF TOM BRENNAN
Teaching Support Kit
CONTENTS
Notes on the author 3
Synopsis 4
Genre, structure and style 5
Background notes on alcohol abuse 6
Chapter summaries 7
Themes, motifs and symbols 17
Character analysis 22
Quotations 26
General discussion questions and activities 29
Essay questions 31
Oral assignments 32
Short written responses 33
Extension work 34
Appendix: How to plan a text response 35
These notes may be reproduced free of charge for use and study within
schools but they may not be reproduced (either in whole or in part) and
offered for commercial sale.
Visit www.randomhouse.com.au/readingguides for information on other
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Copyright © Random House Australia 2008
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NOTES ON THE AUTHOR
J.C. Burke was born in Sydney in 1965, the fourth of five daughters. With writers for
parents, she grew up in a world full of noise, drama and books, and the many colourful
characters who came to visit provided her with an endless supply of stories and
impersonations.
Burke decided to become a nurse after her mother lost a long battle with cancer.
She specialised in the field of Oncology, working in Haematology and Bone Marrow
Transplant Units in Australia and the UK.
A creative writing course at Sydney University led to a mentorship with Gary Crew
and the publication of Children’s Book Council Notable book White Lies (Lothian) in 2002.
Burke has since written The Red Cardigan, also a CBC Notable Book, and its sequel Nine
Letters Long (Random House Australia). The Story of Tom Brennan won the 2006
Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year: Older Readers award and also the
Family Therapists’ Award for Children’s Literature 2006. It has also been added to the
NSW HSC Syllabus list.
J.C. Burke’s latest books are Faking Sweet, Starfish Sisters and Ocean Pearl (to be
published in November 2008).
J.C. Burke lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Her teenage daughter now
provides her with an endless supply of stories and impersonations! J.C. Burke loves
writing for young adults, as they still have an optimistic eye on the world.
Visit www.jcburke.com.au for more information about J.C. Burke and her books.
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SYNOPSIS
How would you and your family cope with a major tragedy? Would you be bitter, argue,
cling together? And more importantly, how would you even begin to move on with your
life?
The Story of Tom Brennan by J.C. Burke starts with a fatal car accident – a young
driver who’s had too much to drink goes too fast and in an instant two of his friends are
dead and his cousin is left with permanent spinal injuries.
But the book isn’t about the car crash; it isn’t even about the driver. This is a book
about seventeen-year-old Tom Brennan, and how his life changes when his older brother,
Daniel, kills two people and paralyses another.
While their cousin Fin lies in hospital, unable to move, Daniel goes to jail and the
Brennans are forced to move towns – they’ve become the victims of a small town’s
prejudice against the family of the boy they saw as ‘an accident waiting to happen’. The
residents of Mumbilli are so hostile following the tragedy that they are open in their
desire that Daniel receive a severe sentence. ‘They’re saying that Daniel’s going down
and that he deserves everything he gets’ (p. 108).
The family must move from Mumbilli because they are no longer welcome in the
town – Daniel’s actions have affected all their lives. Because they fear the reaction of the
township, they leave quietly at 4.30 am. J.C. Burke uses their escape as a prologue,
which lures the reader immediately into the story as a sense of mystery develops.
Starting again in a new town and at a new school, how can Tom even begin to
rebuild his life when his mother won’t get out of bed, his father is struggling to hold the
family together, his sister is threatening to spill the family’s secret, and he can no longer
play rugby with his beloved Mumbilli team?
Tom, who was seventeen at the time of the accident, feels guilt at what has
happened, because he was angry with Daniel and elected to walk home instead of going
with him in the car. Had he been present, Tom believes he might have been able to
persuade Daniel not to drive. His feeling of guilt, however, is juxtaposed with anger at
finding himself having to give up a life he thoroughly enjoyed, including leaving his friends
and his rugby team. ‘I made a deal with myself: I’d stay for two years till Year Twelve was
over, max.’ (p. 31)
In the year that follows, while the family tries to settle into their new lives in
Coghill, Tom develops immensely – from a teenager who feels constant torment,
especially at the thought of his cousin Fin’s injury, to one who is able to accept the
situation and move on. This Herculean feat involves a myriad of other aspects and
characters. Tom at first does not seem to appreciate any of his grandmother’s efforts, but
by the end of the story, he not only recognises the merit in his grandmother, but
organises a present for her birthday that he knows she will appreciate. ‘Gran looked at
me with mist in her eyes, then winked’ (p. 268). Moreover, he responds to Chrissy, his
girlfriend, in a more mature way instead of running away from romance; and he can finally
even respond to Matt, his close friend from Mumbilli who he has felt unable to contact.
It’s a long, slow recovery, but there are things that will help bring the real Tom
Brennan back: finding out that he can play rugby without his unbeatable partnership with
Daniel, running with his Uncle Brendan, the possibility of a climbing trip to the Himalayas,
seeing Daniel drag himself back from the brink of suicide, and finding love amidst the
chaos – all these things will help Tom to find a ticket out of the past.
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GENRE, STRUCTURE AND STYLE
The Story of Tom Brennan will certainly resonate with teenagers, as there is no doubt
they will identify with many of its themes. Under-age drinking, for instance, is a problem
today and car accidents causing death feature regularly in the media.
Written in first-person from Tom’s perspective, The Story of Tom Brennan has an
immediacy and rawness that makes the story all the more powerful. Burke captures the
emotions of Tom impeccably by her use of the vernacular, which lends reality to his
situation. Burke says, ‘The Story of Tom Brennan is Tom’s story. To make it real, in order
for the reader to hear his pain and confusion as well as his struggle to find a way back,
the voice of Tom needed to be strong and clear. The first-person narration was the only
way to do this.’
Beginning in the present, when we see Tom at his grandmother’s house and
hating every minute of his new life, we soon begin to see glimpses of the events in
Tom’s recent past: the ‘sudden death’ football party where all the trouble begins, and the
terrible, tragic events of that night and days that follow. This use of flashbacks, showing
readers only a glimpse at a time of past events, enables J.C. Burke to tell a story within a
story, and to link the dramatic events of the past with Tom’s present emotional state to
increase drama and tension. Burke says, ‘To present the story in chronological order
seemed heavy-handed. Also, weaving the past into the story in the form of flashbacks
meant the reader’s experience of meeting Daniel was not so straightforward. Not so
“easy” – which was what I wanted to accomplish. It’s not until page 138 when the
reader finally meets Daniel in “real time”. And when they do it is not that simple to feel
disdain for him. For Daniel is a broken man.’
Burke set the book after the accident and from Tom’s perspective because, she
says, ‘I didn’t want to tell the story from the victims’ families’ point of view, nor did I
want to tell it from Daniel’s side either. I wanted to explore how many lives are changed
through the actions of another. I wanted to really get into the heart of how a family, a
community, a town can be split apart. Part of Tom’s journey is being forced to see
situations and people as they really are, not as he thought they were. The fragility of
family structure is something I understand through my own experiences. And as we’re all
members of a family perhaps many will recognise the machinations and politics that
families run on.’
Burke does not accelerate her plot, leaving time for each character to develop and
change. Daniel, who is totally remorseful by the carnage that he has caused and initially is
even suicidal, becomes determined to be a better person and becomes a mentor in
prison. Aunty Kath (Fin’s mother) learns to be forgiving and Tom’s mother, Tess, begins
to act normally, instead of taking to her bed all day and neglecting her appearance. ‘We
knew these were big steps for Mum. We didn’t want to do anything to spoil it in case she
went back to bed and never got out.’ (p. 236) Even Tom’s sister, Kylie, who was initially
not even able to articulate one sentence without vitriol, matures into a helpful family
member.
The Brennan family are a close, loving group and have during their sad journey
experienced the gamut of emotions that would be expected in a story with a tragic plot
such as this. Consequently, readers should be able to respond easily to the many themes
the text contains.
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BACKGROUND NOTES ON ALCOHOL ABUSE
Statistics from Australia
Alcohol is widely used by teenagers in Australia. Adolescence is typically a time of
experimentation, and around 73 per cent of Australian teenagers try alcohol at least once.
Although alcohol is tolerated as a socially acceptable drug, it is responsible for most drugrelated
deaths in the teenage population.
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs in Australia. Estimates suggest
that half of the population over the age of 14 years drinks alcohol at least weekly.
However, it has been estimated that in 2003, 3,430 Australians died due to alcohol
use and in 2001 there were 64,782 alcohol-related episodes that needed care in hospital.
Both of these statistics represent more than those attributed to illicit drug use.
Car accidents are a leading cause of death for teenagers. In 2006–07, one out of
four drivers or riders killed or injured in road accidents in Victoria were over the legal limit
for blood alcohol concentration.
Statistics from the United States of America
Teenage drink driving is a serious concern in the USA. It is the cause of one quarter of all
motor vehicle accidents and is the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 20. It is
estimated that one teen is killed every hour in the United States because of teenage drink
driving.
Approximately 70 per cent of all teenagers in the USA have consumed alcohol
before their twenty-first birthdays. In 1995, it was estimated that ten million drinkers
were under the legal drinking age. Underage drinking accounts for 10 to 20 per cent of all
alcohol consumption in the United States and fourteen per cent of all fatal motor vehicle
accidents involve teenage drink driving.
Teenage drink driving is more likely to occur during night-time hours (between 9
pm and 6 am) when more than one teenager is driving in a motor vehicle. Males are more
likely to be involved in teenage drink driving accidents than females, though the
percentage of females involved in teenage drink driving accidents is increasing.
Teenage drink driving poses a threat to everyone on the road. Teenagers put
themselves at greater risk of injury when involved in drink driving situations because they
take greater risks and exercise less caution. For instance, 75 per cent of teenage drink
driving participants were not wearing their seatbelt at the time of an accident.
A photo of a car taken at the scene of a drink driving accident.
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CHAPTER SUMMARIES
Prologue
The Brennan family silently drive away from Mumbilli in the early hours of the morning.
Although they were once respected in the town, they must depart quietly so that they
could leave without fear of abuse from some of the town members who are angry with
the family because of the irresponsible action of eldest son Daniel Brennan. There is no
doubt that as a family they are feeling ashamed and anguished.
‘In a couple of hours they would wake and find us gone, far away, so as not to remind
them of their pain and what our family now meant to this town.’ (p. 2)
Activities:
• In a small group write the conversation that you think might have taken place
among some people in the town when they realised the Brennans had left.
• Write the conversation that would have taken place in the Brennans’ car after they
have left Mumbilli behind.
Chapter 1
The family are settling into their grandmother’s house, which they are finding intolerable.
Gran is devoutly religious and Tom and Kylie resent her interference in their lives.
Moreover, because Gran has had to overcome family problems in the past, she has little
time for the way Tom’s mother, Theresa or Tess, is behaving – Tess has withdrawn from
her family and prefers to stay in bed. Gran is also a dreadful cook and the food is difficult
to consume. The family is eating an Australia Day lunch. Gran makes Tom say grace and
she invites Father Vincent to join them unannounced. This chapter also introduces Tom’s
prowess at rugby as a focal point, as this sport has always been an important component
in the life of the Brennan family.
‘Pray for them, Father Vincent, pray for them – and while you’re there, pray for the soul of
their son Daniel.’ (p. 12)
‘You know it’s been a while since Bennie’s had a half-back with your speed and pass …
Maybe you can teach the boys a thing or two.’ (p. 9)
‘I hadn’t decided if I was playing rugby this year. In fact, I hadn’t decided if I was playing
ever again. I didn’t know if I could without my brother. Things just weren’t that simple
anymore.’ (p. 10)
Activities:
• Tom is keeping a diary. Write his first entry.
• Using the internet, find out as much as you can about rugby and in particular the
role of the half-back.
Chapter 2
Tom and Kylie share their unhappiness at being uprooted from everything they once
enjoyed and how much they hate having to live at their grandmother’s house. Sadly, they
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have not been drawn closer by the tragedy. In addition Tom’s mother has now become
almost catatonic and does not answer Tom when he talks to her. Kylie, Dad, Uncle
Brendan, Gran and Tom visit Burger King. Tom is afraid the townspeople will recognise
who they are but instead Brendan’s friend Shorty only comments on Tom’s rugby skills.
In flashback, Tom remembers the day of the Mumbilli team’s ‘sudden death’
match, which they won.
Tom plays a friendly game with Brendan and his friends.
‘Tell someone who cares, Tom.’ (Kylie, p. 15)
Activity:
• Have a class forum where students can offer reasons why Kylie should react in
this way. Is she simply being uncaring, or are there more reasons why she would
say this to Tom? How would those in the class feel?
Chapter 3
Both Kylie and Tom are nervous at starting a new school. Although Kylie puts on a tough
stance, she nevertheless is deeply affected as she has to hold back her tears. Tom has
been allocated to Harvey the football coach’s home room and this provides him with an
emotional advantage as his dad told him Harvey knows about the accident. There is no
doubt that having someone of Tom’s rugby calibre at St Bennie’s has created a
favourable entry into the school, even though Tom is still afraid of public opinion after
being so burnt by those in Mumbilli.
In flashback, Tom remembers Daniel’s relationship with his girlfriend Claire. There
are hints at Daniel’s moods: ‘There were times I thought the oldies were scared of him or
didn’t know how do deal with him. So he just got away with it.’ (p. 32) Daniel becomes
insecure when Claire gets on so well with his cousin Fin. Fin was developing a
personality and sporting prowess that was challenging to Daniel. In fact, it was Fin who
secured the team’s place in the Wattle Shield, whereas Daniel was usually ‘tired, hung
over and bad tempered’ (p. 33)
Tom and Kylie talk as they walk home, but again they become angry at their
inability to see each other’s point of view.
Sadly Tom’s mother continues to show little interest in life around her and in
particular to Kylie and Tom, who are ba
In flashback, Tom recalls the night of the sudden death party. Daniel and Luke
were already drunk when Tom arrived at the party. Tom talks to Claire and learns that she
and Daniel have broken up. Claire is trying to tell Tom what has happened, but Tom
doesn’t understand (Claire broke up with Daniel because of Fin). Daniel becomes highly
aggressive, insulting Fin and Tom. Tom is angry and decides to walk home to calm down.
The others are all leaving in their cars. One group stops to ask Tom if he wants a lift, but
they go back to the hall to pick up a forgotten jacket.
Tom tries to talk to his mother but she is still in bed under the covers and doesn’t
hear him.
‘You see Fin was changing, growing and somehow that altered things between Daniel
and him.’ (p. 49)
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Activity:
• In a small group, discuss how Daniel might have felt knowing his own ability both
with girls and sport was not as powerful as it had once been. What would you do if
you were Daniel?
‘She didn’t see me. How could she under all those covers?’ (p. 49)
Activity:
• Imagine Tom has written a small letter to his mother which he has left on her
pillow. What is in this letter?
Chapter 4
Tom visits Brendan’s house – at ‘the sheds’, his tractor business on the same property.
Brendan’s friend and co-worker Jonny is there but Brendan is not. We learn that Tom
knows Brendan is gay.
Flashback: Tom recalls walking home from the party and Snorter arriving in the car
to say ‘Dan’s stacked’ and Tom has to come with him.
Tom and Brendan talk. As Tom goes to check his emails, he remembers the graffiti
on their old house in Mumbilli (the last straw, making their father decide to move) and
how he had sent a letter to his friend Matt as he didn’t have time to say goodbye. Tom
receives an email that shows Matt’s concern, but before he can respond he overhears a
phone message from his Aunty Kath (who is exhausted from visiting Fin in hospital) and
he feels too ashamed to send an email. Tom remembers the last time he’d visited Fin
and his feelings of uselessness as he looked at Fin’s wasted legs. Tom feels there is
nothing he can say to Fin.
Kylie appears to be now coping better, as she has made a new friend at school,
Brianna Henderson.
‘His legs had wasted to long pieces of bone wrapped in shiny skin.’ (p. 61)
Activity:
• Students can research quadriplegic injuries on the internet. Having done so, they
can focus on Finn’s prognosis and as a class discuss how they would feel if they
were Fin.
Chapter 5
Brendan takes Tom to the beach while the other adults go to visit Daniel. They discuss
the situation of Jonny’s family – Tom meets Jonny’s sister Chrissy, who is at his school.
Jonny’s father had had a stroke and died of pneumonia. Brendan mentions to Tom that
Daniel is in a bad way. Although being at the beach brings back happy memories of
holidays, Tom also remembers an incident where Daniel was mistakenly angry with him
and almost drowns him while he was in one of his rages. This occurred when Daniel was
just eleven and highlights the fact that Daniel was always prone to sudden anger.
Tom and Brendan visit Fin in hospital. Fin comes across as harsh and admits that he
hates the long nights in hospital when he can’t shut off his thoughts.
The chapter ends with Tom flashing back to the moment when he had first seen
the accident – Daniel’s blue Falcon on its side against a tree.
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‘I’m going to get you, you dobber.’ (p. 70)
Activity:
• Tom is really upset by Daniel’s behaviour towards him at the beach. Write his diary
entry for that day.
Chapter 6
Finally Tom reveals the details of the accident – Daniel running away, Luke and Nicole
obviously dead, and Fin trapped in the car, drifting in and out of consciousness. The night
of the tragedy clearly shows Fin’s selfless attitude – although he is extremely frightened
because he has lost all feeling in his limbs, he is still concerned about Daniel and the
other passengers. Burke uses simple language to describe the accident, which creates a
realism that may otherwise be lost. That Tom has to deal with the imagery of his friends’
deaths and Fin’s spinal injury, especially as he is now witnessing Fin’s changing
personality, makes it even harder for him to move on.
At Gran’s, Tom’s mother Tess tries to make conversation with Tom but her
thoughts are obviously with Daniel, who is ‘very down’ and being moved to a different
wing of the prison. Tom also has trouble forgiving Daniel for ruining so many lives.
Kylie also continues to grieve for the life she once had, but she is now using
rebellion as a form of coping. She has begun to smoke and even swears. Unlike Tom,
though, she is not only able to talk about the accident to others, as she has told her new
friend Brianna, but she has also contacted her old best friend Becky.
After talking to Rory at school, Tom meets up with him and some others at the
local pool, where he also sees Chrissy again.
‘I’ve been smoking for ages.’ (p. 86)
‘Don’t start preaching to me, Tom!’ She jumped off the bed. ‘Just because you’re so
paranoid. People are going to find out sooner or later.’ Our foreheads were almost locked
together. ‘Don’t you get that!’ She pulled away and walked to the bedroom door. ‘Get
out,’ she spat. ‘I don’t want you in here. You’re such a downer, and I don’t need it!’ (pp.
87–88)
‘I could see Mum sitting on the bed probably planning her twenty-fifth attempt at coming
back to life’. (p. 83)
Activity:
• Discuss whether Kylie’s reaction to her situation is the way most teenagers would
respond.
• Discuss how the class would have dealt with Tess. Could Tom have done anything
to help her?
Chapter 7
The family are still diligently visiting Daniel and Fin as this is the only way they can be
constructive, even though they realise that nothing can be done to alter Daniel’s jail
sentence and Fin will never recover his mobility. On a personal level, Tom makes a major
leap in his own emotional recovery, by ringing up Matt, his former best friend. That even
Matt’s mother, Mrs O’Rourke, is affectionate towards him is significant. Nevertheless,
Tom is still not ready to resume the closeness he once had and feels foolish for phoning.
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In flashback, Tom recalls Sunday, the day after the accident, when the police were
taking statements. Luke’s father was at the police station, saying that they should lock
Daniel up and throw away the key. Tom gives his statement on the Monday. Unlike Tom,
who is bereft because he knows Daniel was totally responsible for the accident, Tess
tries to deflect the blame, even trying to implicate Fin and Claire. Daniel’s solicitor, Talbot,
recommends a guilty plea. Daniel is tried and sentenced.
‘I sat there thinking that must’ve been one of the stupidest ideas I’d had. What did I really
think it was going to do?’ (Tom, p. 99)
‘So you’re sure it was Daniel who was driving?’ (Tess, p. 105)
‘Tess, your family has been well liked and respected in the community. But memories are
short, especially the memories of hurt and angry people who need someone to blame.’
(Talbot, p. 107)
Activities:
• You are a psychologist who has been assigned to help Tess in the days following
the accident. Write the report you would make on her emotional state.
• Discuss Talbot’s recommendations – should Daniel have pleaded guilty or not
guilty?
Chapter 8
Tom’s father and Brendan each try in their own way to help Tom regain an interest in
football as they know that this would help him to regain an important focus in his life. Joe
Brennan talks about the trials enthusiastically, citing Harvey, who believes Tom will be
important to the team because of his prowess as a half-back, while Brendan tries to
induce Tom to start running with him in order to get fit.
Gran still refuses to pander to any of their emotions and this includes Tom. Instead
she insists that a religious protocol be adhered to and this includes prayers at meal times.
Tom takes another step forward by facing one of his fears – he decides that he will
visit Daniel.
‘I want to see Daniel this weekend.’ (p. 115)
Activity:
• In small groups, compare Tom how is emotionally at this stage with how he was at
the beginning of the story. Is there any change?
Chapter 9
Although Tom has been selected to play as half-back for St. Benedict’s First Fifteen rugby
team, he feels no happiness. Once again he plummets into despair as he recognises that
this team, and especially playing without Daniel, has no bearing on his old life. The joy he
once felt in practicing endlessly with his father and Daniel cannot be replicated, nor can
the adulation of the local community.
In flashback: Tom and Kylie have endless counselling sessions. Daniel is very
aware of the disaster his reckless action has caused, and the grief he displays in the letter
he writes to the parents of Nicole and Luke indicates that Daniel will become a better
person. However, the response Daniel receives from Luke’s family shows the bitterness
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and anger that would not only have been felt by those who lost their children, but by
others who grieved for them.
Tess continues to blame Claire for the situation, even though she is faultless.
Claire leaves Mumbilli to go overseas – she has become another victim of the tragedy.
Daniel is sentenced.
‘The back page of the Billi Weekly ran a photo of me throwing a dive pass to
Daniel’ (p. 120)
‘We will leave these words with all of you, the words of a respected citizen of this town,
words that seem to represent what so many of us feel – “Daniel Brennan was an
accident waiting to happen.” What a shame his accident happened to others. Our family
will be there in court next week, yet no sentence will be long enough.’ (p. 123)
Activity:
• Write the article that would have followed the headline, ‘The Legend of the
Brennan Brothers’.
• As a whole class activity, discuss the letter Luke’s family wrote to Daniel.
Was this a reasonable response?
Chapter 10
Tom visits Daniel in prison. The prison system is a shock to Tom – that he is subjected to
a search by the guards horrifies him. On seeing Daniel, however, even this pales into
insignificance as he realises how his brother has physically and emotionally changed.
Daniel’s face, once glowing, is now pale and thin. His eyes are downcast and he walks
with a slow, shuffling step. Emotionally Daniel is also bereft as he tries to apologise to
Tom for causing so much misery. That Brendan is close to Daniel is clear, as it is he who
calms him and helps him refocus his attention onto a situation outside of himself.
Nevertheless, because Daniel is still feeling suicidal, he is moved to a peer support
facility.
At home, Tom starts running with Brendan and finds out more about why Brendan
stayed after his father died. Kylie explodes after Tom unwittingly eats an apple strudel
she’d prepared for a school assignment, but their argument is interrupted by the arrival of
Aunty Kath, Fin’s mum.
‘Didn’t they realise we weren’t like everyone else here?’ (p. 130)
Activity:
• In a group, discuss whether this was a reasonable assumption by Tom.
‘You’ve got to concentrate on getting through this now, not thinking about what’s going
to happen later when you’re out.’ (p. 141)
Activity:
• As a class discuss what you think will happen to Daniel in the future.
Chapter 11
Although Fin is going to be moved to rehabilitation, the fact that he will never have the
use of his limbs again hangs over Tom like a black cloud. Because Tom has begun to
13
compare the fate of Daniel and Fin, knowing that Daniel will eventually resume a normal
life adds further credence to his despair. Kath occupies herself by cooking furiously, and
she is angry and frustrated to observe how Tess is allowed to wallow in misery and
neglect her other two children. After a week spent tiptoeing around each other, the family
attends church to keep ‘The Grandmother’ happy. Tom sees Chrissy there; she is singing
in the choir.
Tom makes two discoveries: that Brendan and Jonny are together, and that Gran
has been keeping scrapbooks of his and Daniel’s football careers, ending with the
accident.
‘Well, Tess,’ Kath started, ‘I’m sorry about that. But my son can’t even turn his neck to
see his back.’ (p. 154)
Activity:
• In order to understand Fin’s injury, the class can research spinal injuries and
quadriplegic injuries in particular.
Chapter 12
As Gran talks to Tom in a concerned manner, it becomes apparent that not only does she
really care about him, but she is very astute about the behaviour of the rest of the family.
However, this peaceful interlude is once again fractured when he learns that Kylie gave a
speech where she told a school forum about the car accident. Tom has greatly suffered
by the reaction of those in Mumbilli and fears that those in Coghill may react similarly.
The incident becomes a turning point in a number of ways as Tom learns that many in
Coghill already know of the accident and do not hold a grudge against the whole Brennan
family.
Tom again visits Daniel in prison, and he takes a scrapbook he’s made of the family
and the two boys playing football. They’re able to talk normally about the past.
Tom’s father announces that someone has made an offer on their old house. Tom
asks about his mother and realises he is getting impatient, and that it’s a good sign, that
he is maybe finally finding his ticket out of the past.
‘SHAME ON YOU, BRENNANS, SHAME.’ (p. 174)
Activity:
• As a classroom debate, split the class into two so that you can debate whether is it
fair for the whole family to be blamed for Daniel’s action.
Chapter 13
Tom has been left alone with Gran a great deal as everyone else has been preoccupied
with looking after Daniel and Fin and this has brought them closer together. But of even
greater consequence, Kylie finally explains to Tom how bad she felt when she realised
how her actions in giving the speech had hurt him, and they regain their old friendship.
Fin’s nineteenth birthday party, however, once again highlights the depth of the
tragedy. Tom still can’t talk normally to Fin, and is upset when Fin refers to his friends in
Billi.
Daniel hits the wall again and their parents go to be with him at the facility where
he is being held.
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‘Do you want to read it?’
‘Read what?’
‘My speech.’ (p. 189)
Activity:
• As a group discuss Kylie’s speech and then write it.
Chapter 14
Tom has begun to recognise a number of issues. He is talking more to Brendan during
their runs, and even talks to Chrissy at dinner with Jonny, Chrissy and Brendan. He is
establishing a strong relationship with the rest of the rugby team. At the footy camp, Tom
is still reluctant to join in because this team can’t measure up to his old mates and team
at Mumbilli, but after his dad has a word to him, he sees how unfair he’s being to the
Coghill team. Finally he realises that winning isn’t everything, and the new team are ‘top
blokes’ (p. 211). His dad also makes him realise that he has more natural ability at rugby
than Daniel had – and how much he owes to Daniel for helping to develop that talent.
‘They deserve a fair go, like you did.’ (p. 210)
Activity:
• Write a series of journal entries that Tom might have written from the beginning to
end of this chapter outlining the different situations he was involved in.
Chapter 15
Although Daniel is improving emotionally, some of his old beliefs still linger, such as that
winning is the most important aspect of playing a sport. Brendan has remained constant
in his desire to help all the family members, and his invitation to Tom to go to Nepal mean
that Tom might not only have something to look forward to, but would remain fit as well.
Tom’s mother seems to be trying to make an effort to get back to normal. After another
dinner at the club, Tom realises that he is falling for Chrissy – another sign that things are
looking up for him. Kylie, however, is not doing so well, and she cuts all her hair off.
‘Can’t see the point,’ Daniel frowned. ‘I mean, it’s all about winning, Isn’t it?’ (p. 213)
Activity:
• Students can debate the topic ‘Winning is the most important aspect of playing
sport’.
Chapter 16
Kylie and Tom talk, and in explaining how each felt guilty for the accident occurring
because they could have either interfered on the night of the tragedy or not encouraged a
situation whereby it became a reason for Daniel to become enraged, they manage to
connect with each other again. (We learn that Kylie helped Claire and Fin in their
burgeoning relationship.) Not only have Kylie and Tom become closer, but Brendan now
feels that he can openly discuss his personal involvement with Jonny with Tom.
However, when Tom visits Brendan unexpectedly, it is obvious that emotionally he is
putting on a very brave face about Daniel.
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‘He was on a self-destruct mission.’ (p. 229)
Activity:
• In a class discussion students could share ideas on this topic. Do they believe that
Daniel’s parents should have been also charged for taking a passive resistance
towards his behaviour? What could have been done to help Daniel prior to the
accident? Are liquor laws the same for underage drinking in all countries? What
influence do friends have when someone is going off the rails?
Chapter 17
Thinking about Brendan, Tom realises that he is on his own journey and he is gaining
some perspective on the situation. While they’re running, Brendan tells Tom that Chrissy
really likes him. Tom suggests they build Gran a chook run for her birthday.
Finally there is to be a rugby match between Mumbilli and Coghill. Matt emails Tom to
remind him that they’re still mates, proving that a good friendship remains solid. The
Coghill team, too, are supportive of Tom and understand how he must feel. However, at
the match it is also obvious that there are some in Mumbilli who will never forgive the
Brennan family for the tragedy. The lone voice shouting ‘killer’ and ‘Brennan’ would
certainly have set Tom back again had it not been for Chrissie – although if he’d stayed,
the team rallying around Tom would also have shown him that it was only in Mumbilli that
the Brennan family were ill-judged. Instead of Tom just agonising over the abusive
incident, he rises above it and simply enjoys kissing Chrissie instead.
‘The siren rang for full-time, the score still 9–7 but you would’ve thought we were the
winners.’ (p. 251)
Activity:
• Students are to write a sporting column for a local newspaper describing the
match.
‘I’ve got to ring him.’ (p. 253)
Activity:
• What would Tom have said to Matt? Working in pairs, write a script of this phone
call.
Chapter 18
Now that Tom has started a relationship with Chrissie, he resents having to leave her to
visit Fin. Both Kylie and Joe Brennan in particular still feel very committed and have not
only been vigilant about visiting Fin, but Joe has also financially supported Kath. Fin’s
future is of course black and he will be expected to despair from time to time. The strain
on Kath is also great. The accident, although producing tragic results, has brought Gran
and Tom closer together and in building the chook pen for her, Tom gives her back a past
that she thought she had lost forever.
‘I think I’ll call you Harvey’, she crooned. ‘Because Saint Harvey was famous for his
miracles.’ (p. 268)
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Activity:
• As a class discuss the concept of one miracle. If the Brennan family could have
been given just one miracle, what do you think it would be?
Chapter 19
We see Tom doing normal things – planning his birthday, training with Brendan, planning
his birthday. Daniel’s imprisonment and Fin’s situation are juxtaposed with Tom’s
freedom, but Tom is able to consider these things without losing his perspective on life.
That Daniel will be rehabilitated as a more concerned person is nevertheless apparent.
Not only is he now able to be complimentary about Tom’s football prowess, but he has
also been trying to help another young person involved in a drink driving tragedy to
improve emotionally. The Brennan family, not surprisingly, remembering how close they
were before the accident, have remained affectionate, supporting and intact. Even the
relationship between Gran and Tom, once distant, can be seen as loving by her birthday
gift to him of an airline ticket. Knowing Gran and the careful way she considers life, this
would have been a present from the heart. Indeed, Tom’s relationship with Chrissie is all
that is needed to make him a complete Tom Brennan again.
‘Have a wonderful trip, Thomas.’ (p. 279)
Activity:
• Draw a timeline of the relationship between Gran and Tom, starting from page
three. Graph the ups and downs of their relationship.
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