THE SUNDOWNERS

First published as an adult novel in 1952, this special edition for younger readers has been prepared by the author. No major changes have been made in this story of a wandering Australian family of the '20's; some of the riper speech and patter has been scrubbed. It's Sean Carmody's story. He's a 14 year old at the start and , ""intelligence gleamed in his eyes like a weakness."" The central issue is the true meaning of what makes a home and a family. During the course of a novel crammed with excitement and color, Sean, who had always wanted to settle in a permanent place, passes the unwritten tests and invisible barriers that separate boys from men.