Tenderfoot (Toni Jordan, Hachette)

In Tenderfoot, Toni Jordan returns to the literary style of her earlier novels, Addition and The Fragments, shifting away from the light tones and commercial narratives found within more recent works, Dinner with the Schnabels and Prettier If She Smiled More. Through the lens of adulthood, Andie Tanner narrates her 1970s working-class Brisbane childhood. It’s a world of playground tussles, hot, boring classrooms and a home where Andie is loved but largely left to her own devices. Her parents devote themselves to their own pursuits but allow Andie to join their work running a kennel of racing greyhounds. Her carefree life is shattered when her parents’ marriage dissolves. The fallout challenges Andie’s sense of identity, gradually revealing a harsher side to reality and giving her a clearer understanding of her parents and their limitations. Jordan skilfully builds suspense through the voice of adult Andie who, early in the novel, hints at the long-term consequences of her childhood without revealing what lies ahead. The steady pacing keeps the reader engaged, though it also creates an expectation of a more dramatic climax than the novel delivers – the final scenes feel more restrained than the foreshadowing suggests. Still, Tenderfoot is an emotionally insightful, thoughtfully plotted and overall captivating read. It is an ideal choice for readers of Emily Maguire (Rapture, Love Objects) or for those wanting to immerse themselves in a richly detailed portrait of a retro suburban Australian childhood.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Sophie Pusz has previously worked in independent bookshops in Melbourne and Sydney and for several trade and academic publishers. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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