Hoods - Angela Batzien

From the writer of Children of the Black Skirt comes a contemporary tale of Hansel and Gretel.

Each night two hoods ride a train to a wrecking yard on the outskirts of the city. Here, in this cemetery of stories, they are storytellers with the power to fast forward, pause and rewind. Tonight, they tell the story of three kids left in a car.

Rewind. It's Friday, KFC night and the last day of school before Christmas. Kyle, Jessie and baby brother Troy are waiting in the car for their mum. As night approaches the car park takes on a dark and sinister aspect filled with strange and familiar characters. The shopping centre closes, Mum still hasn't returned and the baby won't stop crying.

Exploring issues of poverty and family violence, Hoods is a suburban tale of survival and solidarity against the odds.