1961. What a milestone year that would prove to be. Spook was happy before that time, with a creek to play in and Grandpa Doc to spoil him. But then his mum has to drag him down to Melbourne, to a crappy flat above a dress shop, and the dreadful Mrs Green, their landlady. For what? All because of that fuss about his father and a jumping tree? That makes no sense at all.

Soon the sanctimonious Theodore and foul-mouthed Wocker are foisted on Spook as "friends" — and some friends they turn out to be, one-upping him at every opportunity and trying to steal the affections of the lovely Tina across the road. When Spook learns that Tina is in danger, and finally penetrates the fog surrounding his father's indiscretions, he is determined to prove he is no patsy, and sets out on a course of action that will change two lives forever.

1961 is a poignant, painful and yet often bleakly humorous reminder of that period in our lives when we were silly, vulnerable and desperately serious, all at the same time.

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