'In her compelling memoir, The Girl with the Cardboard Port, Judith McNeil shared the incredible story of her life in the turbulent world of Singapore and Malaya during the 1960s. Now, in No One's Child, Judith takes you on a journey back to her childhood - as a 'railway brat', growing up in small towns along the tracks while her father worked on the lines. Judith's life was one of hardship and poverty. The eldest of six children, she soon took on the role of provider and carer, while desperately craving affection from a mother too tired to give it and a father who resented her because she wasn't a son. Yet there was still joy to be found: in the vibrant Gypsy camp, full of laughter and love; in the eyes of Tom, the engine driver who believed in her and fed her thirst for knowledge; and in the friendship of Billy, the boy who could see into her soul. No One's Child is an unforgettable portrait of Australian life in the 1950s. With a vivid cast of characters and set against the backdrop of the ever-changing outback landscape, it will leave you marvelling at the indomitable spirit of one little girl who was determined to forge her own destiny.' (Publisher's blurb)