The Ink Bridge

A remarkable and gripping story about one refugee boy on a desperate journey from Afghanistan, and the Australian boy who befriends him.

Each step becomes a heartbeat and I feel the distance between Omed and me closing. I remember when I first met him - when he had showed me what bravery meant. How he had stood up for what he believed. In the end that had been his undoing.

The Ink Bridge is the compelling story of two young men: Omed, an Afghani refugee who flees the Taliban and undertakes a perilous journey to seek asylum in Australia; and Hector, an Australian boy afflicted by grief, who has given up on school and retreated into silence. Their paths meet at a candle factory where they both find work. But secrets fester behind the monotonous routine: secrets with terrible consequences.

Powerful and compelling, Omed's and Hector's story will grip hold of your heart and not let go.

'A moving story that gives an insight into a well publicised yet unknown issue. The writing was wonderful and made it a pleasure to read.' Jemima, 15

'I loved this novel, not only does it show the reality of life in third world countries but also the purity of human emotions in realistic situations. The way the book is written is awesome.' Matt, 15

About the Author

Neil Grant was born in Scotland in the Year of the Fire Horse. He learnt to speak Australian at the age of thirteen when he migrated to Melbourne to ride kangaroos. He finished high school at the International School of Kuala Lumpur then spent years blundering through Indonesia, Israel, Yugoslavia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Greece, Italy, the UK and Tasmania. To research The Ink Bridge , he travelled (quietly) through Afghanistan.