Nobody writes 1970’s Queensland, specifically Brisbane, better than Toni Jordan. In her new novel TENDERFOOT (Hachette 2025) she immerses the reader in a time machine, transporting us right back to the tastes, smells, sounds and eccentricities of the decade formative for many of us.
The family at the centre of this novel are greyhound racers – a divisive topic. I wondered how Jordan would approach it without putting anyone (diehard gamblers or animal welfare advocates) offside. But of course, in her skilled and deft style, she manages to hold more than one truth, to consider all sides of an argument, to allow some characters unpalatable views that she supports with social / class reasoning, and some with sentimental views that she clarifies with cold, hard facts. In the end, the most important characters in the book are the dogs themselves, and Jordan navigates this difficult topic with enormous compassion and tenderness.
Readers who love a child narrator will be charmed by 12-year-old Andie Tanner, whose life is small but complicated. She adores her father, and the four greyhounds that live under their house, and wants to be a trainer like him when she grows up. Her mother is a difficult, prickly woman whose parenting style could best be described as ‘benign neglect’, but she does love Andie even if she has a rather odd way of showing it.
But Andie’s plans – to finish school early and train her own dogs – come spectacularly undone when disaster visits their home and she loses everything she cares about: her family disintegrates, her friends avoid her and worst of all, she loses her precious dogs. Andie must go on a journey (both physically and metaphorically) to find happiness and uncover the secrets she didn’t realise her family harboured.
What Jordan does so well in this book is draw us into Andie’s world and her point of view. We are fully invested in her perspective. And it is a child’s perspective. Andie holds certain beliefs to be true, she trusts some people more than others, she has her own ideas about what is the right and wrong thing to do. As the story unfolds, it becomes achingly apparent that her viewpoint as a tween is not necessarily right or even balanced. There are things she has misunderstood. People she’s judged unfairly. And when she discovers the truth, it is a blunt, raw, visceral punch to the gut, not only for Andie but for us as readers. The kind of tragic misunderstanding that quietly sneaks up on you with disastrous consequences.
But despite this, TENDERFOOT is full of hope, optimism and joy. The special relationship between animals and their owners is highlighted, and the author includes as an afterword some relevant and fascinating details about greyhounds and the history and ethics of dog racing. Jordan manages to write about the industry without judgment or acrimony, while retaining certain principles and morals. It’s a tightrope she walks with care, thoughtfulness and compassion.
I enjoyed this book very much. The story is moving and compelling, but I also loved the frequent and familiar references to memories from my own childhood – foods, activities, expressions used by parents, the atmosphere of public spaces, the sense of freedom and the lack of technology. Jordan’s dialogue is spot-on and authentic, and her cheeky sense of humour shines through with alacrity. TENDERFOOT is a magical walk down memory lane.