The Tomo - Mary-Anne Scott

Published by One Tree House Ltd: New Zealand, 2021.

A very easy book to read, The Tomo follows Phil Davidson, a New Zealand teenager who is sent to work on a sheep farm over the Christmas holidays when his father - sick with cancer - is undergoing special treatment. Phil doesn't want to go, and so the family allow him to take Blue, his dad's beloved dog, with him as a treat.

When Phil arrives at the farm, he firstly meets Chopper, the grumpy farm manager who sets him to work on the most menial jobs, and then later meets Emara, a girl his own age who becomes his potential love interest. Emara is also quite environmentally savvy, and has discussions with both Phil and Chopper about ways to run the farm in a more environmentally-friendly fashion. A Maori farm worker, Toko, brings the Maori perspective to the story as well, making this a book which has clear study-able themes (should a teacher choose to do it with a class of English students). 

Drama arises when Blue falls down a tomo (sinkhole) and is presumed dead! Phil is unwilling to accept this possibility, and seeks to find a way to save the dog, with the help of Emara and his older brother, Skip.

Everything wraps up pretty easily, but there is a bit of tension during the final chapters, especially while the rescue attempt is underway.

It is not a book that will 'wow' anybody, but it is a decent read that could work well in the right contexts.

Completed 9 September 2026.

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