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Johno

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The world is a dangerous place for a child when no ones watching. In post–World War II Scotland, a seven-year-old boy should be walking to school. Instead, he’s shipped off to Australia. Trapped in a world of anger and violence with nowhere to turn, young Johno clings to the hope that a policeman might help him. But life has other plans. Decades later, after years of denial by governments and cover-ups by institutions, Johno begins to uncover the truth about his past – and the web of lies that shaped his childhood. A journey marked by cruelty and kindness, love and war, and above all, the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Kathleen O’Reilly Johnston is based in country Western Australia where she works mentoring youth at risk and caring for the aged. Kathleen utilises stories as a way to connect more deeply with her clients. After being assessed as unable to read, and despite an alarming rate of school absenteeism, Kathleen became an avid reader with a passion for writing. She credits her love of literature as the catalyst for her self-directed learning that took place along the beautiful West Australian coast. Johno is her debut novel. She’s the mother of three adult children and two grandchildren. When not working or writing, she gets excited about riding her horse around historic ruins. If you see someone riding a white horse over Slaughterhouse Bridge in Toodyay on a stormy day, that’s Kathleen.

  • ‘Johno’ was developed through extensive research and lived testimony, including conversations with surviving child migrants, government inquiry records, historical sources, and detailed discussions with Norman Johnston, who shared his personal experiences in vivid detail.
  • The author draws on significant professional experience in trauma-informed practice, including work as a Group Worker within the Juvenile Justice System and as an Outreach Worker supporting women and children experiencing domestic violence.
  • Current role as a Community Support Worker, mentoring youth at risk of homelessness, further informs the book’s authentic and empathetic portrayal of vulnerability, resilience, and recovery.
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