Malcolm: A story in verse

Malcolm is a dark verse novel full of the humanity of its author who also works in violence prevention programs and has a keen ear for the complexities of living without safety nets and certainty.

Set in Melbourne’s underbelly, Shilton uses her expert grasp on the verse novel format to tell the story of Malcolm - a seventeen year old boy – whose mother is killed at the hand of his father. His childhood has been marred by this violence. After his mother’s death Malcolm leaves the safety of his grandfather’s home to live on the streets, choosing to make his own family. He lives in a Melbourne squat with a group of friends. Together, they face the daily struggle of life on the streets and the edge of society.

"Malcom sucks you into the sinkhole of lives drowned by drugs, alcohol and the intricacies of intergenerational trauma. A sensitive journey of those who have lost themselves in shattered dreams and those who have waited for them to wake up."

Tamryn Bennett