From inside the front dust cover: "Here is the story - based on a true incident - of a remarkable dog called Traveller, and a boy who befriended her. The setting is New Zealand in the 1850s - pioneering days. Young Tom Farrell, fresh from England, has a job waiting for him on a sheep station, but to get to it he must cross a hundred miles of trackless plain, with only his small terrier, Bobby, and the adventurer One-Eyed Ned for company. One misty day Tom and Bobby wander too far away from Ned and in no time are lost. Tired, cold and hungry, Tom stumbles across a stray sheepdog. He names her Traveller and, himself, she saves both his and Bobby's lives. But whose dog is Traveller? Why was she wandering alone in the wilderness? Gradually Traveller's strange history is unfolded as, with the sheepdog always at his side, Tome makes his way across the Canterbury Plains. Learning about sheep farming as he goes, he meets some colourful characters - among them an ex-convict with whom he strikes up a friendship, and James McKenzie, imprisoned for stealing a thousand sheep, who was to become a Canterbury legend..."
That was a really good synopsis, so I'm not going to explain the story any further except to give some background information. The story is set in Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains. In 1850 Christchurch was a pioneer outpost - a muddy street with a few buildings. The Canterbury Plains were wild with dangerous rivers and unpredictable weather. Farmers were beginning to settle the plains and raise sheep stock. An important landmark in the book is the Rakaia River. This is in the map below as well.
The main character in the story is Tom. He has immigrated from England to complete a cadetship on a farm in New Zealand. His parents do not have much hope for his success in education, so they are hoping he will prove himself with this new endeavour. Naturally, Tom does not have a lot of confidence. He is not prepared for the harsh realities of pioneering life and overnight he has to grow up and face his fears. Fortunaturally he has good souls around him who believe in him and give him good advice - older men and a few women including a young woman called Harriet. As the book progresses, Tom's character is tested again and again. A very rewarding story and recommended for a good boy-to-manhood reading.
James McKenzie is in the book, briefly once near the beginning, but mentioned many times throughout. Ann de Roo has included his story in the background of the main plot. James McKenzie is actually a folk hero in New Zealand history and McKenzie Basin is named after him. You can read more about McKenzie Basin here and who James Mckenzie is here.
I highly recommend this book. It is very well written, with lots of history and geography and the story will keep you enthralled to the end.