"Ratwhiskers and Me is a powerful atmospheric prose-verse novel set in the Victorian goldfields in the 1800s amidst the chaos and prejudice of diggers from all over the world. Traumatised by a fire in which her family perishes, the narrator pushes the painful memories from her mind, poses as a boy and finds work helping some miners. These are brutal times and the narrator is treated with little respect. Sun Song, a Chinese market gardener is the only one to show any kindness. The narrator flees to the Chinese camp and pretends to be Chinese, taking the name Lin. The Chinese are persecuted, their camp set on fire and Lin's presence creates further danger, especially with the powerful and dangerous Ellery a man who has perilous links to Lin's past, and is determined to take over exclusive rights on the goldfields. With the help of Cam, her sister's boyfriend, Lin and the remaining Chinese thwart the might of Ellery by flooding the mines a feat which becomes a test of friendship, loyalty and endurance, and a catalyst for Lin to finally remember her tragic past."--Provided by publisher.