(Historical fiction) A rip-roaring ‘boy’s own’ adventure for middle-grade readers,  set during a dark period of Aotearoa New Zealand history. Bank robbers … classroom bullies … highwaymen … a rampaging bull. The challenges Henry Appleton faces, as he struggles to stand up for what he believes in, make this a classic ‘cowboy’ yarn. Set against the background of the notorious Maungatapu Murders, BOY HERO is written by John Evan Harris in the voice of the self-acclaimed American dime novelist Johnny Slick, who himself was saved by Henry’s quick thinking and bravery. It is a prequel to Henry’s encounters with the Burgess gang told in The Physician’s Gun.  (Includes illustrations by Charles Cumming.)