The Synopsis:

In a world torn by survival and impossible choices, seventeen-year-old Mitch faces a life-defining moment. Caught stealing food for his struggling family, he stands in court, staring down two stark options: a life of imprisonment in Van Diemen's Land or the uncertain promise of the Queen's shilling. 

Choosing the latter, Mitch's journey with the 58th Regiment of Foot begins. Taking him from the training grounds of Ireland to the perilous encounters with bushwhackers in Rio, while on a convict-laden ship bound for Australia. His fate takes an unexpected turn, leading him to the front lines of the First New Zealand War of 1845. Amid the fierce battles of Kororāreka, Puketutu, Ōhaeawai, and the siege of Ruapekapeka, he navigates a world of cultural clashes and relentless conflict. Here, Mitch encounters a young Māori woman whose courage and resilience irrevocably change the course of his life.

"Mitch" is a gripping tale of transformation, resilience, and the enduring power of love. With a masterful blend of historical events and vivid imagination, this novel plunges readers into the heart of 19th-century struggles and triumphs, leaving them enthralled by Mitch's quest for identity and belonging.