J.C. Burke uses the narrative structure of prologue to show the protagonist, Tom Brennan’s, Australian voice in the novel. Tom’s voice is loud and clear in the simple yet compelling prologue. The brief prologue is powerfully reminiscent, engaging the readers interest when the Brennan family close “the front door of our home for the last time” The deceptively simple language communicates shame and regret and the rawness of pain is emphasised by the recurring reference to the need for silence ,’’down, down we glided in silence’’ . The prologues abruptly ends with the forthright affirmation of identity ‘’My name is Tom Brennan and this is my story” and the first person narrative really highlights the voice of the protagonist. It creates a blunt