Pobby and Dingan
Pobby and Dingan
Book Brief
Beta112
Novel • Fiction
Lightning Ridge, Australia • 1990s
2000
YA
10-14 years
Super Short Summary
In Pobby and Dingan by Ben Rice, a young person, Kellyanne, has two imaginary companions, Pobby and Dingan, who are deeply important to them. Set in an Australian mining town, the story explores themes of imagination and belief, especially as Kellyanne's brother, Ashmol, becomes involved in a search with significant emotional ramifications for their family.
Bittersweet
Melancholic
Nostalgic
Emotional
Mysterious
Reviews & Readership
2,246 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Pobby and Dingan by Ben Rice is praised for its poignant and imaginative storytelling, blending elements of whimsy and emotional depth. Readers appreciate its exploration of childhood innocence, loss, and community. Criticisms focus on its brevity and some find its whimsical style less engaging. Overall, it captivates with its unique perspective and heartfelt narrative.
Who Should Read Pobby and Dingan?
Readers who enjoy Pobby and Dingan by Ben Rice are likely drawn to imaginative stories exploring themes of childhood innocence and grief. Fans of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold or Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson may appreciate its blend of realism and fantasy, engaging with loss and the power of belief.
2,246 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Pobby and Dingan was Ben Rice's debut novella, published in 2000, and it quickly garnered critical acclaim, winning the Somerset Maugham Award in 2001.
The novella is set in a remote opal-mining town in the Australian outback, providing a unique and vividly atmospheric backdrop for the story.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
Pobby and Dingan was adapted into a film titled Opal Dream in 2006, extending the story's reach from literature to the cinematic world.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
112
Novel • Fiction
Lightning Ridge, Australia • 1990s
2000
YA
10-14 years
We’re just getting started
Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!