Pet

by Catherine Chidgey · 2023

In 1984 New Zealand, twelve‑year‑old Justine is captivated by her charismatic new teacher, yearning to be her "pet" in a world where admiration and obedience feel like safety. When a series of thefts begins to plague the school, Justine’s intuition tells her that something far darker is unfolding. As secrets surface and guilt tightens its grip, she must navigate a tangled web of deception, confronting the corrosive forces of racism, misogyny, and the oppressive reach of Catholic authority. Catherine Chidgey’s lyrical psychological thriller weaves past and present, forcing Justine to choose where her loyalties truly lie, and delivering a haunting portrait of childhood betrayal that sits alongside classics like Heavenly Creatures and Picnic at Hanging Rock.