Fifteen-year-old Lara Ritchie is sent to live in the remote Australian bush with the father she barely remembers and his new family after her mother dies of cancer. Lara finds herself an unwelcome intruder in a struggling household with a hostile stepmother, Gladwyn, and her four half-siblings. She faces further challenges from a school bully named Gowd Gadrey.

Lara’s only solace comes from the mysterious appearance of a beautiful dog during a thunderstorm, which she names Thunderwith. This special bond helps her cope with her isolation and grief, and the dog becomes a symbol of hope and strength for her. The novel, which was inspired by a real-life experience of the author in the Wallingat rainforest, weaves in elements of Aboriginal folklore and vivid descriptions of the Australian wilderness.