Black Sheep (2023) by Australian actor & writer, Judy Nunn, is an historical fiction novel centred on the story of James who was orphaned at the age of 16.

James, who has already been in foster care, is on the run as a 16-year-old after he kills the man who killed his beloved father, shearer George Wakefield, during the Queensland Shearer’s strike.

Later, in Sydney, James kills a man he thinks is going to rape him.

James subsequently befriends Ben McKinnon & joins the prosperous sheep farming McKinnon family in Goulburn NSW as a shearer & later as son-in-law of the proprietor.

James becomes James Brereton-McKinnon & has 3 children with Jenna McKinnon. The eldest, Josh, is also in an informal foster care arrangement for 3 years when he is sent to Sydney to attend school.

*Spoiler Alert* Black Sheep concludes when Joshua McKinnon, born into privilege & determined to be powerful, kills his father because James has discovered Josh has been dealing in the black market & profiteering from WWI.