State Ward (1994) is Alan Duff’s fictionalized account of being incarcerated as a child.

Charlie Wilson is a boy sent to Riverton Boys' Home as a state ward until such time he is seen fit to return to society.

Writes Duff:

'I'm thirteen and I'm in a cell. A cell. It's got real bars, up there protecting that high window. I can jump up and touch them. I'm in a cell. That door is for real; it's made of solid steel, and it's got a peephole. So they can spy on me. But I ain't gonna bust. I damn well ain't.'

There’s also the name “George” scrawled on the walls of Charlie’s cell, along with ‘kehua’ which means ghost.