In every class, there’s a kid who’s a little bit different, a little bit on the ‘slow’ side. When she first sees Sushmita, with her sweet round face and innocent eyes, the principal of Rugged Rocks High is worried. “Putting that lovely child amongst our kids? It’s like putting adugong into a tank of barracudas.” And she’s right to worry! But Sushmita has other ways to fight back against bullies, and somehow, having her among them changes all the children’s lives – for the better. In The Dugong and the Barracudas, Ranjit Lal tackles the subject of prejudice, bullying and ‘special needs’ with his signature blend of humour and insight, challenging young readers to step out of their own skins and see the world through someone else’s eyes.