Zachary's Cry

Abandoned and broken. But Zachary survived — and his story will stay with you

Zachary’s Cry is a hauntingly beautiful and morally complex novel that will stay with you long after the final page.

Set in rural South Australia, the story opens with a shocking birth — a young woman, alone and terrified, concealing a devastating secret. When her baby, Zachary, survives against the odds but is left with catastrophic injuries, the ripples of that moment stretch across decades.

Michael Chalk masterfully weaves together themes of medical ethics, legal drama, and the quiet but fierce power of foster love. Through the eyes of Zachary’s devoted carers, a principled Zimbabwean trained country doctor, and a flawed but remorseful mother, the novel explores truth, accountability, and the redemptive power of grace.

This is not just a story of survival — it’s about what makes life worth saving, and the extraordinary kindness that makes healing possible. Compassionate, deeply moving, and impossible to forget.