Victory would seem to have it all. He is growing up in one of the most beautiful locations on earth, surrounded by generations of his people. But this gifted boy struggles as his eyes are opened to the anguish of a society in change and he reaches for meaning in his life through art. Art I Am has been acclaimed by teachers and commentators as a moving novel examining the role art plays for young people in enabling the survival of creativity in the young. Author Shona Hammond Boys QSM is the founder of New Zealand Children's Art Houses and has travelled the world promoting the power of art for children. She was born in Pureora Forest, a rich rain forest in the center of New Zealand's North Island, and now lives as an artist in the East Coast township of Opotiki.