Jun 06 2007
Teresa Moran, soldier by Ken Catran
Lothian books, 2007. ISBN 978 0 7344 0963 8
The fourth in the Moran Family series by New Zealand author, Ken
Catran, Teresa Moran is as exciting and fast paced as the three before
it, Jacko Moran, sniper; Robert Moran, private; Jimmy Moran, regular, all showing
one person's involvement in the twentieth century wars that Australia
and New Zealand have been part of. While telling a personal story of
each of the main characters, each tale reveals war and its horror to
the reading generation, and shows the moral decisions which countries
and participants must make in times of war.
Teresa is a survivor of an incident in East Timor and must now go to
Afghanistan and Iraq where she is under some suspicion, and so
relegated to a minor role. She bears the brunt of criticism from her
comrades and she knows that they all have their own version of what
happened to her. It makes her position even more challenging. Meanwhile
she has a never-ending stream of advice and criticism from her father,
now a member of a committee looking at the effects of Agent Orange on
those who served in Vietnam. The stories of Teresa and her father go
hand in hand in this examination of the role of combat forces in the
defense of a country.
For those who want a good story line, embedded in realistic fighting
sequences, this story will go down well. This book could well be
presented
along with non fiction like Scarecrow
Soldiers (Davidson) and Animal
Heroes. Ages:13-15
Fran Knight
© Pledger
Consulting, 2007