Winner of the CBCA Picture Book of the Year, Are we there yet? has been republished for its 20th anniversary in a special foiled collector's edition. The National Year of Reading, 2012, chose this picture books as its focus for reading and book activities in Australia in 2012, and rightly so. It is an amazing book, considered a classic, detailing the exploits of a family and their trip around Australia in their family 4 wheel drive. With the refrain of 'are we there yet' common to everyone, everywhere, the family hits the grey nomad trail, one increasingly covered by younger families as well. A map at the start helps set the scene as the family packs up grandpa's old camper trailer with everything they think they will need for the three month trip.
A small Australian map every few pages acquaints the reader about how far they have gone and reinforces the position of the places they have stopped at. From The Cooroong to Uluru, Wave Rock to Sydney Harbour Bridge, the sights and sounds of Australia are presented in Alison Lester's beautiful illustrations and economical words. What better introduction to the Australian scenery could we hope for? I can imagine every classroom using this book as an introduction to any unit of work based around Australia, its land and its people. Reading Australia has published an unit of work for teachers.
The glowing pictures of various places around Australia are set against the family's trials and adventures, with the group pictured in their various costumes suited to the climate they are travelling through. The whole is presented with warmth and humour, underlining the vastness of the land through which the family moves, and also its friendliness and comraderie.
Editor's note. This review was first published in 2012 and has been updated.
Marwood's book of poetry, subtitled 'A year in poetry', lives up to that claim stupendously. Pared back lines dot the pages, making her poems readily accessible to readers who love to see big ideas distilled into few words. Australia Day is a 'waltzing good time', Valentine's Day, full of 'heart words', Anzac Day remembered with the heart wrenching 'Last post', while with Father's Day, the poet says 'I am out of words that pinpoint my Dad'. Each of Marwood's poems is short, to the point and succinct. Readers will love her work as they give a neat picture in such few words, encapsulating a moment that everyone will recognise and more often smile. Included in the poems concerning traditional celebrations are those celebrating the richness of our culture: St Patrick's Day, Ramadan, Bastille Day, Festival of Light, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Halloween and Moon Festival.
In between the poems celebrating special days in the life of Australia, are general poems about birthdays, the arrival of a new baby, christening, wedding and the choice of a cake for a birthday party.
Each poem is fun to read aloud and would make a wonderful model with which to teach in the classroom, or encourage readers to read them out loud themselves, adding actions and costume to the readings. At the end of the book is a list of the special days with their dates, and a blurb about Marwood and her other books.
Themes Poetry, Celebration, Special days, Humour.
Fran Knight
The little refugee by Ahn Do and Suzanne Do. Illus. by Bruce Whatley.
Allen & Unwin, 2011. ISBN: 9781742378329. (Age:6+) Recommended.
Subtitled The inspiring true story of Australia's happiest refugee, Ahn Do's story of his early life in Australia comes hot on the heels of his memoir, The happiest refugee (Allen and Unwin, 2010). His memoir is an amazing story of his life from being born in Vietnam, to the family's escape on a fishing boat, coming to Australia, then his life as a school boy, uni student, finally becoming a standup comedian, marrying and becoming a father. This memoir, told in his own unflappable, dry style, is recreated here in a a picture book format, with stunning illustrations by Bruce Whatley. The story is shortened to the family's time in Vietnam and their boat trip across the seas to Australia, then finding their feet in this new country. It is a story of courage and hope, of tenacity and family, and will have wide appeal, particularly as the debate about refugees continues.
But it is more than story about refugees, Ahn's tenacity is very obviously a trait that was passed down from his parents. The group on their boat survived storms and heat spells, lack of food and water, pirates who wanted to kill one of the children, and stole anything of value on the boat. When in Australia, they survived the theft of their sewing machines, bought to sew clothing to make a living. Ahn and his brother wore hand me down clothing from a charity, his brother being given girls' clothing to wear. They survived school, Ahn being made year 5 captain, making his parents very proud.
It is a story about hope, about keeping faith with the future, of knowing that the future is in the hands of the children, and offering them a solid start. Whatley's illustrations are fascinating, beginning in brown sepia tones of the time in Vietnam and on the boat, then adding more colour as they settle into life in Australia. I was particularly struck by the illustrations of the group on the boat, the despair on their faces is awful to see, and the picture of the little boat being tossed about in the ocean, made me feel icily cold, although I could not see the logic in the wide eyed faces in much of the book. Students will have much to discuss when looking at life in Vietnam, or life on the boat, or the illustrations showing the Vietnam War, or the pirate coming aboard. Each offers a great deal of detail to discuss and think about.
Fran Knight
My story, Our Country by Ryhia Dank
Harper by Design, 2025. ISBN: 9781460765531. (Age:5+) Highly recommended.
“Our most important book is our Country. Our stories live in the land, which is why our lands are sacred.”
Gudanji/Wakaja artist and author Ryhia Dank has created a vibrant and engaging picture book of First Nations history and culture by reflecting and sharing her own family story. The bright blue cover with the depiction of a river flowing through, references the big songline and importance of water for the Gudanji family. This river image continues throughout the book but there are also contemporary influences in the artwork alluding to the present day and in the words of Ryhia Dank… “It’s a way of showing that our stories are ongoing and still alive.”
The narrative of this gentle book flows smoothly beginning with the meaning of stories and how in the old days when there was no paper or books, First Nations people used ceremony, rock carvings, drew patterns in the sand, painted cave walls and sheets of bark to pass on their stories. For Ryhia and her family living with Country and how it is taken care and what can be learnt from it, is of vital importance. While many stories are shared of past times, the book also talks about the present and how to look after Country for the future.
My Story, Our Country is a significant book to share with younger students about First Nations history and culture. A valuable resource for a school or public library.
Somebody's land by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing. Illus. by David Hardy
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760526726. (Age:All) Highly recommended.
This evocative picture book encourages a different way of looking at our past. This glorious promotion of thousands of years of Aboriginal custodianship of the land we call Australia overturns the two words, Terra Nullius, so etched into old history books and now shown to be baseless, a pair of words uttered through ignorance.
In presenting this book, Goodes, Laing and Hardy aim to fill in the background to the words repeated at ceremonies and events all over Australia today. These words acknowledging the Indigenous history of our country are given more context, one that younger and older reads alike can mull over and digest. Repeated refrains capture our attention as the truth is revealed. The first, ‘For thousands and thousands of years, Aboriginal people lived in this land we call Australia’, is followed by four lines of text which in each instance, covers an aspect of the culture and lifestyle of the Aboriginal people. We see on each page, bold images of people going about their daily routines: making tools, dancing, building, playing, telling stories, eating together, all living on Country. This is followed by a four lined refrain:
When the white people came they called the land Terra Nullius. They said it was nobody’s land But it was somebody’s land.
These repeated four lines will make readers stop and think, to reevaluate, to weigh up what they have believed in the past. The four lines are like a mantra, forming a place in your thought process, impelling a change of thinking, a way of viewing that for some may be uncomfortable. And the book as a whole is a wonderful launch pad for discussions and conversations both at home or school, in play groups or libraries.
Hardy’s vibrant illustrations fill each page with colour and life. An Indigenous illustrator, he has worked for Walt Disney Animation Studios, and has written and illustrated books for Penguin and Magabala. His distinctive style using Photoshop and a digital tablet will thrill younger readers as they view the habitat, lifestyle and country of the people in the book.
I love the touches of white encroachment on the land: the ship, the reenactment of the raising of the British flag on this ‘Terra Nullius’, despite being offered food, the chopping down of trees. Hardy compares what was and what is now with the wide view of Sydney on the lat two pages, contrasting with the pristine bush at the start. I love the image of the dark emu, a reference to the books which have turned people’s thinking on its head in recent years.
I recommend this to people of all ages and hope along with the authors for a future where we will all walk together. Teacher's notes and a guide for parents and carers are available from the publisher.
Starting school can be an exciting but often challenging time for young children and their families. Not knowing what to expect, what to do, where to go and how to find a friend are real concerns for both children and adults who care for them. Usborne has produced an all-in-one guide that might help allay some of those nagging worries and provide reassurance.
The delightful front cover shows a diverse range of children partaking in all sorts of familiar activities with the front page sharing some important questions and comments. The contents page has chapters with simple questions including, What is School?, Why do you need to go to school? What will you do at school? and the all-important Making friends.
Each chapter is a double page spread, clearly set out with large font, simple colourful illustrations surrounded by plenty of white space. There are speech bubbles, maps, labelled images plus questions at the end. For example, on the Getting to school page are the questions: How will YOU get to school? Do you know how long your journey will take? Who will go with you?
While the book does not always reflect the general Australian school system and uses terms such as Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, School Cooks etc, it does provide generic answers to questions that may be universal for children across the world. The Making Friends chapter is particularly valuable and provides simple strategies to share with children to support them in finding a friend. The Different kinds of schools chapter mentions refugee school, forest school, boarding school and School of the Air in Australia.
At the end of the book there is a page of useful school words plus some notes for grown-ups. This book will be a useful resource for parents to read with their child to help them with the transition to school.
Larrikin House publishers are committed to publishing... "quirky, edgy, original, funny, kid-focused books...and "engaging readers at an early age"...and they believe in fun. Otto's Ink-redible first day of school fits the bill on all of these counts. It also fits the bill on being a warm and helpful story to read when it comes to helping children face their fears (in this case-the first day of school) and helping children to recognise that fear can make you do embarrassing things like... release ink by mistake! It's always comforting to know that other people (in this case Otto the octopus) have similar fears to you. If you feel shy and you hope other people don't know and you don't want to give yourself away by blushing or something else embarrassing - so does Otto. Otto has an even worse problem than you because when he is scared and shy he releases ink and there is no hiding it! Poor Otto!
Toowoomba-based author, Rory H. Mather, is a best-selling author of over 15 picture books. Otto's Ink-redible first day of school, in Mather's signature style, is brimming with humour and heart. Otto's Ink-redible first day of school, follows a strong poetic rhythm. Each stanza follows the pattern A, B,C,B. Wonderful alliteration accompanies the verse..." Underneath the wobbly waves, hiding in his grotto, is where you'll find a smart and friendly Octopus named Otto." Of course he is hiding. He doesn't want to come out for fear of embarrassment. But he has to...it's the first day of school! He looks so worried! Otto has had ink accidents before. He overthinks, he gets to school, things happen, he learns and sometimes little accidents continue to happen. Children will learn some wonderful new sea related vocabulary...just a few words like "grotto" and "mollusc". They wiill read many different emotions on the faces of the characters. They will experience suspense and opportunities to predict the next word when pages are turned based on rhyme and storyline.
This book is set in the depths of the deep ocean where octopuses go to school. Brisbane-based author Rebel Challenger has created a wonderful underwater world for Otto complete with the real sea creatures that you might see - angler fish, wword fish, star fish, sea horses, rays, sharks and clams - they all display individual characters. Their emotions shine through in Challenger's drawings. Otto is full of personality and goes through a range of feelings that are clearly expressed on his face and in his behaviour. He does a lot of hiding. Eight tentacles are very helpful when it comes to self-expression! The characters are very sweet in all their busyness: swimming around, responding to Otto, purposefully and cheerfully carrying their school bags, wearing glasses and doing paperwork at their undersea school desks. Challenger has created a lot of fun for the young reader through the presentation of the cast of fishy characters who share Otto's first day at school. She says that her artwork is..."colourful, a bit silly and most of the characters... seem to be a bit confused and wondering how they got there..." This applies to the delightful characters in Otto's Ink-redible first day of school.
Otto's Ink-redible first day of school is a delightful story, populated with joyous sea creatures and sharing the message about not overthinking and worrying about being shy. Every pre-school setting and library could do with a copy or two for reading as children prepare for their transition to school. It is a fun and comforting shared reading experience for children, teachers and parents alike. Delightful!
Themes Having courage, Resilience, Starting school, Friends, Shyness.
Wendy Jeffrey
The experiment by Rebecca Stead
Text Publishing, 2025. ISBN: 9781923058576. (Age:9-13) Highly recommended.
Nathan lives with family secrets. He also has an interest in the Calvin and Hobbes comics and a close school friend called Victor (who is a bit like Calvin - the mischievous one, to Nathan’s Hobbes - the more pensive soul). Nathan’s family are mostly like other families, except for their strict adherence to certain ‘pink’ toothbrushing regimes and critical analysis of everything that Nathan eats, plus strange connections via Zoom meetings with other isolated children across America. When Izzy, one of his Zoom friends (and first crush), raises queries about their life and possible origins, it sparks a mysterious search for explanations. The growth of a Hobbes-like tail on Nathan creates all sorts of crises in the family with the likelihood of alien origins a real possibility. Nathan feels compelled to investigate the alien backstory for his unusual family demeanour and finds an experimental explanation that both distresses and confounds him. Have his parents really arrived on earth via spacecraft or is there an evil explanation? An unfolding mystery and possible alien rescue (or is that a rescue from aliens?) ensues. Mystery, aliens and adventure wound together with friendship and even a centuries-old spaceship are a winning combination.
This is a book like few others. Forget aliens that are green with winking antennas (goodbye to Hollywood representation!), this is a creative alien rescue story that defies stereotypes. The gentle charm of Nathan (in Year 6) and his ‘alien’ family, wrapped with a hint of ET (the movie) and an impossible transformation via alien ‘invasion’ creates an altogether different sci-fi adventure. There is warmth in the relationships, an element of confusion in the trajectory of ‘The Experiment’ and a few twists and turns along the way. It has a naive quality (Calvin and Hobbes gentleness), and also a hint of early romance interest, but an almost growth-to-independence quality. Otherwise, the fear factor is low … just intriguing drama. Rebecca Stead has created an eminently readable tale for younger sci-fi fans aged 9-13. I enjoyed every part of this unusual story, and I am sure younger readers will also be captivated by the uniqueness of the plot.
Albert Street Books, 2025. ISBN: 9781760876661. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
Shmoof is very shmoofy and wants to be friends with everyone.
And Floof is very floofy and is very nervous about Shmoof from the day they are put together. Shmoof is keen to be friends, but Floofy is sure that the opposite is true. Shmoof plays with a ball and does tricks with the bath, while Floof just runs and hides.
Floof likes to play tricks, but one of his tricks means Shmoof’s food bowl is full of potting mix. They are still not friends. Perhaps something will happen that will get them together.
Just then dad begins to vacuum; neither Shmoof nor Floof like the vacuum cleaner and both agree that the vacuum must go. Hilariously on the next page a paw can be seen pushing a ball in the way of the vacuum. And over the page, BOOM!
Now Shmoof and Floof are the best of friends. A common enemy has brought them together.
This hilarious look at the idea of friendship, as two enemies unite to defuse a common enemy, will be heartily received by readers. The text is gloriously complemented by the wonderful illustrations, full of humour, inviting the reader to laugh along with the two as they skirt around each other, then come together to rid themselves of the dreaded vacuum. Kids will love seeing the animosity between the two at the start recognising the common feelings aroused by their differences and then realising how easy it is to overcome them. I love the page where the vacuum blows up after a small paw pushes the ball in its way, and I was intrigued all through as to how the features of the two animals reveal their feelings. And the twist in the last page of the book will cause lots of fun as children work out ways of dealing with the new machine.
Themes Animals, Humour, Friendship.
Fran Knight
The little book of mining by Kate Harvey. Illus. by Mel Corrigan
Little Steps, 2025. ISBN: 9781923306264. (Age:3-6 years)
The little book of mining is written by Kate Harvey (a mum and FIFO worker) who recognises the importance of children (especially children of FIFO workers) knowing a bit about what their parents do when they are at work. Kate is a mining engineer herself, having grown up in Australia's Pilbara region and now working FIFO (Fly in Fly out) back in the iron ore mine sites. Melbourne based illustrator Mel Corrigan has created a sweeping red landscape that captures a 24 hour time picture of two shifts on a mining site. Artistic focus is on the yellow machines that are introduced in the book and these machines sit within the sandy backdrop under skies of different colours. The landscapes have the feel of watercolour with the machinery in sharper relief. Wildlife look on from vantage points and from the periphery on most pages. Perhaps there is a question there. What are you people doing to our land? A wedgetail eagle hovers during the day and bats take over during the night.
Harvey has chosen a familiar rhyming pattern using the well-known "The wheels on the bus.." tune. Words from the original song are substituted so we begin with, "The boss of the shift says, 'Please be safe, please be safe, please be safe...' " The book is therefore in song format. Each vehicle introduced receives the attention of a double page spread.
Females are visible in all work situations on the mines and always in leadership at the beginning and end of shifts. This reader would have preferred a balance of male and females in leadership positions so that both little boys and little girls can see themselves taking those roles.
As an introduction to mining machinery and the mining industry this interactive picture book works well. The reading process lends itself to a shared fun experience being a song. Questions at the back are closed but may be useful for a parent or teacher to ask a child to go back and count, look at colours and name machines etc. It would be nice if children have access to these machines in toy model form to play with in a sand pit to accompany this book and consolidate learning with hands on activity.
Themes Mining industry workers, Australian Pilbara desert animals, Mining machinery.
Wendy Jeffrey
Detective Galileo: The dogfather by Pete Helliar. Illus. by Andrew Joyner
Australian comedian and television personality Pete Helliar is no newcomer to the world of children's fiction, having released six Frankie Fish books, a picture book and now two books in the new Detective Galileo series. The Dogfather is the second in the series, the first being Detective Galileo and a third, Chaos at the Cat Cafe, to be released soon. Unsurprisingly, Andrew Joyner's illustrations are perfect and the series is aimed at a slighly younger audience than Frankie Fish. Larger text, less pages and black-and-white illustrations on each page provide a perfect segue series for young readers who love graphic novels but are ready for the challenge of larger blocks of text. Varied text adds interest and relatively simple vocabulary makes the read achievable for young readers.
Galileo is a horse who, in the first instalment of the series, captured a 'cat' burglar. His newly established detective agency runs on the grounds of Happy Valley Farm, home to a motley assortment of anthropomorphic animals, but there are also humans. Wonderful figurative language abounds throughout and adds most of the dry humour: 'trembling like a plant in the shadow of a dog's lifted hind leg', 'as confused as a hand puppet on the hand of a statue'.
This series would work well as a classroom or home read aloud, but it falls a little flat in terms of added pizzazz that could have been achieved considering the potential of the setting and characters. The mystery plot itself (the Dogfather is protecting the sheep and chickens by stopping them giving up their milk and eggs to the farm collective) seems like an odd choice and while there is an attempt to make the characters unique and interesting, they all seem lacking. The Dogfather reference will also only be relevant to an adult, leaving children confused or unmoved.
Themes Humour, Mystery.
Nicole Nelson
The hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens
St Martin's Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781250424464. (Age:16+, Adult) Recommended.
It’s 1976, American couple Alice and Tom are setting off together on a long road-trip holiday across Canada, heading for the Montreal Olympics. They are trying to repair their fractured relationship following the still-birth of their much longed-for child. Along the way, they pick up two young hitchhikers obviously doing it tough. Tom’s eager friendliness sees the four of them travelling together much longer than Alice would have wished. There are hints that the two youngsters, Simon and Jenny, have not had a good start to their lives, they are on the run from their pasts, and Jenny is pregnant. However when Alice reads in the news that the two hitchhikers are wanted for a horrific stabbing murder, things start turning nightmarish. Tables are turned and Alice and Tom become the unwilling captives in an out-of-control scenario which sees them also fugitives from the law.
Both female characters are dependent on their partners. For Alice, Tom has always been the solid and stable support in their relationship. It is only when he is incapacitated that she has to step up and use her wits to work out how they can survive. Equally, the young Jenny, timid and subdued, relies on Simon to keep her safe. The problem is that Simon is wildly unpredictable and violent, and at each turn, there is more brutality, something she seems naively able to shut off, as long as he says he’ll take care of her.
The tension is high in this thriller written in short chapters largely from Alice’s point of view, but occasional chapters from Jenny reveal a backstory that becomes increasingly darker. The four characters are trapped together, Alice and Tom are held hostage in fear for their lives and there is no way to get help, no mobile phones, and Simon always has a gun to their heads. It is up to the women in this story to find their inner strength and take action. There is a twist, as in all good thrillers, but no spoilers from me, you’ll have to read the book. Chevy Steven's earlier novel Still missing is a bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, so you know you will be in for a scary ride.
Pan Macmillan, 2025. ISBN: 9781035011438. (Age:Adult, Young adult)
Sociologist Dr Sloane Hartley has a distinguished academic career but that means nothing to 18-month-old Isla, the daughter she loves so entirely that she feels she will never be a good enough mother, a feeling reinforced by her scrolling the social media sites touting the cult of perfect motherhood. Husband Max is logical, condescending and patronising about her concerns, pointing out that Isla needs to start daycare so Sloane can join him at the university, enhancing his position. Sophomore Nina on the other hand is quite clear about her abilities, however as a female she needs not only achievements but connections for success, as well as being beautiful and participating in acceptable philanthropy. Not being white is an extra hurdle but joining a prestigious sorority at a prestigious college should give her the career edge she needs. At the fall recruitment Nina sets her sights on ‘The House” the most exclusive of the campus sororities and uses her frequent calls to her dismissive twin sister, Jas, to explain her decision to join and find an all-female cohort that is supportive and connected to success. Nina’s first year was marred by trauma, and she needs this safe space. The rituals on joining involve initiation followed by the indulgent Monday night dinners where women eat together “unencumbered by shame” p99. Once Sloane has Isla at childcare she starts work at the college and is befriended by Alex, who appears to be a prefect mother to 3-year-old Theo and seems to understand Sloane’s anxieties. Alex is an alumni advocate for The House sorority, and she asks Sloane to become a volunteer faculty advisor.
This satire looks at power and lust in an eat or be eaten world where women need to take drastic steps to succeed in a world based on the patriarchy. The increasingly relevant social media successes like that of “The Country Wife” point to a disruptor in some of the usual pathways. Olivie Blake’s writing on motherhood feels genuine and timeless, like the feeling that there will come a time “when Isla would be less dependent on her, and Sloane would no longer be desperate to be left alone for two fucking seconds – unlike the current state of being, where a toddler was constantly tugging her clothes down for something, a less (more?) demoralizing version of a randy husband.” p107. Blake's sharp observations on the American campus life and what it takes to succeed were interesting and quite foreign to Australia. I wasn't convinced by the cannibalism, I would have been more willing to entertain a conjuring of magic in the sorority than the idea of wellness being associated with human flesh. Like Blake's other works I enjoyed the insightful writing and the wry look at where we find ourselves in today’s world.
Themes Women's fiction, Satirical social commentary, Power and ambition.
Sue Speck
Playtime with Dad by Shen Shixi. Illus. by Zhang Yue
Little Steps, 2025. ISBN: 9781923306479. (Age:3-6 years)
Author Shen Shixi, born in Shanghai, has served on many prestigious literary committees including the Children's Literature Committee of Chinese Writer's Association. Shen's work has received numerous accolades. Illustrator Zhang He is a teacher at the Tianjin Acacdemy of Fine Arts whose work has likewise received many awards. Playtime with Dad (released in December 2025 by Little Steps Publishing, NSW) is a picture book for 6-9 year olds that is the delightful result of the collaboration of author and illustrator.
Playtime with Dad is a warm and cheerful story. Mao Mao introduces herself on the first page... " My name is Mao Mao and I'm four years old. I LOVE playing games with my Dad." From then on one sentence repeats throughout..."When I want to... Dad becomes..." Children will enjoy the repetition and the prompting of the question...what next and what will Dad do? The book finishes with sleep, a new day and the question... can we do this all again? Dad transforms from a beleagured business man in blue to a vibrant, happy, playful Dad.
The double page images blend perfectly with the text. Soft, crayon wash style pictures bring out the joyfulness of Mao Mao and her dad. Each drawing contains considerable detail for the young reader to spot with real life tied up in the stream of Mao Mao's swirling imagination. There are two other little characters who make regular appearances on most pages- a little tan and white dog and its puppy. They enter into the various role plays with great gusto and are another parallel storyline to look out for.
Playtime with Dad, through the use of the refrain, encourages children to build rhythm, memorisation, vocabulary and sentence structure. It invites participation and observation of elements through its engaging text and illustrations. The predictability promotes calm and a feeling of mastery in young readers and the recurring sentence anchors the plot.
Playtime with Dad is a charming picture book that will leave readers smiling.
Themes Role play with dad, Imagination, Adventure.
Wendy Jeffrey
Amity by Nathan Harris
Tinder Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781035404681. (Age:Adult, young adult)
In 1864 Wyatt Harper, once deputy surveyor for the Confederate government, left to seek opportunities across the border in Mexico after the civil war loss. Mrs. Harper, and their daughter Florence were sent to family in Baton Rouge, New Orleans with their servant, formerly enslaved, nineteen-year-old Coleman. He and his older sister, June, had been wedding presents from Mrs. Harper’s parents when they were just ten and twelve, and growing up in the house together Florence and June had been like sisters. With slavery abolished they stayed on as family servants, but June became a favourite with Mr. Harper, and when he left for Mexico he took her with him. Two years later, after having heard nothing, Amos Turlow arrives with a letter from Mr Harper resulting in Mrs Harper, Florence and Coleman, with the dog, Oliver, setting out for Mexico to be reunited, Coleman seizing the only chance he will have to find June, Florence resolved to reclaim her father. After departing from New Orleans on a steamer with Turlow as escort the women enjoy the luxury and social life on board, but it is not long before disaster strikes, changing the quest to a struggle for survival.
Through sustained, reflective storytelling Harris develops the central characters gradually revealing what drives them. The enslaved June and Coleman might have been freed but a lifetime of servitude has robbed them of the ability to control their own lives. For June, having to rise to “the obligations of the day” has given her stamina and resilience while Coleman’s gentle nature, determined innocence and love of learning make the courage he must find, facing his fear of the unknown, quite remarkable. Florence and Coleman find themselves unwilling companions, relying on each other for survival, stripped of all support, Florence’s determined pragmatism is able to push them forward at the worst of times and the dog becomes their wild card, a go between whose unconditional affection gets them out of some sticky situations without violence. The unfamiliar desert setting of the Mexican borderlands, contested, each with their own agenda, by the French, Americans, Indians, Mexicans and those escaping the fallout of enslavement, makes an interesting backdrop to a little-known aspect of history.
Themes Historical fiction, American Civil War era, Mexican borderlands, Courage, Freedom, Adventure.
