David Mulligan

Angels of Kokoda tells the story of the Kokoda Trail through the eyes of a young Australian boy, Derek Anderson. He was taken to New Guinea by his parents, who were missionaries committed to 'taking healing and God to the poor heathen'. Derek was reluctant to go th New Guinea at first but meets a native boy of his own age, Morso, who becomes his friend. A harmony exists between the two boys and Derek develops a respect for Morso's culture. Derek learns to speak Orokaiva and Motu and adopts some of the culture of his Orokaivan people, becoming a blood brother to Morso and is initiated into the tribe. Derek's father, Dr George Anderson, is horrified that his son so closely identifies with the native people and relations between the two become very strained.
When the Japanese threaten the island, Derek is supposed to be evacuated back to Australia with his mother and sister. Instead he runs away with Morso and finally ends up with the men of the 39 th battalion and the 'fuzzie wuzzie angels'. The boys become part of the gruelling struggle to hold back the invading Japanese army.
The text fully conveys the horrors of the campaign, with some graphic imagery of the environment and the war. The story also reveals issues of racism, companionship and loneliness but as the war rages around them, differences are forgotten and a new sense of respect is found.
The harsh reality of responsibility, survival and constantly facing death means that Derek and Morso are forced into maturity at an early age. This sense of maturity also isolates them, as Derek, still only 13 years old, later finds it difficult to fit into a normal Australian life amongst an innocent peer group.… (mer)