This book was a staple novel on children's school reading lists in Australia in the 1960's and 1970's. Curiously however, despite being a child for at least part of that time, I had actually never read it until now, as far as I can recall. The novel itself is a 'coming of age' story set in 1929 Australia, in a semi fictionalised locality in which I actually grew up some 50-60 years later, hence the appeal of the book to me now. I enjoyed very much being able to connect with the 'place' in which the book was set as much as the characters. I'm not sure whether the book is too remote in time now to appeal to a present day young audience, but there is perhaps enough adventure and excitement and familiarity of feeling and experience that it still may appeal to boys of a certain age.

- Copy purchased by the Reviewer, $A 12.00 from The Paperback Bookshop, Bourke Street, Melbourne.

Postscript - the author, Don Charlwood, served in Bomber Command in the Second World War, and his fictionalised memoir, No Moon Tonight, is also regarded as a classic, and worth a look if you can find a copy.