Tommy Bell Bushranger Boy - Shoot-out at the Rock by Jane Smith, illustrated by Pat Kan
(Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN
978-1-925275-94-0
Reviewed
by Anita Howard
This is an enjoyable story about the history of Australian bushrangers that will spark the
interest of children aged 7 years and up.
The
story begins with a disengaged Tommy who has failed his history test; he is kept
in over lunch to read a boring history book, and misses his chance to buy a
special donut. When Tommy notices a boy eating his desired donut, he kicks him
and steals the donut, then he runs away from school. His distressed parents
announce he will spend the whole of his upcoming school holidays working on his
grandparents’ farm. This is not how Tommy had planned on spending his holidays.
Farm
life is not as tough as he expects and he is provided with Combo, a horse, for
the duration of his stay. The discovery of a cave and an old bushranger’s hat
during one of his rides is the pivotal event that sends Tommy from the contemporary
farm life into the life and times of Captain Thunderbolt, an Australian
bushranger.
This
section is fast-paced, as Tommy appears at moments such as a shooting between
police and the bushrangers.Tommy’s first-hand
experiences in Captain Thunderbolt’s world soon changes his attitude to
stealing, violence; and history.
This
is the first of a series of books, where Tommy, with the help of the old hat,
travels back to the world of the Australian bushrangers.
Sprinkled
with bold illustrations, and concluded with historic notes about Captain
Thunderbolt, the story is followed by a fictional interview with Captain
Thunderbolt.
