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Krakatoa Lighthouse The world's deadly volcano is about to explode. Once it devastated every civilization in the world, include the Roman Empire. Now it will create the loudest sound ever recorded, sending air waves seven times around the world. And it will create tsunamis of a height of forty metres. There will be fools, cowards, the lucky and the tragic. And then there will be incredible heroes… ® Krakatoa Lighthouse is published by Penguin Australia. Shortlisted the 2009 NSW Premier's Young People's History Prize The judges said: In Krakatoa Lighthouse, Allan Baillie invites his young readers to share the exciting story of Kerta. an Indonesian boy and son of a lighthouse keeper in the days before, during and after the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. Baillie's skilful narrative takes into account colonial relationships between Indonesians and the Dutch, and consequent antagonisms and divisions amongst local communities. The book also draws out many aspects of local culture, including mythological stories about the volcano, and includes as part of the narrative, characters representing the nineteenth century European scientific interest in natural phenomena in the Antipodes. The account of the eruption and subsequent devastation are dramatic and frightening, true to many real-life experiences of these phenomena. The well-crafted writing propels the story towards its unpredictable and unhappy end. This book not only contributes to the reader's historical understanding of a significant environmental catastrophe in the late the nineteenth century, but it also allows an insight into the colonial experience within the framework of Dutch colonial rule of Java. Krakatoa Lighthouse is engagingly written. Sun Herald - 'This is a riveting story, drenched in Javanese history and culture, and relating the centuries-old struggle between the native Javanese and Dutch. While the volcano bubbles violently away in the tension between the two nationalities also simmers away. An interesting and well-researched slice of history, Krakatoa Lighthouse provides insight into the destructive force of volcanoes and the quiet pride and superstitions of the Javanese. Through the friendship of Kerta and Jan, a Dutch boy, Baillie explores the gulf that exists between the Javanese and the Dutch, and also the rift caused by the Dutch occupation between the Javanese themselves. Krakatoa Lighthouse is a memorable tale, charged with danger and drama.' Margaret Bromley, Viewpoint - 'This is a fascinating read. Rather than a story about the eruption itself, this is a book from the view of a young boy, witness to the event. We get caught up in his life and this is what makes it so interesting... The eruption is arrived at slowly and Baillie builds tension as sign after sign pointing to an impending disaster is ignored. Like any complex historical tale, the difficulty lies in creating an emotionally-driven personal story, in this case Kerta's, while giving accurate historical detail about real events.' Photos of Krakatoa Lighthouse
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Cat Mountain ® will be published Penguin Australia early in the 2006.
From the moment Catherine stepped down from the clunky bus she is in trouble. And every single step she takes on the haunting mountain her danger increases - but she does not know.
She had some to the rugged Barrington Tops to have a holiday with Gran in her lonely 'Mud Hut', and she can see her waving on the mountain as she stepped from the bus.
All she has to climb up to her, no worries at all...
¤ Louis Braille audio.
'Baillie writes a taut thriller, but his story is equally about growing confidence and strength, without being too easy. Good, strong stuff.' - Age
'Expert imagery recreates the Australian bush and increases the tension while the authentic dialogue never slows the pace of this fast moving adventure. A thrilling tale...' - Magpies
Magpies Picks of 2006
Awards: CBCA Notable Book. Cat's Mountain is in Qld's State Reader’s Cup
On the list of Premier's Reading Challenge in 09.
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The Wave ® will be published Penguin Australia early in the 2006.
Steve is on holiday in another country and just wants to enjoy himself. Cheap computer and swimming are on his mind. But disaster strikes and Steve is forced to make a change. Can he look past his own urgent trouble and think about others too?
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