Description
Alex sighs at the dusty brown landscape. Drought is second nature to him - but how much longer can his family keep hoping for rain and better days?
Thirteen-year-old Alex lives on a drought-affected property in South Australia with his mum, his dad, his kelpie dog Tangi and colt Jago. For years it hasn't rained enough for them to put a crop in. And while all the farmers in the area are suffering, Alex's dad is struggling more than most. As the drought stretches on, Alex helps his mum with the farm work while longing for the father he once knew.
When Bonnie moves in on the neighbouring property with her camel-training family, even feral dogs and a missing classmate cannot stop the newfound friends' passion to make a difference to the environment and their community. Will Alex's dad recover - and will the rains ever return?
This inspiring Australian Disaster Zones series is a powerful and contemporary reminder of the effects of natural disasters and the ever-increasing threat of climate change to our vast and volatile continent.
Review
Alex lives in outback South Australia, in a town that is slowly dying from the impact of a continue ddrought. After the bushfires most Australians believe that everything is now fine, but this is far from the truth in 2020.
Alex’s Dad is suffering depression and he wrongly blames himself for the death of many of their sheep in the fire, leaving Alex to do many of the things that his Dad now cannot do. Alex's Mum does everything she can to keep the family afloat, including working regular shifts at the pub to bring money in, but she is also finding things overwhelming.
Then Bonnie and her camel trainer family move in next door, and with her positive attitude and friendship she brings Alex new hope. But many in town believe camels shouldn’t be this far south and that they will only make things worse and drink too much of their precious water. Can they teach people that this is not true?
A plastic recycling project that began at school gets the whole town involved as they receive a grant to purchase a machine that can turn waste plastic into useful items, starting with bowls. Alex’s Dad is skilled with machinery so he is asked to help, and slowly he starts to take a more active and positive role in life. But will the drought ever break or will they also be forced from their farm?
This is a great series looking at tough situations faced by young Australians, particularly country kids, that I find really insightful. With themes of climate change, family struggles, depression and communities working together to make a better future, this will be a terrific novel inspiring group discussion for readers from Year 5 to 8.
Reviewed by Rob
