Description
Ray's father is helping to build the West Gate Bridge when Ray overhears something that fills him with terror. Is the bridge going to collapse? Can his dad survive if it does?
Obsessed with the construction of Melbourne's new West Gate Bridge, where his father works, Ray Johnston overhears a conversation about a fault in the bridge and a plan to loosen its bolts. He tells his best friend Tom and confides in his father, who insists that he keeps quiet about it.
Ray is devastated when he hears sirens coming from the worksite. He races there to find that the bridge has fallen, taking several workers with it. Is his dad one of them? What else can he do?
Review
Set in 1970, in the time leading up to, during and after the collapse of the West Gate Bridge, this is a wonderful insight into life at the time, and the effect that this tragedy had on those who were involved.
Ray is 15 and the son of a rigger on the West Gate Bridge. He loves everything about its construction, and what it will bring to Melbourne. He and his best mate, Tom, love spending as much time as they can watching the bridge be built. They have a treasure box of bits and pieces that they have collected from around the construction site, as they know the enormity of what is being built.
It is on a solo trip to the site that Ray overhears some of the bosses talking about a potential issue. Ray thinks that this confirms the earlier conversation that he and Tom had heard at Tom’s house, whose Dad worked for the steel supplier. But when Ray tells his father, he is assured all is well and urged to keep it to himself.
Hearing sirens on that fatal day of October 15, Ray immediately rushes to the site, expecting the worst. Will his Dad and their other friends survive?
It is in this instant that Ray shows his courage and maturity, and it will be a defining moment in his life. Having to come to terms with the guilt and grief sees Ray’s attitude to life change, and maybe he will now look at life as not so black and white.
This is a fabulous historical novel about family, friends, neighbours, growing up, grief, guilt, maturity and acceptance. Although not having lived through it, it is certainly a story that is close to home as a Melburnian. Being part of the Rhiza Shorts collection, it is perfectly aimed at reluctant readers. Suitable for a reading age of 10+, with an interest age of 14+.
Teacher notes prepared by the publisher are available on our website for this title.
