Paperback. 286 pages. Published 2004.



A story of transportation and life in a new world.

At the tender age of eight, chimney sweep Tom Appleby is convicted of stealing and sentenced to deportation to Botany Bay. As one of the members of the First Fleet, he arrives in a country that seemingly has little to offer - or little that the English are used to, anyway.

Luckily, not long after Tom's arrival in the colony, the fair and kind Sergeant Stanley decides to take on Tom as a servant. Together Tom, Sergeant Stanley and his son, Rob, build a house, set up an orchard and a vegetable garden for themselves - and thrive, unlike many others in the new colony.

Jackie French weaves Tom's story in with the story of the development of Australia. She tells of a colony that, despite its natural abundance, cannot offer what the colonists want - familiarity. While the people's health is better than it ever was in England, their morale is low as they wait for news from home.

RELEASE NOTES:


This book posted to Diamondlucy in far, far away Austria (as part of a RABCK) at 4.30pm Friday 08 July 2005 at Sherwood Post Office Sherwood Road Sherwood Brisbane Queensland Australia.

The illustration shows a Convict Road Gang on the Great Western Road near Toongabbie New South Wales 1808.

Gosh, I don't know what to say. You are amazing.

Thank you.

Jackie French paints a vivid picture of how it could have been in the beginnings of Australia. I know it's fiction, but I think she hit it.

Even though Tom Appleby had to suffer a lot he never gave up hope. I liked the idea of this very special "courage cloak" Tom passes to his granddaughter Millie.


"I have a present for you."
Millie frowned," But it's your birthday, not mine."
"Well, not really a present then. It's a cloak... No, not a real cloak," he added when the child looked around. "It's a cloak in your mind. You imagine it, that's all. I've had it since I was your age."
He'd thought Millie would look disappointed at that, but instead, she appeared interested.
"What do I do with it?"
"It's a courage cloak. I was your age when I found it. If you are scared you put it around your shoulders and ..." He paused.
"And you're not scared anymore?" demanded Millie.
"Yes, you are still scared," admitted Thomas. "But you know that you can bear it. You know that being frightened will never stop you doing anything."

RELEASE NOTES:

This book is dedicated to travel from one homesick to another. Hope it helps getting over that soon. Letting it go wasn't easy at all, but that's bookcrossing, right? I don't want it to gather dust.

I re-read it early in the morning though :-)


(inside the parcel is that very well hidden cloak too)

Thank you!!!!
Today, when I came home from work, a huge parcel was waiting for me! Thank you very much, Lucy!:-))

And now, I know from what book the cloak is!:-)

Thank you, you are so great!:-))

Im Regal

I am spending this weekend in Zurich, to see some Christmas things and have a look around. A highlight so far has been the singing Christmas tree. It is an amazing triangular tree shaped structure, covered in pine branches that choirs stand in and sing christmas carols.

I visited the Gloria Cafe for lunch, and found this book on the shelves by the front door. There were lots of books there, including about ten in English.

This was a fascinating read that recreated life for one of the first settlers from England when they landed in Australia. The historical research was used by the author very well, and it gave a really good indication of life on a convict ship.

The notes at the end where the author sets out to discuss the accuracy of history was interesting to read.

I got a better understanding about this period in history after reading this book.

I posted this to Scotland as a RABCK.

Arrived today and I look forward to reading this one - thanks, KiwiinEngland!!

An absorbing story and fascinating detail about the first convict ship to sail to Australia. I love this kind of 'imagined' history, telling stories about the lives of ordinary people based on the 'bits and pieces' of information that have survived. The discussion of food and the early settlers perceptions that they were starving because it simply wasn't food that they were used to are also really interesting. A very quick read as well - I started this last night while making dinner, and then got caught up in it - I decided that I shouldn't be devouring entire books in one go, so I saved myself 30 pages to read over breakfast this morning!

Another bookcrosser had expressed interest when kiwiinengland offered this as a rabck so I've contacted her to see if she would like to read it, otherwise I'll offer it on the forums again!

on its way to abigailann at lunchtime as a RABCK - enjoy!

Thanks ever so much for passing this onto me. Its going into my TBR pile, but it looks so interesting that I'm sure I'll get round to reading it soon.