Billy Mack's War (18 page)

Acknowledgments

I wish to express my gratitude and thanks to Tony Mumford, for opening up some old wounds in order to give a young man some kindof insight; to my parents and grandparents, for casting their minds back to the days of conflict, victory and recovery; and to everyone else who allowed me to throw ideas at them, in particular my wife, Vicki.

Acknowledgment also to Michael McKernan, whose book
This War Never Ends
was invaluable in my research.

Finally, special thanks to my grandmother, who sadly passed away shortly after I finished writing this book. Thanks, Grandma. You would have really liked this one.

CAPTAIN MACK

School's tough when you don't quite fit in and the school bully has picked you as his latest target. And it's especially tough when one of your best friends is an old man who still thinks he's in a POW camp and just wants to go home.

Bravery is clearly called for but does Danny have the right stuff?

Captain Mack
is an adventure about heroes and unlikely friendships.

HONOUR BOOK
CBCA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

PRAISE FOR
CAPTAIN MACK

Roy's well-written story is full of insight and compassion without resort to sentimentality.

CBCA Notable Australian Books

It is a heart warming and thought-provoking novel that is well written and presents a satisfying and logical conclusion.

Reading Time

Altogether a refreshingly subtle picture of growing up male.

The Weekend Australian

Well written and realistic, this book pulls no punches and young readers will suffer with the hero as he experiences injustice and frustration and will be elated as he gains a sense of self.

Primary Focus Fiction

ISBN 0 7022 3107 X

First published 2004 by University of Queensland Press
PO Box 6042, St Lucia, Queensland 4067 Australia

www.uqp.com.au

© James Roy

This book is copyright. Except for private study, research, criticism or reviews, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any foram or by any means without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.

Typeset by University of Queensland Press

Distributed in the USA and Canada by International Specialized Book Services, Inc.,
5824 N.E. Hassalo Street, Portland, Oregon 97213-3640

Cataloguing in Publication Data
National Library of Australia

Roy, James
Billy Mack's War

For upper primary and lower secondary school students.

1. World War, 1939-1945 – Veterans – Tasmania – Juvenile Fiction.
I. Title.

A823.3

ISBN 9780702234798 (pbk)
ISBN 9780702256486 (pdf)
ISBN 9780702256493 (epub)
ISBN 9780702256509 (kindle)