This is a book with a difference. When I started reading the first page or two I thought I wasn't going to like it, but I was wrong. The story starts with a 76 year old named Hannah, who is retelling her devastating story of an incident when young, that changed her life forever. It is told in a broken English which was annoying me at first, but as I read on I realised why she spoke this way and I did eventually get used to it.
Hannah and her family lived in the bush of Tasmania, during colonial times, when Tasmanian Tigers freely prowled the forests. It was a rugged life and she was an only child. When her neighbour and friend, Becky, comes to stay overnight because her father is away,Hannah was very excited. Her family, along with Becky, go on a nice little picnic, however, on their return a storm came in harsh and fast and capsized their little row boat, leaving Hannah and Becky to be stranded along in the wild and untamed Tasmanian forest. Not knowing if her parents where alive or dead, Hannah was petrified, being only six years of age, and Becky only a year older. Without giving too much away, they are startled as two Tasmanian Tigers approach. They are sure they will be killed until something startling happens.
This story is heartbreaking, raw, and unforgettable story. The decisions they must make are unthinkable but what would I do to survive, lost, with no sign of help. This is a first YA novel for Louis Nowra, who was born in Melb, and is an author of many plays, non-fiction works, telemovies and film scripts.
