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1916 – Dig for Victory (Kiwis at War)

As we Otago lads have only enough men for two squadrons, the General has decided that we are to be merged with the incoming Maori contingents to form a new battalion. Our new battalion will be ‘Pioneers’, doing behind-the-lines work: building barracks, railroads, roads and trenches. As you can imagine, Father, we’re not happy – we want to fight, not dig holes.

When Leith McArran signed up to fight in a war half a world away, little did he know that he and his fellow Dunedin Scots would end up shovelling dirt with Maori lads from home.

Nor did he know that he’d become best mates with a young orphan named Tamati Baines, who is haunted by nightmares of steel serpents and blood-red butterflies – visions that might save them from a secret enemy – or get them both killed.

Written by David Hair

 

$19.99 incl. GST

1 in stock (can be backordered)

Description

Recommended reading ages 10-14 years.

1916: Dig for Victory is a sensitively written and compelling novel. The story follows fictional characters through their war experience and uses actual events to frame the narrative. The novel is an engrossing way to learn about the experiences of New Zealand soldiers during World War I. The main characters, Leith and Tamati, come from very different backgrounds but they form a quick and easy friendship. There are themes that may require some support for younger readers, for example, the racist attitudes that were prevalent in New Zealand and the armed forces at that time. Through the experiences of Leith, Tamati and their fellow soldiers, readers will come to understand more of what it was like to be a soldier, and the inner struggles they faced. They will also discover the tight bonds of friendship that carried men through such harrowing times. Maps, a timeline, glossary, historical notes and author’s notes will assist readers in understanding the events, environment and language of the day.

About the Kiwi author

David Hair is a New Zealand fantasy writer, currently living in Bangkok. He spent most of his working life in Wellington, in financial services. David became a fulltime writer after the publication of his first novel, while accompanying his wife Kerry on a government posting to India.

David’s first novel The Bone Tiki won Best First Book at the 2010 NZ Post Children’s Book Awards, and Pyre of Queens won the LIANZA Young Adult award in 2012. He has 10 YA novels and 4 adult novels published: in New Zealand, the UK, the USA, and India; and his adult fantasy novels have been translated into German, Dutch, Turkish and Bulgarian. David has a BA in Classical Studies and History, and a diploma in financial planning. Travel is an important part of his writing and he has lived in India and the UK, and travelled in Asia, Europe and America.

Additional information

Weight100 g
Dimensions19.8 × 12.8 cm
First published

2016

Format

Paperback edition

ISBN

9781775432807

Page count

304

Published by

Scholastic NZ

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