Escape from Cockatoo Island: My Australian Story (Yvette Poshoglian, Scholastic)

Thursday, 11 October 2012 Unlocked content from the archive. Books+Publishing

Escape from Cockatoo Island is the latest offering in the ‘My Australian Story’ series. Olivia doesn’t think that she’s a bad girl. But she’s starting to wonder if maybe she’s got it wrong. Orphaned and alone, Olivia spends her days praying that a family will adopt her, that she’ll find work, or will somehow escape Cockatoo Island and the harsh conditions of Biloela Industrial School. Olivia’s life is a melting pot of hope and disappointment. Every snatch of hope thrown her way is tempered by bitter disappointment. Told in short, digestible diary entries, this series is designed to engage young readers with their Australian history through fictionalised accounts and it does so very well. Like the others in the series, this is well researched and offers an intimate portrayal of a specific point in time. The story of the forgotten children from Cockatoo Island offers a refreshing look at an untold piece of our history. The final chapter was an abrupt conclusion to the piece, but overall Olivia’s story is one that many young readers will enjoy, and they will follow her ups and downs with great interest.

Bec Kavanagh is a Melbourne based writer and reviewer

Category: Reviews