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The Return
Jonathan lives at Wilkes Beach. It was a peaceful place in those days - a small settlement on the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand, miles from the nearest town. Just a cluster of houses along a beach, overlooked by a range of bush-covered hills. And Jonathan's world was a pretty ordinary one, filled with school and family.
Until the new boy arrived. Karl Smith. White-blond hair, dark brown eyes, a strangely quiet sort of boy. He and his mother have rented the old house opposite the cemetery. No one knows where they have come from or why they are here. But Jonathan begins to have the feeling that Karl Smith is watching him. Listening, somehow, to what he is thinking.
Until the new boy arrived. Karl Smith. White-blond hair, dark brown eyes, a strangely quiet sort of boy. He and his mother have rented the old house opposite the cemetery. No one knows where they have come from or why they are here. But Jonathan begins to have the feeling that Karl Smith is watching him. Listening, somehow, to what he is thinking.
163 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
6 people want to read
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November 1, 2021
Set in New Zealand not long after World War II, this is the story of a small community which is visited by aliens - twice. As a children's book, it is interesting because the story opens with the perspectives of several older members of the community, and we slip inside the minds of these characters several times as the plot progresses. Our main character is Jonathan Wilkes, whose family helped found the settlement nearly a hundred years ago. There are only a dozen or so children in town, all of whom attend the local school, and children and adults of different ages interact a lot throughout the community.
A pale-haired and pale-skinned woman, Mrs Smith, and her son, Karl, arrive. They are the second expedition of an alien species to visit this settlement. The first, visiting around 1893, committed a crime, and now Mrs Smith and Karl (aka Visha and Garl) are here to investigate and set things right. The science fiction focus of the story is on telepathy and evolution, but what I really enjoyed about the story was the way the community interacted.
I don't know that I would have enjoyed this book as a child, but as an adult I found it interesting.
A pale-haired and pale-skinned woman, Mrs Smith, and her son, Karl, arrive. They are the second expedition of an alien species to visit this settlement. The first, visiting around 1893, committed a crime, and now Mrs Smith and Karl (aka Visha and Garl) are here to investigate and set things right. The science fiction focus of the story is on telepathy and evolution, but what I really enjoyed about the story was the way the community interacted.
I don't know that I would have enjoyed this book as a child, but as an adult I found it interesting.
Displaying 1 of 1 review