Devils in Danger

by Samantha Wheeler

From the beloved author of Wombat Warriors, Mister Cassowary and Turtle Trackers comes another thrilling adventure about Australia's endangered animals. Eleven-year-old Killarney thinks school is boring. She'd rather be exploring the wilderness around her Tasmanian hometown or helping her hairdresser mum. When strange things start to happen – ear-splitting screams in the dead of night and missing items found under the house – Killarney is too busy solving the mystery to do schoolwork. Before long, she discovers the a wild Tasmanian devil, denning under the house! When rumours about dangerous devils begin spreading, Killarney is determined to protect her precious visitor. But can she convince an entire town these wild creatures are worth saving?

Genres: Middle Grade

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2021

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Dodges Ferry in southern Tasmania, this is the story of one girl's efforts to save a Tasmanian devil who chooses to live under the families dilapidated kitchen floor. Killarney, 11 years old, struggles with school work and can't see a need as her dream is to be a hairdresser like her mum who runs her business at home. When a dreadful screeching and yowling starts up Killarney investigates and finds clues. When walking the neighbour's dog she meets Alice, a scientist studying local wildlife and together they track down a young female devil with two tiny babies to nurture. And she chooses to den under the kitchen floor. The community objects, and consider the devil a danger, mum's customers stop coming and her friends think it is disgusting, but Killarney becomes totally committed to protecting the devil, whom she names Fern.

As the story unfolds the reader gets to share Killarney's research into devils, witness the arrival of the imps and learn about the dreadful facial tumour disease threatening the devils' existence. Slowly, through informative and proactive intervention and the help of mum, dad, the boy next door and a few adults (notably, and disappointingly, not her teacher - why do teachers have to be shown as negative and uncaring?), Killarney gradually turns around community sentiment, and, then starts a fundraising campaign to put in safety measures to reduce road kill in the area. Some 'extracts' from Killarney's journal at the end provide extra facts and useful weblinks.

This was a great authentic read on positive action to protect endangered native species that would inspire many youngsters to become active supporters of our wildlife. Sure to picked up by Tasmanians and Tassie schools, there are few minor edits that locals would find a bit grating - there is no real sense of place for Dodges Ferry, the family travel 'down' to Bicheno, which is further north, the need for a navigation system to get to Hobart would be highly unlikely and as this was clearly for an evening visit then there was no need for money in the parking meter - they stop at 6 pm. Minor details but if the book gets reprinted, worth fixing.

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic story about taking action to care for Tasmanian devils. Lovely themes of family, friendship and conservation.