Lighthouse Family: Coastal New Zealand, 1941-42

My New Zealand Story

by Philippa Werry

For Frances and her family, living on a remote lighthouse station, World War Two is both far away and scarily close. There are rumours of submarines in the Pacific. The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbour, taken Singapore and bombed Darwin ... so what's to stop them invading New Zealand next?

But then trouble strikes closer to home - and Frances, the only girl on the island, has more to worry about than the threat of Japanese invasion.

Suddenly, everyday life is harder than ever before. And it's up to Frances to hold the family together.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Bookrapt (Est. 1983) · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the My New Zealand Story series. Frances Sutherland and her family live on a remote lighthouse station. Her diary covers the years 1941 to 1942 when the threat of Japanese invasion during World War II is very real. Her best friend Violet's family have left the island, and the new family has only boys which is a disappointment. And when her mother has to leave the island due to pregnancy complications, Frances is left in charge of looking after the rest of the family single-handed and is too exhausted to worry about the threat of an invasion! A really interesting story with many important extras. A list of characters in the front, historical note, World War Two timeline, notes on the Orion, Niagara, Puriri, Japanese midget subs in Sydney Harbour, Japanese submarines in New Zealand waters, Japanese in New Zealand, Masterton earthquake, School for the Deaf, Correspondence School, Aunty Daisy, along with a map of lighthouses in New Zealand, photographs and newspaper articles round out this well-researched and useful book.

Reviewed by Debbie McCauley (Bookrapt)

This is the fictitious story of Frances Sutherland, a young girl whose diary records her thoughts, feelings and the activities of her family and the other people who make up this lighthouse community. News of World War Two, of New Zealand soldiers in North Africa and Europe, and increasingly news of the perceived threat of a Japanese invasion, occupy the minds of all but the youngest. This is the background setting. The immediate setting for the bulk of the story is Frances' small coastal or island community, supplied largely by coastal steamers who bring the necessities of life and the out-of-date news of the war.

Frances is the second daughter. Her older sister is at boarding school for much of this story. There are three younger brothers. Their mother works all day and long into the evenings, providing the food, warmth, clothing and educational assistance that is needed. Mr Sutherland is an assistant lighthouse keeper who, as well as his shifts at the lighthouse, also milks the cow and works in the large garden that is needed to feed the family. The importance of friendship and community support, the loss of a best friend, responsibilities to parents and younger brothers, learning to recognise and accept the strengths of others perhaps not initially valued, and the acceptance that one's assumptions do not necessarily match with what others want: these are lessons that Frances absorbs during this important year in her life. Philippa Werry covers all of these themes
convincingly and with sensitivity. In addition to Frances' diary, there are useful extras, one from Frances who starts with a list of characters “On our Island” which covers both the humans and the animals. At the end of the story there is information for those wanting further details: a brief Historical Note about Japanese submarines that are known to have ventured close to New Zealand and Australia; a World War Two Timeline 1939-45; More About the War; More about Lighthouses, including a map, photos, an advertisement and news articles.

A well-researched story that captures the hopes and fears, the joyful moments and the worrisome, the pride and the insecurity of this pre-teen who loves this isolated lifestyle choice of her father's.

Reviewed by Chris Wright (Bookrapt)

[Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good

[Hester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at life in NZ during WW2. Coming of age, isolated living etc.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable children's story about a 13 year girl and one year in her life in abd around a lighthouse.

Well-written, suitable for all readers 9 - 12 years, although would appeal more to girls.

It was a Christmas gift from my son, and he knows that I enjoy these light stories.

[Jen]

very interesting

[Reb · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good insight to what it was like near a lighthouse during the war, and when people still worked in Lighthouse's.