Border Line

by Dianne Wolfer

Book by Wolfer, Dianne

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Dianne lives on the south coast of Western Australia. She is author of 25 books with more titles on the way. Her latest novel 'Scout and the Rescue Dogs' celebrates truckies and rescue dogs, and links to the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires. It's a 2024 CBCA Notable and shortlisted for WA Young Readers' Awards.
Other recent titles include: 'The Last Light Horse', a CBCA Notable Book now adapted for CineStage by Theatre 180; 'Mia' (Allen and Unwin's award-winning Through my Eyes series); and an Aussie STEM Stars title about Skye Blackburn-Lang, Australia's first farmer of edible insects.
Dianne's doctoral research into anthropomorphism and animal characters in children's literature was selected as a Board of the Graduate Research School Dean's List Winner in 2017, and led to two books, 'The Dog with Seven Names' (winner of the 2019 Speech Pathology Awards, CBCA Notable, shortlisted for the NSW Premiers Literary Awards and published in China) and 'The Shark Caller' (CBCA Notable and optioned for film). In addition to her general website, Dianne posts about animal characters at www.animalswhotalk.

'The Dog with Seven Names' is written anthropomorphically and explores Australian WW2 history from the perspective of a small dog in north-west WA. Another title with unusual animal perspectives, 'The Shark Caller' is set in Papua New Guinea. This underwater fantasy novel links to both the ancient practise of calling sharks as well as modern-day environmental concerns.
Dianne's picture book, 'Nanna's Button Tin' is published in the US by Candlewick. Other stories in the multi-adapted WW1 'Light' series are the award-winning 'Lighthouse Girl' and 'Light Horse Boy'.
Dianne's book, 'Light Horse Boy' won the WA Premier's Award as well as CBCA Honour book. Partner title, 'Lighthouse Girl' was inspiration for Royal de Luxe Theatre's spectacular Perth street performance, The Giants, won the children’s choice, West Australian Young Readers Book Awards and is a recommended reading text for the National History Curriculum. Lighthouse Girl has also being adapted for Black Swan Theatre by playwright Hellie Turner. The story was based is based on the true tale of Fay Howe, daughter of the Breaksea Island lighthouse keeper, who relayed messages for the departing ANZAC troops in 1914. Light Horse Boy follows the journey of a young soldier who waves to Fay before sailing with the 1st AIF. The book follows Jim’s journey to Egypt, Gallipoli and through iconic battles of WW1’s Desert Campaign. Dianne enjoys combining her love of history with writing fiction. Her picture book, 'Photographs in the Mud' (also a recommended History Curriculum text) was inspired by a research trip along the Kokoda Track. It was published in Japanese and is used as a reference for international workshops promoting peaceful ‘discourse analysis’. Dianne is an active member of writing groups, including the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and served for six years as their WA Advisor. Dianne loves travelling and has spent much of her life overseas.

Awards
2023 CBCA Notable Book, The Last Light Horse
Short listed, CBCA Book Awards for Light Horse Boy and also for Granny Grommet and Me, 2014
Winner, West Australian Young Readers’ Award, 2010
Short listed, NSW Premier’s History Awards, 2009
Short listed, West Australian Premier’s Awards, 2009
Short listed, West Australian Young Readers’ Award, 2007
Short listed, West Australian Young Readers’ Award, 2006
Short listed, West Australian Young Readers’ Award, 2002
Short listed, Family Therapists’ Award for Children’s Literature, 2001
Short listed, Wilderness Society’s Environment Award, 1999
Short listed, West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award, 1999
Short listed, West Australian Young Readers’ Award, 1996

Reviews

[Nadia King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Border Line is one of Dianne Wolfer's early novels and it was published in 1998 by Fremantle Press. Border Line tells the story of Cassie Falconer, a teenager from Perth whose world is shaken by her father's redundancy. All is not lost, however, because the family relocates to Eucla, a small dot on the map 1,500kms away from Perth. Eucla feels to Cassie as if it is a million miles away from school and her friends. What could be worse to a vegetarian teen than a dad whose new job is to shoot starlings?

While I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Cassie, two other things I absolutely loved about this book were:
1. Wolfer's evocation of a stark setting. Eucla is a place of red dust and mozzies, few friends, and an ocean that's no good for swimming. But yet the reader and Cassie grow to love the remote location. Wolfer perfectly captures the sense of wide open spaces, shifting sand dunes and blue skies. The Australian bush has a magical quality which Wolfer captures effortlessly on the page. I guarantee you'll be itching for a road trip out West!
2. Cassie's new friends--Ella and her brother, Bernie--who are warm, gentle characters. I really enjoyed watching their friendships unfold.

Border Line is a book about a girl growing up in the Australian bush and has themes of friendship, diversity, family, and appreciation of nature. Wolfer gently tackles themes of racism and conservation, and gives readers a sense of the vastness and wonder of the Western Australian bush.

Highly recommended. This book was reprinted in 2003, so if you have trouble tracking down a copy, why not try http://www.thelitcentre.org.au where I found my copy.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dianne Wolfer is a bit of a West Aussie treasure. In particular, her historical fiction for children is wonderful. ‘Light Horse Boy’ and ‘Lighthouse Girl’ show aspects of WW1 through the eyes of children called upon to be brave beyond their years. ‘Photographs in the Mud’ (my favourite) is a beautifully sensitive and sophisticated picture book set on the Kokoda Trail, 1942. All are fabulous additions to any library or collection.

I came across ‘Border Line’ when culling some shelves.... didn’t recognise it....but knew Dianne Wolfer was good....so, gave it a read to see who I could recommend it to. Turns out it should be on the shelves of a High School library....and is a little dated.....but it is wonderful to have a novel devoted to a big, wide open space called ‘The Nullarbor’ in Western Australia. Cassie, our main character, reluctantly goes to live in Eucla, a remote and tiny township. Wolfer talks passionately about the unique landscape and bird life and the government program that tried to stop the infestation of starlings into Western
Australia. There are the usual teenage awkward moments...but they lead to a good message to do with being yourself and choosing friends who let you be yourself.

I hope Dianne Wolfer is working on something now......I will be looking out for anything new.......especially the historical fiction.

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting take on the important work the agriculture border control teams do, along with the racism, sexism and isolation of the regions.

[Gaynor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book some time ago. There was something about it that I really enjoyed. The author explained a lot about the birds and why the characters in the story were sent to the Australian desert in the first place. I found it fascinating learning about how the birds behaved, how tenacious they were. This version of the book, published in the states, has had all those parts removed. What a pity.
It is still a good book though. I would give the original version 5 stars.