Beth: The Story of a Child Convict

by Mark L. Wilson

A story of the First Fleet, from the acclaimed author of My Mother's Eyes and Angel Of Kokoda.

Beth is a child convict, caught stealing on the streets of London and sent to Australia on the First Fleet. Through Beth's story, we discover the unbearable hardships those first convicts suffered, not only on the long journey to Sydney Cove but also in the two years of near-famine following their arrival. The story also explores the new arrivals' relationship with the Indigenous population, and the devastation that the Europeans brought with them.

But through Beth's experiences we also see the sense of hope that many in the new colony held for the future, and how they survived - and in some cases thrived.

This moving story, illustrated with Mark Wilson's beautifully crafted and evocative artwork, was inspired by the experiences of Elizabeth Hayward, the youngest female convict with the First Fleet, and the journals of naval officer William Bradley and Arthur Bowes Smyth, the surgeon and artist from the First Fleet vessel 'Lady Penrhyn'.

Genres: History, Picture Books, Childrens, Australia

38 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2016

About the author

Australian Author/Illustrator

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story that has to be told. The history of convict arrival and the brutality of the society they were sent from and the society created in a new, stolen land has to be told. It always pains my heart as a mother that children got and still get treated with such disregard.
Illustrations are good
Not a story I will borrow to read to my grannies because of the language used about the "natives". I take seriously my role in providing a balance for this new generation so they can look at our mutual history with more than the "conquering peoples story".

[Loren Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was short but got the point across. The illustrations were breathtaking, and the story itself a strong reminder of the hardships faced by so many - especially the children - during the transportation of convicts to Australia. A beautiful little book, which brought a tear to my eye.

[Sonya Bright]

I love Mark Wilson’s incredible artwork, and this is another one of his books about life in 19th century Australia.

I especially like that he picks snippets of real history to use, and doesn’t sugarcoat the past. These are picture books children of all ages will get something out of – but different things at different times.

As always with this author/illustrator, recommended.

[Taru-Tuulikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully, artistically illustrated book inspired by Elizabeth Hayward, the youngest female convict on the first fleet (she was 13).
Not for young children (Premier Reading Challenge years 5-6, but definitely something for older kids it adults as well).

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful story in a short picture book.
Beautifully told the harsh realities of early Australian convicts.

[Pamrla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good introduction for children on the first fleet of convicts to Australia , also the hardships they faced on developing a colony.