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Underground: Marsupial Outlaws and Other Rebels of Australia's War in Vietnam
Led by an unconscientiously objecting wombat registered for military service during Australia's war in Vietnam, Underground digs tunnels through a chapter of Australian history that many have attempted to bury.
Why would a wombat be registered for war?
It's 1965, and an old Tattersalls barrel starts rolling marbles to randomly conscript young Australian men to fight in the war in Vietnam. Melbourne housewife Jean McLean is outraged, as are her artist friends Clif and Marlene Pugh, who live in the country with their wombat, Hooper.
Determined to wreck the system, Jean forms the Save Our Sons movement's Victorian branch, and she and her supporters take to the streets to protest. Meanwhile, in the small country town of Katunga, Bill Cantwell joins the Australian Army, and in Saigon, young Mai Ho is writing letters to South Vietnamese soldiers from her school desk. And when Hooper's call-up papers arrive, he mysteriously goes underground…
As these stories intersect in unexpected ways and destinies entwine, a new world gradually emerges - a world in which bridges of understanding make more sense than war. This stunning graphic novel, full of empathy, courage and resistance, is based on true events.
Why would a wombat be registered for war?
It's 1965, and an old Tattersalls barrel starts rolling marbles to randomly conscript young Australian men to fight in the war in Vietnam. Melbourne housewife Jean McLean is outraged, as are her artist friends Clif and Marlene Pugh, who live in the country with their wombat, Hooper.
Determined to wreck the system, Jean forms the Save Our Sons movement's Victorian branch, and she and her supporters take to the streets to protest. Meanwhile, in the small country town of Katunga, Bill Cantwell joins the Australian Army, and in Saigon, young Mai Ho is writing letters to South Vietnamese soldiers from her school desk. And when Hooper's call-up papers arrive, he mysteriously goes underground…
As these stories intersect in unexpected ways and destinies entwine, a new world gradually emerges - a world in which bridges of understanding make more sense than war. This stunning graphic novel, full of empathy, courage and resistance, is based on true events.
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First published August 3, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 22, 2021
It's always interesting to see the next generation/s 'discovering' the history that we ourselves lived through. Graphic artist Mirranda Burton was born in 1973, the year after Australia ceased conscription for the Vietnam War, and as it says in the introduction, it was not until 2011 when she was artist-in-residence in the former studio of artist Clifton Pugh at Dunmoochin in Victoria, that his activism against the Vietnam War triggered her interest in finding out more.
Loosely based on historical fact, the resulting book is Underground, a graphic novel with the advantages and limitations of the format. The advantages are that it will appeal to those who love the format, and to younger readers, especially those known in education circles as 'reluctant readers'. The art work is vibrant and dynamic, and the size of the book (18x26cm) means that the text is clear and easy to read. (Which was not the case when I tried to read the Vintage edition of Persepholis, by Marjane Satrapi, translated by Mattias Ripa).
One of the disadvantages, however, is that simplified text in this format can lack nuance, as for example on page 5 where we see in a text box about Clifton Pugh's first wife Marlene that in 1952:
On page 7, we see that
But there's nothing to refute the suggestion that she had been mixed up with gangsters or the other negative connotations of the rumour.
Similarly, nuance is lacking on page 16 in the section about exemptions from National Service. We read that
It is true that the first ballot for National Service in 1965 was before the 1967 referendum which changed the Constitution so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted as part of the population and the Commonwealth would be able to make laws for them. But that reason could not have applied as a reason for exemption after 1967. Furthermore, 'First Nations Australians' implies those from the Torres Strait Islands as well as Aborigines, but Torres Strait Islanders were not exempt. The reason why they were not, and Aboriginal people were, was because the DNLS (Department of Labour and National Service) held that...
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/09/22/u...
Loosely based on historical fact, the resulting book is Underground, a graphic novel with the advantages and limitations of the format. The advantages are that it will appeal to those who love the format, and to younger readers, especially those known in education circles as 'reluctant readers'. The art work is vibrant and dynamic, and the size of the book (18x26cm) means that the text is clear and easy to read. (Which was not the case when I tried to read the Vintage edition of Persepholis, by Marjane Satrapi, translated by Mattias Ripa).
One of the disadvantages, however, is that simplified text in this format can lack nuance, as for example on page 5 where we see in a text box about Clifton Pugh's first wife Marlene that in 1952:
Marlene Harvey was only nineteen. There were rumours that she was a gangster's moll and carried a gun under her breast.
On page 7, we see that
Despite the rumours, Marlene didn't carry a gun. More often than not, there was an orphaned marsupial in her handbag.
But there's nothing to refute the suggestion that she had been mixed up with gangsters or the other negative connotations of the rumour.
Similarly, nuance is lacking on page 16 in the section about exemptions from National Service. We read that
First Nations Australians were not eligible for registration and were not drawn from the ballot, as the government did not recognise them as Australian citizens. It is estimated that around 300 First Nations Australians volunteered anyway.
It is true that the first ballot for National Service in 1965 was before the 1967 referendum which changed the Constitution so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted as part of the population and the Commonwealth would be able to make laws for them. But that reason could not have applied as a reason for exemption after 1967. Furthermore, 'First Nations Australians' implies those from the Torres Strait Islands as well as Aborigines, but Torres Strait Islanders were not exempt. The reason why they were not, and Aboriginal people were, was because the DNLS (Department of Labour and National Service) held that...
"...it would be impossible to trace and oblige young Aboriginal men to register, as many of them did not know their birthdate. Not all States kept birth records of Aboriginals, and each defined Aboriginality differently. Aboriginal Australians could, however, volunteer for national service. The National Service Act did not refer to Torres Strait Islanders. As their dates of birth were usually recorded, the DLNS considered them liable to register but was lenient towards those who did not, for it considered that the scheme was insufficiently publicised in the Torres Strait Islands." No action was taken against non-registering Torres Strait Islanders before September 1967. (Australian War Memorial Appendix: The national service scheme, 1964-72).
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2021/09/22/u...
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August 22, 2021This review was first published on the Underground Writers website: http://underground-writers.org/review...
When I was in high school, I studied the Vietnam War, but I could not comprehend the true horrors and unrest until I read Mirranda Burton’s graphic novel, Underground. Burton entwines different perspectives, time periods, movements, and countries to form a work that shows the impact the Vietnam War had on both Australian and Vietnamese people.
I must confess that when I first read the blurb and saw the cover, I was under the impression that the novel was from the perspective of a wombat who went to Vietnam to assist the Australian troops. While the story of the wombat is incorporated into the plot, the wombat acts as a metaphor to represent when soldiers burrow to forget the tragedies of war. In addition, the wombat helps to create some light-hearted relief from the death and devastation that Burton illustrates and explores in the plot. The wombat being called up to fight emphasises the main characters’ views on war—in particular conscription—as ridiculous.
While I knew the novel would be based on true events, I did not realise that it would also be based on actual activists. Burton includes activists Jean McLean, who was a convener of the Save Our Sons movement, Bill Cantwell who is a veteran of the war, and Mai Ho, a refugee who went on to help many with her volunteer work and political career. Knowing that Burton portrayed real people encouraged me to have a strong emotional response when reading sections of their plight.
The novel is told in a non-linear order, and explores the three predominant storylines of Jean, Bill, and Mai to reveal the effects of the Vietnam War both domestically and internationally through civilian, solider, and refugee perspectives. Jean’s perspective shows how Australian’s slowly began to turn on the idea of conscription, especially since it was the first war to the broadcasted-on TV. Bill’s perspective shows the brutal realities of war and gives readers a glimpse into seeing what soldiers lived through and are still reliving. Mai’s perspective shows how devastating the war was to Vietnamese families and the necessity to escape Vietnam when the war ended and a new regime took over. This shuffling of time and perspectives effectively demonstrates the immediate and long-term impact of the war.
Underground explore issues of PTSD, asylum seeker rights, human rights in war, chemical warfare implications, and more. Although Burton pairs her illustrations with text, sometimes she creates two-page spreads with no text which lets the imagery speak for itself. I found Burton’s sparse writing on pages of illustrations depicting war to be extremely effective. The small, dark imagery helped create the sensation of time passing quickly as I found myself scanning over each panel to understand what was occurring.
Underground is a fantastic graphic novel to further individuals’ learning or understanding of the Vietnam War. Similar to the broadcasting of the Vietnam War, Barton’s illustrations keep a part of history alive, albeit a sad and horrific part of history. Despite its beautiful illustrations Underground is not a light, breezy read, and it is definitely not a forgettable one.
When I was in high school, I studied the Vietnam War, but I could not comprehend the true horrors and unrest until I read Mirranda Burton’s graphic novel, Underground. Burton entwines different perspectives, time periods, movements, and countries to form a work that shows the impact the Vietnam War had on both Australian and Vietnamese people.
I must confess that when I first read the blurb and saw the cover, I was under the impression that the novel was from the perspective of a wombat who went to Vietnam to assist the Australian troops. While the story of the wombat is incorporated into the plot, the wombat acts as a metaphor to represent when soldiers burrow to forget the tragedies of war. In addition, the wombat helps to create some light-hearted relief from the death and devastation that Burton illustrates and explores in the plot. The wombat being called up to fight emphasises the main characters’ views on war—in particular conscription—as ridiculous.
While I knew the novel would be based on true events, I did not realise that it would also be based on actual activists. Burton includes activists Jean McLean, who was a convener of the Save Our Sons movement, Bill Cantwell who is a veteran of the war, and Mai Ho, a refugee who went on to help many with her volunteer work and political career. Knowing that Burton portrayed real people encouraged me to have a strong emotional response when reading sections of their plight.
The novel is told in a non-linear order, and explores the three predominant storylines of Jean, Bill, and Mai to reveal the effects of the Vietnam War both domestically and internationally through civilian, solider, and refugee perspectives. Jean’s perspective shows how Australian’s slowly began to turn on the idea of conscription, especially since it was the first war to the broadcasted-on TV. Bill’s perspective shows the brutal realities of war and gives readers a glimpse into seeing what soldiers lived through and are still reliving. Mai’s perspective shows how devastating the war was to Vietnamese families and the necessity to escape Vietnam when the war ended and a new regime took over. This shuffling of time and perspectives effectively demonstrates the immediate and long-term impact of the war.
Underground explore issues of PTSD, asylum seeker rights, human rights in war, chemical warfare implications, and more. Although Burton pairs her illustrations with text, sometimes she creates two-page spreads with no text which lets the imagery speak for itself. I found Burton’s sparse writing on pages of illustrations depicting war to be extremely effective. The small, dark imagery helped create the sensation of time passing quickly as I found myself scanning over each panel to understand what was occurring.
Underground is a fantastic graphic novel to further individuals’ learning or understanding of the Vietnam War. Similar to the broadcasting of the Vietnam War, Barton’s illustrations keep a part of history alive, albeit a sad and horrific part of history. Despite its beautiful illustrations Underground is not a light, breezy read, and it is definitely not a forgettable one.
July 12, 2021
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review
First thoughts
This was a brilliant book that opened my eyes to some courageous humanitarian efforts by some people during the Vietnam War and the decades following. It's wrapped in a lovely metaphor about wombats that gave the story a bold Australian flavour that was delightful to read.
Underground
This is a graphic novel about the Vietnam War - particularly about the moral greyness of conscription for a war with dubious beginning, and the war's effect on the Vietnamese.
We follow a few characters but mostly Jean and Mai to see how their stories entwined together. Jean is an Australian mother who takes a firm stand against conscription and founds "Save Our Sons".
Mai is a Vietnamese woman, but I won't talk too much about her story because I think it's best enjoyed by reading the book itself. Otherwise I might give things away!
Why you should read this
This book was surprisingly informative. I've studied history at university and touched on the Vietnam war, but I learnt a lot from this. I've never before read about home efforts for justice or come across these women's names.
It was lovely learning about the Fairlea Five and all the other histories in this book in such a fun way as a graphic novel.
I also found the constant references to wombat burrows to be entertaining, and it was also a really apt metaphor for the behaviour and struggles that certain characters were going through.
One great thing this metaphor did was unpack the problems of the neck-breaking shift in attitude towards the Vietnam war when veterans were to forget about the whole thing. This had devastating affects on the mental health of veterans, especially in addition to undiagnosed PTSD.
Artwork
A quick note on the artwork! This is a black and white graphic novel done in a very similar style to Maus by Art Spiegelman. It's just as good and similarly swaps between narration from the present day and the past. Most of the story takes place in the past and the artwork is so poignant. I found the illustrations clever and harrowing, so hats off the illustrator.
Final thoughts
Just brilliant - couldn't put it down and read this so quickly. Would recommend this book to anyone: its topic is important, the artwork is fabulous and the story is engaging.
Happy reading!
First thoughts
This was a brilliant book that opened my eyes to some courageous humanitarian efforts by some people during the Vietnam War and the decades following. It's wrapped in a lovely metaphor about wombats that gave the story a bold Australian flavour that was delightful to read.
Underground
This is a graphic novel about the Vietnam War - particularly about the moral greyness of conscription for a war with dubious beginning, and the war's effect on the Vietnamese.
We follow a few characters but mostly Jean and Mai to see how their stories entwined together. Jean is an Australian mother who takes a firm stand against conscription and founds "Save Our Sons".
Mai is a Vietnamese woman, but I won't talk too much about her story because I think it's best enjoyed by reading the book itself. Otherwise I might give things away!
Why you should read this
This book was surprisingly informative. I've studied history at university and touched on the Vietnam war, but I learnt a lot from this. I've never before read about home efforts for justice or come across these women's names.
It was lovely learning about the Fairlea Five and all the other histories in this book in such a fun way as a graphic novel.
I also found the constant references to wombat burrows to be entertaining, and it was also a really apt metaphor for the behaviour and struggles that certain characters were going through.
One great thing this metaphor did was unpack the problems of the neck-breaking shift in attitude towards the Vietnam war when veterans were to forget about the whole thing. This had devastating affects on the mental health of veterans, especially in addition to undiagnosed PTSD.
Artwork
A quick note on the artwork! This is a black and white graphic novel done in a very similar style to Maus by Art Spiegelman. It's just as good and similarly swaps between narration from the present day and the past. Most of the story takes place in the past and the artwork is so poignant. I found the illustrations clever and harrowing, so hats off the illustrator.
Final thoughts
Just brilliant - couldn't put it down and read this so quickly. Would recommend this book to anyone: its topic is important, the artwork is fabulous and the story is engaging.
Happy reading!
September 13, 2021
A sucker for anything wombat related, I was very keen to read this graphic novel and wasn’t disappointed! Burton weaves together four different experiences of protest during the Vietnam war; Clifton Pugh and his wife (and their pet wombat), Jean McLean who was instrumental in the protest movement, Mai Ho, a Vietnamese refugee and Bill Cantwell who served with the First Battalion.
These stories are inspired by the personal stories of Bill, Mai and Jean and extensive research into the protest movement, the war and of the lives of Clifton and Marleen Pugh and their property, Dunmoochin, which was later turned into an artists’ community.
Burton’s storytelling is a lovely combination of both human tale, and historical facts. It is the kind of book that you read with a device nearby so you can Google as you read! Combined with her chunky, Lino print style illustrations, this makes for an engaging and fascinating read!
Teacher and librarians: I would probably recommend this for Middle/Senior school. would be great for English or history, particularly if looking at protest.
These stories are inspired by the personal stories of Bill, Mai and Jean and extensive research into the protest movement, the war and of the lives of Clifton and Marleen Pugh and their property, Dunmoochin, which was later turned into an artists’ community.
Burton’s storytelling is a lovely combination of both human tale, and historical facts. It is the kind of book that you read with a device nearby so you can Google as you read! Combined with her chunky, Lino print style illustrations, this makes for an engaging and fascinating read!
Teacher and librarians: I would probably recommend this for Middle/Senior school. would be great for English or history, particularly if looking at protest.
July 15, 2022
I picked this book up at the local library without knowing anything about it, just because it was something “about wombats”.
I’m not Australian and I didn’t live through the Vietnam war, but I found the reading very informative. Heavy topics, explained easily.
At the end, there’s a section with interviews, sources and artist licences explained by the author.
I’m not Australian and I didn’t live through the Vietnam war, but I found the reading very informative. Heavy topics, explained easily.
At the end, there’s a section with interviews, sources and artist licences explained by the author.
July 2, 2022
If you want to really know about the impact the Vietnam War had in Australia, then you need to read this. Well researched and visually creative, Miranda Burton brings together the stories of activists who did all they could to change public opinion about the war and is based on true events.
July 30, 2025
I love interacting with history via graphic novel! It was so interesting to learn about Australia and Vietnam in the 60's based on true stories and interviews. Also wombats are my favourite animal I love them
June 4, 2022
Truly wonderful, I went ‘ohhh’ and ‘wow!’, and ‘no way’ and got a bit choked up a couple of times to boot! A must!
July 19, 2023
This is the sixth and final in a series of six reviews featuring the 2022 Readings Young Adult Book Prize.
If you are going to read one graphic novel this year, make sure you choose Underground: Marsupial Outlaws and Other Rebels of Australia’s War in Vietnam, winner of the 2022 Readings Young Adult Book Prize.
The book started in 2011, when the author Mirranda Burton became artist in residence at Dunmoochin, about 35 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, in Australian artist Clifton Pugh‘s former studio.
We are familiar with Pugh’s legacy as a three-time winner of the Archibald Prize, including his famous 1972 portrait of former prime minister Gough Whitlam. Yet, it is rarely known that the artist had a pet wombat who was registered for military service in Vietnam in 1972.
This inspired Burton’s investigation into Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. After years of extensive research and numerous interviews, the graphic novel was born, featuring six memorable characters whose stories intersect in unexpected ways.
The first and foremost is Jean McLean, who convened the Save Our Sons Movement that from 1965 to 1973 campaigned against conscription and Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Initially they were seen as “rabble-rousers”:
“Oh for goodness sake, go home and cook your husbands’ dinners!” “Shame on you t’call yourselves Australian.” “Let our boys join the army. It’ll teach them some discipline!” “Show some respect for our diggers! What would you women know about war?”
But by 1970 the tides of public opinion had turned. When McLean and her team spend 14 days in Melbourne’s Fairlea Women’s Prison after being changed with trespass while distributing anti-conscription leaflets, 4,000 waterside workers in Port Phillip Bay went on strike in solidarity with these mothers.
Adding to the momentum was the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam in May that year, with 100,000 people taking to the streets in Melbourne alone. Similar demonstrations were held in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart.
Entwined with this unforgettable page of our nation’s history are the stories of Bill Cantwell and Mai Ho, survivors of the Vietnam War on the opposite sides. Cantwell witnessed his father’s prolonged suffering from the trauma caused by the Japanese military torture on the Thai-Burma Railway, before becoming permanently injured himself in Vietnam at the age of 20.
Meanwhile, Ho was only 14 when America and its allies left Vietnam after the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973, leaving behind “a decimated, scorched and poisoned country” where three million of Vietnamese people were killed It took years for Ho and her family to manage an escape from Saigon by boat, finally arriving in Australia as refugees in December 1982.
And, finally – having been registered for military service under the name “Hooper Algernon Pugh”, the wombat disappeared when his marble was drawn from the ballot in March 1972. Whether or not he was a conscientious objector remains unknown, but, thanks to him, we now have a stunning graphic novel, full of empathy, courage and resistance.
Note: This book review, originally titled “Must-read award-winning graphic novel”, was published under the title “Burton’s must read” by Ranges Trader Star Mail, January 24, 2023, P.15.
If you are going to read one graphic novel this year, make sure you choose Underground: Marsupial Outlaws and Other Rebels of Australia’s War in Vietnam, winner of the 2022 Readings Young Adult Book Prize.
The book started in 2011, when the author Mirranda Burton became artist in residence at Dunmoochin, about 35 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, in Australian artist Clifton Pugh‘s former studio.
We are familiar with Pugh’s legacy as a three-time winner of the Archibald Prize, including his famous 1972 portrait of former prime minister Gough Whitlam. Yet, it is rarely known that the artist had a pet wombat who was registered for military service in Vietnam in 1972.
This inspired Burton’s investigation into Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. After years of extensive research and numerous interviews, the graphic novel was born, featuring six memorable characters whose stories intersect in unexpected ways.
The first and foremost is Jean McLean, who convened the Save Our Sons Movement that from 1965 to 1973 campaigned against conscription and Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Initially they were seen as “rabble-rousers”:
“Oh for goodness sake, go home and cook your husbands’ dinners!” “Shame on you t’call yourselves Australian.” “Let our boys join the army. It’ll teach them some discipline!” “Show some respect for our diggers! What would you women know about war?”
But by 1970 the tides of public opinion had turned. When McLean and her team spend 14 days in Melbourne’s Fairlea Women’s Prison after being changed with trespass while distributing anti-conscription leaflets, 4,000 waterside workers in Port Phillip Bay went on strike in solidarity with these mothers.
Adding to the momentum was the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam in May that year, with 100,000 people taking to the streets in Melbourne alone. Similar demonstrations were held in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart.
Entwined with this unforgettable page of our nation’s history are the stories of Bill Cantwell and Mai Ho, survivors of the Vietnam War on the opposite sides. Cantwell witnessed his father’s prolonged suffering from the trauma caused by the Japanese military torture on the Thai-Burma Railway, before becoming permanently injured himself in Vietnam at the age of 20.
Meanwhile, Ho was only 14 when America and its allies left Vietnam after the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973, leaving behind “a decimated, scorched and poisoned country” where three million of Vietnamese people were killed It took years for Ho and her family to manage an escape from Saigon by boat, finally arriving in Australia as refugees in December 1982.
And, finally – having been registered for military service under the name “Hooper Algernon Pugh”, the wombat disappeared when his marble was drawn from the ballot in March 1972. Whether or not he was a conscientious objector remains unknown, but, thanks to him, we now have a stunning graphic novel, full of empathy, courage and resistance.
Note: This book review, originally titled “Must-read award-winning graphic novel”, was published under the title “Burton’s must read” by Ranges Trader Star Mail, January 24, 2023, P.15.
August 17, 2021
A truly remarkable book - one of the best I've read in a long time. I was 12 years old when my brother (not a conscript) went to Vietnam and vividly remember waving him goodbye with a mix of sadness and patriotic fervour. Certainly in my neighbourhood there didn't appear to be any opposition to the war (although my poor mother was distraught). I definitely don't recall anyone voicing an opinion as to why we shouldn't be in Vietnam and would only imagine they would have been dismissed or ridiculed if they had. In the years since I had never heard of Jean McLean but this book perfectly illustrates - in more ways than one - the sacrifices of those women. The tide was starting to turn by 1970 but it makes you wonder about the vilification of Jean and her crew in the mid 60s. Truly makes you wonder how often we've been on the wrong side of history. I'm glad to read that Jean McLean is still around and if she ever gets around to reading this, I'd just like to say thank you. The chapters about Mai Ho and Tan Le were likewise incredibly uplifting. Unlikely to happen but would dearly love the next person who complains about having to wear a mask while they are shopping picks up this book and has a read.
June 27, 2023
I thought this was a bit satirical but it has about 4 streams to the narrative and only one is really about the wombat and a little satirical. All are personal stories in the wider history of the Vietnam war, particularly the lotto aspect of Australian conscription during the 1960s-1970s had me thinking at this time. My late father and uncles were of an age where their names could have come up, one Uncles name did come up but he escaped on medical grounds. I'm wondering now if my father's decision to go to Uni was partly influenced by conscription, it wasn't spoken about around me if it was.
I knew about Vietnam war protests and The Wharfies strikes in the 1970s, but I'd never heard of Jean Mclean, Mclean is a surname in my family so I'm surprised she was never mentioned by family in Victoria.
This graphic novel is a brilliant way to bring all these real people's stories together in a coherent way.
I'm slightly staggered at just how well done it is, the more I think of it.
It needs to go back to the library but tempted to pick up my own copy, I'm so impressed.
I knew about Vietnam war protests and The Wharfies strikes in the 1970s, but I'd never heard of Jean Mclean, Mclean is a surname in my family so I'm surprised she was never mentioned by family in Victoria.
This graphic novel is a brilliant way to bring all these real people's stories together in a coherent way.
I'm slightly staggered at just how well done it is, the more I think of it.
It needs to go back to the library but tempted to pick up my own copy, I'm so impressed.
November 2, 2021
Whether you are already an avid graphic novel fan or have never picked one up in your life, this book will hit the spot, especially if you're interested in reading about Australian life in the 1960s and 70s.
Underground is based on true events and cleverly interweaves the lives of three quite different people (and a wombat!) whose paths cross in unexpected ways: a Vietnamese girl who grew up during the Vietnam War, an Australian woman who revolutionised the Australian peace movement in the 60s and 70s, and a young Australian soldier who was injured in the Vietnam War and came to see war through very different eyes.
Even though this story centres on the Vietnam War, it is not all gloom and doom. It has funny moments and it is inspiring and also I learnt quite a lot about that period. It has wonderful, strong women characters and the illustrations are nothing short of brilliant.
Highly recommended.
Underground is based on true events and cleverly interweaves the lives of three quite different people (and a wombat!) whose paths cross in unexpected ways: a Vietnamese girl who grew up during the Vietnam War, an Australian woman who revolutionised the Australian peace movement in the 60s and 70s, and a young Australian soldier who was injured in the Vietnam War and came to see war through very different eyes.
Even though this story centres on the Vietnam War, it is not all gloom and doom. It has funny moments and it is inspiring and also I learnt quite a lot about that period. It has wonderful, strong women characters and the illustrations are nothing short of brilliant.
Highly recommended.
March 13, 2022
Listed in this year's 2022 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) notables it is highly deserving of the accolade. Wonderfully illustrated, and brilliantly told. It's a fictionalized account of real stories, real people, and real wars that shaped this country (and our international relationships); and gave voice to amazing women who fought off the misogyny of the times. Women who fought to create awareness of the humanitarian crisis and to end conscription that saw sons go to a war that wasn't ours and to a war that boys didn't want to go to. The story interweaves through alternate timelines and through the lives of several people who become iconic Australians.
Educational and entertaining, and as a graphic novel, will hopefully appeal to a broader audience of readers. Just brilliant.
Educational and entertaining, and as a graphic novel, will hopefully appeal to a broader audience of readers. Just brilliant.
April 10, 2023
This was another "read more Australian books while in Australia" book for me. This is a graphic novel about a group of Melbourne women in the 60s that formed a group called Save Our Sons whose mission was to fight against conscription and Australia's presence in the Vietnam War.
It was fascinating, heartbreaking, but also inspiring because of the impact a grassroots movement could have on large scale politics.
There was a touch of classic Aussie humor (regarding a wombat) and portraying the absurdity and absolute devastation of war.
I learned a lot and the art was beautiful. Would recommend.
It was fascinating, heartbreaking, but also inspiring because of the impact a grassroots movement could have on large scale politics.
There was a touch of classic Aussie humor (regarding a wombat) and portraying the absurdity and absolute devastation of war.
I learned a lot and the art was beautiful. Would recommend.
March 26, 2022
Underground is a magical graphic novel. Mirranda Burton with her immense talent dissects the horrible events of the Vietnam war with a humane stroke of brush.
The book tells the story of different characters who were sucked into the turmoil of this war, their thoughts and actions, all through her brilliant drawings. Creating the emotional depth that might otherwise be missing due to the use of short text format. Despite the difficult topic the book is full of humour. A true delight.
The book tells the story of different characters who were sucked into the turmoil of this war, their thoughts and actions, all through her brilliant drawings. Creating the emotional depth that might otherwise be missing due to the use of short text format. Despite the difficult topic the book is full of humour. A true delight.
January 11, 2022
Fascinating Graphic novel set mainly in the protests about the Vietnam war, with real stories of real Australian people, well worth reading, and learning about a very interesting time in Australia's history, and it also shows how crook the conservative politicians were - denial of an Australian citizen's rights to enter his own country is petty and corrupt.
February 3, 2022
Very engaging book, delivering an effective crash course on Australian political history. Too young to have known about these events, and having immigrated to Australia only 15~ years ago, I knew nothing about these stories and characters.
Very valuable education to understand the historical and legal background of today's politics. This book should be in all high school libraries.
Very valuable education to understand the historical and legal background of today's politics. This book should be in all high school libraries.
June 11, 2023
The artwork shows some flair, with some interesting larger spreads, but while I wouldn't quite classify this in the 'worthy but dull' camp, it is very earnest and lacks some nuance, tying things together a bit neatly in trying to convey the story of the protest movement against Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War.
March 28, 2025
There is so much Australian and Vietnamese history in this book. It’s wonderful to learn about the women who campaigned to end conscription and the Vietnam War, as well as the artist Clifton Pugh and Jean McLean’s advocacy through Save Our Sons. The traumatic journeys of Bill the veteran and Mai the refugee are also explored. Sensitively portrayed using the graphic novel format.
December 27, 2021
Read for PRC
This graphic novel illustrates the Save Our Sons campaign in Australia during the Vietnam War. Really well written, thoroughly researched and a great way to help readers learn more about the war and the issues present during the time.
This graphic novel illustrates the Save Our Sons campaign in Australia during the Vietnam War. Really well written, thoroughly researched and a great way to help readers learn more about the war and the issues present during the time.
August 7, 2022
Absolutely brilliant graphic novel depicting and navigating history of Australia’s involvement with war, conscription and refugees. Wow!
May 4, 2023
Essential Australian history!
Another fantastic example of the immense value of Non-Fiction comics/graphic novels.
Another fantastic example of the immense value of Non-Fiction comics/graphic novels.
March 6, 2024
Very informative on Vietnam and Jean’s work on SOS.
January 3, 2026
Beautifully rendered, utterly haunting. Everyone should read this.
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