Billy Macks War

by James Roy

Sequel to Roy's novel Captain Mack this book covers the post WW2 experiences of returned war hero Billy Mack, exploring from the vantage point of history the traumas and difficulties faced by many returned POW's, and paying particular attention to the often overlooked story of Australian POW's working on the Burma Railway.

Genres: Young Adult

Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Anthony Eaton]

The sequel to Roy's successful 2000 work Captain Mack, Billy Mack's War is a book I've been meaning to read for some years, but haven't managed to find the time until recently. Boy, have I missed out. Roy always picks interesting slants on Australian culture, often mining overlooked or relatively uncontemplated aspects of our history and identity in his works. In Billy Mack's War he takes us into the experience of the returned serviceman, but instead of recounting the often-explored mythos of the western front or Gallipoli experiences, his wartime protagonist is the son of a decorated veteran, for years MIA and then unexpectedly returned to his rural family from the horror of the Burma Railway.

Roy excels in his portrayal of rural life, and of mid 20th century, post war Australia, and does so in a way that makes his characters and story both accessible and engaging for adult and teenage readers alike.

A great addition to the powerful canon of YA novels that explore the Australian Wartime Experience.

[singing lover]

This is a great book!
I read it for a class book review assignment.