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Eclipse: l'orage
David’s new town is boring until he discovers a big drainpipe that looks perfect for skateboarding. He can’t resist exploring the huge cement tunnel. Then he hears something odd. Someone else is inside the tunnel, in the darkness, where no living person should be.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
James Moloney
54 books193 followersMy full name is James Francis Moloney and I was born in Sydney, Australia on 20 September, 1954. When I was seven years old, my family moved to Brisbane and except for the odd year or two, I have lived in Brisbane ever since. At school, I was into every sport going - cricket, footy, swimming - you name it. It's hard to believe now but in High School, I was a champion Long Jumper! After University I became a teacher and then a Teacher Librarian. I moved around from school to school and in 1977-8 found myself in Cunnamulla, a little "outback" town where many Indigenous Australians live. These turned out to be important years for my writing.
In 1980, I look a year's leave, stuffed a backpack full of clothes and went off to see the world. Got to do it, guys! There's so much out there, from things to uplift your spirit to things that make you question the humanity of your fellow man. I stepped over rotting dog carcasses in Mexico city, got all weepy in a roomful of Impressionist paintings and met some fascinating people. Hope you'll do the same one day.
1983 was another big year. I got married and started work at Marist College Ashgrove, an all-boys school in Brisbane, where I stayed for fifteen years. During this time, I became interested in writing for young people, at first using the ideas and experiences gained from my time in Cunnamulla, mixed in with the thinking and wondering I'd done overseas. After my early attempts were rejected, the first of my novels, Crossfire , was published in 1992.
In 1997, my fifth novel for young adults, A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove won the Australian Children's Book of the Year Award. At the end of that year, I decided to leave teaching and become a full time writer.
In the mean time, my wife and I have produced three great children, two of whom are currently studying at University. Photos of them to the right, along with my lovely wife, Kate, who has encouraged me along every step of the way.
Now that I have turned my hobby into my job, I have had to develop some other interests. For exercise, I go cycling along the bike paths around Brisbane. I'm also into great books, great food, movies, travelling, learning to speak French and I dabble in a little painting. In recent years Kate and I have spent an extended period in France, cycled through Vietnam and soon we will be off to the USA.
In 1980, I look a year's leave, stuffed a backpack full of clothes and went off to see the world. Got to do it, guys! There's so much out there, from things to uplift your spirit to things that make you question the humanity of your fellow man. I stepped over rotting dog carcasses in Mexico city, got all weepy in a roomful of Impressionist paintings and met some fascinating people. Hope you'll do the same one day.
1983 was another big year. I got married and started work at Marist College Ashgrove, an all-boys school in Brisbane, where I stayed for fifteen years. During this time, I became interested in writing for young people, at first using the ideas and experiences gained from my time in Cunnamulla, mixed in with the thinking and wondering I'd done overseas. After my early attempts were rejected, the first of my novels, Crossfire , was published in 1992.
In 1997, my fifth novel for young adults, A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove won the Australian Children's Book of the Year Award. At the end of that year, I decided to leave teaching and become a full time writer.
In the mean time, my wife and I have produced three great children, two of whom are currently studying at University. Photos of them to the right, along with my lovely wife, Kate, who has encouraged me along every step of the way.
Now that I have turned my hobby into my job, I have had to develop some other interests. For exercise, I go cycling along the bike paths around Brisbane. I'm also into great books, great food, movies, travelling, learning to speak French and I dabble in a little painting. In recent years Kate and I have spent an extended period in France, cycled through Vietnam and soon we will be off to the USA.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 17, 2020
Originally published in Australia in 1996, this simple chapter-book by James Moloney was recently reprinted by Minnesota-based Stone Arch Books, who specialize in "Hi-Lo" books aimed at young people reading significantly below their age and grade level. These "High Interest/Low Level" titles present fairly mature characters and themes in simple language that below-level students will understand, in the hopes that struggling older readers will not be put off by "babyish" stories. Other titles in the series include J. Burke's
The Deadly Doll
and Shaun Tan's
The Haunted Playground
, both of which were also imported from down under.
Trapped is the story of David, a young boy who has recently moved to a new town, and who has a ghostly encounter while skateboarding in a local drainpipe. I can't honestly say I found it all that suspenseful (the book took less than twenty minutes to read), although young readers might enjoy the creepy atmosphere Moloney creates. However that may be, I didn't actually hunt this down for the story - I'm no longer a reading tutor, and Hi-Lo books aren't of much interest in any other situation. It is as a devoted fan of Chinese-Australian artist Shaun Tan, who provided the etching-like illustrations for this series, that I sought it out.
Sadly, the artwork here is nothing like the vibrant, colorful paintings to be found in picture-books like The Red Tree or The Rabbits , nor does it have quite the same eerie quality as some of the etchings found in The Deadly Doll , although the portrait of Simon has potential. This is one I would recommend primarily to reading tutors, and the students they help. There is even a mini-glossary at the rear, as well as study questions.
Trapped is the story of David, a young boy who has recently moved to a new town, and who has a ghostly encounter while skateboarding in a local drainpipe. I can't honestly say I found it all that suspenseful (the book took less than twenty minutes to read), although young readers might enjoy the creepy atmosphere Moloney creates. However that may be, I didn't actually hunt this down for the story - I'm no longer a reading tutor, and Hi-Lo books aren't of much interest in any other situation. It is as a devoted fan of Chinese-Australian artist Shaun Tan, who provided the etching-like illustrations for this series, that I sought it out.
Sadly, the artwork here is nothing like the vibrant, colorful paintings to be found in picture-books like The Red Tree or The Rabbits , nor does it have quite the same eerie quality as some of the etchings found in The Deadly Doll , although the portrait of Simon has potential. This is one I would recommend primarily to reading tutors, and the students they help. There is even a mini-glossary at the rear, as well as study questions.
September 16, 2015
Creepy story about a kid who does probably the stupidest thing imaginable - skateboard in a stormpipe even after being warned away numerous times. Yeah. Great idea.
This is a hi-lo story, meaning that the language is kept simple. The problem is it doesn't have much in the way of voice or detail (both of which ARE possible in a hi-lo book, something the world doesn't seem to realize) so it could have been creepier. Still, I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach from almost the beginning so the point came across all the same. I'd still recommend this for the struggling reader who likes creepy, suspense-filled stories.
This is a hi-lo story, meaning that the language is kept simple. The problem is it doesn't have much in the way of voice or detail (both of which ARE possible in a hi-lo book, something the world doesn't seem to realize) so it could have been creepier. Still, I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach from almost the beginning so the point came across all the same. I'd still recommend this for the struggling reader who likes creepy, suspense-filled stories.
September 2, 2021
I originally read this book when I was in 5th grade and I loved it, I have been trying to find this book for years. I actually have always wanted to explore one of those giant drainage tunnels, but it can only be done under certain safety conditions. This also kind of reminds me of these videos that I used to watch, they were videos made by FaZe Rug about a haunted drainage tunnel in San Diego California.
January 18, 2019
Quick-read about a new boy in town who tries to skateboard in a storm drain where he hears a mysterious skater always just ahead.
Creepy!
Creepy!
Read
May 18, 2025read for a student i am teaching and he’s really enjoying it!
October 25, 2016
Author/Illustrator Book - Book #2
David is new in town and finds himself pulled to a mysterious drain pipe. He thinks he sees a boy skateboarding in there and wants to see where it might take him. After numerous warnings about the danger of boarding down there, his curiosity gets the best of him and he finds himself possibly "trapped" with no way out! See if he makes it out alive!
This book is written by James Moloney and illustrated by Shaun Tan. I think the story brings good elements of suspense and mystery, but overall I was not pulled into the plot or story. Tan's illustrations emphasize the mood. The black and white images with shading add to the darkness and mystery. His images are also a bit scary! There is one image which made me question whether it was a boy or a ghost! That added to the supernatural effect of the story as well.
This emerging chapter book would work well for primary readers ready to challenge themselves. The chapters are short and Tan's illustrations are interspersed to keep readers' interests. This book would work well in a unit about mystery or suspense. I would even use this as a mentor text for students to write short stories including those elements.
David is new in town and finds himself pulled to a mysterious drain pipe. He thinks he sees a boy skateboarding in there and wants to see where it might take him. After numerous warnings about the danger of boarding down there, his curiosity gets the best of him and he finds himself possibly "trapped" with no way out! See if he makes it out alive!
This book is written by James Moloney and illustrated by Shaun Tan. I think the story brings good elements of suspense and mystery, but overall I was not pulled into the plot or story. Tan's illustrations emphasize the mood. The black and white images with shading add to the darkness and mystery. His images are also a bit scary! There is one image which made me question whether it was a boy or a ghost! That added to the supernatural effect of the story as well.
This emerging chapter book would work well for primary readers ready to challenge themselves. The chapters are short and Tan's illustrations are interspersed to keep readers' interests. This book would work well in a unit about mystery or suspense. I would even use this as a mentor text for students to write short stories including those elements.
September 29, 2015
have you ever been to a magical place? Could you imagine going to skateboarding, going into a pipe and entering a magical world? the book its reading is fantasy. I think that this book is cool because it must been amazing some one entering a magical world with things you have not seen and bend exticted.
The setting of my story is about a magical world in a pipe that its magical. the kid trapped on a pipe and cant not get out of the pipe and hese only run to more Walls and cant get out. The conflict is person vs nature because they are fighting vs a wall that do sent lets theme get out.
The setting of this book is important to the theme because it shown the name of the book and shows a a kid with a pipe in front. i thought about the friends id left behind, thousnds of miles away. when iread that i thought that when i trasfer from school i mess the persons that I fergot.
The setting of my story is about a magical world in a pipe that its magical. the kid trapped on a pipe and cant not get out of the pipe and hese only run to more Walls and cant get out. The conflict is person vs nature because they are fighting vs a wall that do sent lets theme get out.
The setting of this book is important to the theme because it shown the name of the book and shows a a kid with a pipe in front. i thought about the friends id left behind, thousnds of miles away. when iread that i thought that when i trasfer from school i mess the persons that I fergot.
March 13, 2011
David is a skateboarder who just moved to a new town. He sees a giant drainpipe that looks like fun to ride in, but he is warned by some local boys to stay away. There was some terrible accident last year involving their friends, and no one is to be near the drainpipe. David is compelled to go inside. Short story; good Hi-Low book for middle schoolers who like to skateboard. Discussion Q and writing prompts at the end. Other spooky suggested in the back pages, along with a website to find other books of interest.
March 25, 2011
I ordered this small chapter book from the public library solely because Shaun Tan has a few illustrations in it. While the story was lacking in character development it was still a worth wild quick read. I would recommend this to teachers or parents that would like a short story to do "reading group work" with your student/s. Discussion questions and writing prompts are even listed in the back. Reads like a story you might hear around a camp fire or an urban legend to give young adults the "creeps."
July 17, 2011
Gr. 3-6 Very suitable for its target audience of struggling readers. It’s referred to as a Hi/Low book - for those reading below their level. It gets right to the suspenseful, very short plot of a boy who skateboards in a haunted drain pipe. It has limited character development, not too many words on each page, very short chapters and is illustrated.
March 12, 2008
High/low book. Great for skateboarding boys who are low-level, reluctant readers.
October 1, 2008
it was great book u all should read it.it is a mysturie
January 20, 2009
VERY SHORT but good
May 15, 2009
Weak, forgettable story. Shaun Tan does the artwork, but it's pretty tame compared to his later stuff.
July 22, 2009
Perfect for its audience- suspensful but not too scary. Tan's wood carvings are wonderful.
June 30, 2011
Hi/Lo book. Good for grades 3-6.
May 16, 2011
My group of 6th grade boys (all with IEPs/struggle with reading) could not get enough of this book. They really connected with the skateboaring theme/lingo throughout the whole book!
December 17, 2012
It was a book that was unpredictable and pretty fun to read because I like mysterious books like this.
July 30, 2013
I really liked Trapped. It was a simple, clear, and straight forward story. It was also a short book so it was a quick read. I enjoyed the illustrations.
May 7, 2015
Hi/Lo.
Read
October 13, 2015Fastest read. I like it, I found it in the library so I took it and read it.
I like the buildup and how scary it was in the beginning.
Nice short read.
I like the buildup and how scary it was in the beginning.
Nice short read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews