Somes Prisoners NZ
Book: The Swap
In brief: A historical novel based on the experiences of Japanese civilian families living in Tonga when Japan entered the war in 1941. The Authorities brought them to New Zealand for internment, the menfolk being interned on Somes Island. Many were killed several years later when the plane returning them to Japan in a prisoner swop, crashed during take-off at Whenuapai Airbase, near Auckland, NZ.
FACT SHEET
| TITLE: | The Swap |
| Author: | Wendy Catran |
| RRP: | $A16.95 - (or NZ about $20.00 when released here) |
| Category: | Young Adult (or any age thereafter - ed.) |
| ISBN: | 0734406541 |
| Publication: | (Aust) 1 May 2004 - (NZ) mid-July 2004 |
| Publishers: |
Lothian
Books |
| About the book: |
‘Enemy
aliens’ in New Zealand? During World War II Maree glimpsed a little
Japanese girl, called Sakura interned with others. She never forgot her.
But now, in the cosy fifties, Maree dreams of stardom and the emerging
American rock culture, and worries about her brother Alan, on R&R in
Japan after fighting in Korea. Then Alan returns-and another Japanese
woman enters Maree’s life. Juxtaposed
against Maree’s story is Sakura’s tale set in the forties.
After Pearl Harbour, she and other Japanese are sent from Tonga to
New Zealand for internment. How will they be treated? Will they even
survive? Sukara’s
story is told to Maree by Alan’s Japanese wife. Wendy
Catran uses little know historical facts, such as the Liberator plane
crash, and the difficult conditions the Japanese faced when interned in
New Zealand to create a captivating and beautiful story. The
Swap
is of human beings, culture, war and peace, ideas and attitudes. |
| About
the Author: |
Wendy Catran has written scripts for popular television series that include: The Sullivans, Prisoner, Cop Shop and Neighbours. Wendy lives in New Zealand and has written episodes for many television programs there including several children’s series. She is the author of Not Raining Today and Katie Raven’s Fire. |
| More Information: |
Georgina
Way, Tel: 03 9694 4931 Email
georgina_way@lothian.com.au Or visit: www.lothian.com.au |
