Mike Lefroy

Though a children's book this is an excellent telling of the story of the escape of the Fenians from Fremantle Gaol 150 years ago in 1876, and their flight on the American whaler Catalpa. Beautifully illustrated with reproductions of contemporary newspaper stories and photographs. I purchased my copy after attending the play "Catalpa" by Theatre 180. Particularly good if you are a Freo or Rockingham local.

Cassie’s Uncle Bill takes her flying to a Pacific island as a birthday treat. But during the journey the small plane’s engines fail over the ocean, and they have to crash-land on the water. Luckily they put on their life jackets before the plane crash. Unfortunately, Cassie get's scared and the inflatable lifeboat overturns. Cassie and Uncle Bill wait in the water for hours, drifting further and further away from the plane, and a whale passes very close to them. Finally a helicopter show more spots them and they are rescued. A nice little first chapter book with attractive, colourful illustrations. show less