The Smuggler’s
Curse
by Norman Jorgensen (Fremantle Press) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9781925164190
Reviewed
by Teena Raffa-Mulligan
The Smuggler’s
Curse is a swashbuckling adventure that delivers a rollicking good read guaranteed
to keep young readers glued to the pages throughout. This not-so-young reader
was captivated from the opening lines by the tale of a boy sold to an infamous
smuggler in the closing days of the nineteenth century.
The
adventure unfolds through the boy’s eyes and Norman Jorgensen captures his
young narrator Red Read’s voice beautifully. He also draws a vivid picture of
life in colonial times. History comes alive for the reader as Red is caught up
in life-threatening encounters with cutthroat pirates, head hunting guerrillas and
the forces of nature when he joins the crew of Captain Black Bowen’s ship The
Black Dragon as ship’s boy.
Jorgensen
has set his gripping tale of smuggling and piracy off the north-west coast of
Australia, with the ship sailing from Broome and travelling to South East Asia.
Historical detail is woven seamlessly into the story, which has clearly been
well researched.
There
is some violence in the book but there’s also a liberal sprinkling of humour
and a strong element of warmth underpinning the relationships between the
Captain, his crew and young Red.
Jorgensen
is an award-winning author whose books for young people have won critical and
popular acclaim both in Australia and overseas.
He
is a consummate tale teller and has delivered this latest release in inimitable
style.
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