On gallant wings by Helen Edwards

South Australian author Helen Edwards has written her third engaging upper middle grade to early YA historical fiction novel, On Gallant Wings, which follows The Rebels of Mount Buffalo and Legend of the Lighthouse Moon. This new release begins with the bombing and evacuation of Darwin in 1942 and shares the story of Ava, her family, her homing pigeons and her friends, through the remaining war years both at home in Australia and in war zones overseas.

With the threat of war looming large over the city of Darwin Ava and her best friend Kazuo spend time together enjoying childhood activities and looking after and training Ava’s precious homing pigeons. Ava’s Dad is serving overseas as an RAAF navigator and her brother Fred has lied about his age joining the militia and then the Australian Corps of Signals Pigeon Service and taking Ava’s pigeons with him. Sadly, Kazuo is interned along with his family and other Japanese after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. Ava stays in Darwin due to her mother’s important job but once Darwin is bombed they are evacuated to her grandparents farm in Lake Boga.

For Ava, the changes she has to cope with are not easy and as she struggles silently with each day passing, readers gain a valuable insight into Ava’s worries about her father, her brother and her pigeons especially Essie, who are serving their country. The journey firstly by cattle train from Darwin to various towns along the way is long and challenging and fitting into a new life at her grandparents farm takes time and courage on Ava’s part. She does though make friends, bravely stands up for Kazuo and learns to be proud of what she continues to manage.

Author Helen Edwards is a gifted researcher who successfully combines fact with fiction to provide a compelling read. There are many stories within the main story and the clever use of letters to allow the readers to hear about the lives of Ava’s Dad, Fred and Essie provides a rich background of learning. Darwin’s suffering during wartime has not always been a focal point for historians and with the mention of the little known Catalina Flying Boat Base, there is an opportunity for readers both young and old to discover more about Australia’s wartime past.

Teaching Notes available at:  Teaching Notes & Events - Dr Helen Edwards Writes

Themes: Historical Fiction, World War Two, Family, Friendship, Homing Pigeons, Sacrifice, Neurodiversity, Catalina Flying Boat Base.

Kathryn Beilby