Tag: david mulligan

Heroes of Tobruk, by David Mulligan

There’s always a moment of almost uncontrollable fear and terror when a patrol comes back and the face you’re looking for isn’t there.

All his life Peter Fullerton has been overshadowed by his older brother, Johnny. So, when war is declared in 1939 and Johnny enlists at Duntroon, Peter feels ignored once again. But Peter and his friend Tony find their own way to contribute to the war. On a whim, the pair put their ages up from sixteen to twenty one and enlist in the army.

Heroes of Tobruk follows the adventures of Peter and his friend from when they enlist in Melbourne, through their training and deployment, and through the rigours of the Siege of Tobruk, as well as the aftermath, using a combination of third person narration and first person diary form, from Peter Fullerton’s perspective. For teen readers, this use of the diary format coupled with the young age of the main character will make this story of a significant part of World War 2 more real for teen readers, brining the message home about the experiences of young Australian soldiers.

Released in time for pre ANZAC day reading, this is an important story for any time of the year.

Heroes of Tobruk, by David Mulligan
Scholastic Press, 2008

Angels of Kokoda, by David Mulligan

Thank you David Mulligan. Thank you for writing a book that taught me so much about the atrocities of war alongside the power of mateship. I am ashamed to admit that, before I read Angels of Kokoda, I knew very little about Australia’s plight in Papua New Guinea. I knew nothing of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. Sure I’d heard of the Kokoda trail, friends of friends had backpacked there but after reading Mulligan’s book I now feel that I have been there, really been there.

Angels of Kokoda is told through the eyes of twelve year old Derek, the son of missionaries. It is about human frailty, human strength and human survival. It is about respect. Derek’s respect for his friend Morso and his native culture, and Derek’s increasing respect for his often prejudiced yet committed father.

Angels of Kokoda is about self respect, about being the best that you can be, about never giving up. It is an inspirational tale, a moving tale, a tale that should be told to all our children. And I can only be thankful that it has now been told to me.

Angels of Kokoda, by David Mulligan
Lothian Books, 2006