Mike and Joy Lefroy are educators and authors; Mike is also an historian. (This helps when writing books for young people about history.)
Catalpa crosses the globe to tell an amazing story from 150 years ago, a time when Irish potato crops were failing and farmers had little to eat and nothing to sell. Many of the British landowners showed ‘little concern’ as they ‘demanded rent from failing farms’ or ‘threw their tenant off the land’. A group of Irish people decided to plot a revolution and forcibly take back their land, and many became political prisoners. Since the British had a colony in Australia, as punishment large numbers were unfairly shipped to Fremantle Prison.
The harsh, dry conditions in Western Australia were as far away from the lush green hills of Ireland as it gets! The cruelty and injustice of the situation was appreciated by a prison clergyman, and he helped the imprisoned men to plan their escape.
Catalpa is a thrilling, historically accurate book based on an incredible true story. The book is filled with dozens of photographs, letters, maps, news articles, cartoons, drawings and illustrations that appeal to young readers and help bring the story to life.
Reviewed by Mark Parry
Age Guide 6+
This review is supported by
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Joy Lefroy is an author, educator and printmaker. She has a passion for the history and heritage of Western Australia and, with partner Mike, they host walks, talks and general stories of local history through their business Museums Without Walls. Previously she was Head of Education at the National Trust of Western Australia.
Read more about Catalpa on the Fremantle Press website
Mike Lefroy is an educator, writer and historian. He loves the challenge of bringing Western Australian stories to life through his books, street walks, lectures and museum tours. He previously worked as Head of Education with the H.M. Bark Endeavour project and the WA Maritime Museum.
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