In Rosanne Hawke’s new novel for young readers, and
companion to her previous book, Kelsey
and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll, she returns again to Pakistan.
Using
the floods of 2010 as inspiration and the lead theme of survival, Hawke creates
strong images with language and uses metaphors to illuminate her descriptions.
Jehan and his brother Amir are happy children until
the early Monsoon rains catch them unawares. Mud home, belongings and the
entire family are swept away by the sudden flood that swallows the area. The
boys are separated from their parents and each other.
Carried away, Jehan manages to climb a tree and
clings there for weeks, waiting for the waters to subside. He competes with
monkeys for the few mangoes that serve to keep his body alive. But his mind is
strong and he’s determined to find his brother and parents. He encounters
danger when a suspect adult tries to coax him down from the tree and into his
boat.
He saves the dog Lali from the floodwaters and this
proves to be a strengthening move for the boy, as the intelligent dog has also
lost her way back to her new born pups and her owner, Beti. Both long to be
reunited with their family.
The chapters are shared points of view from Jehan
and Lali. Both begin a quest to find their families. The quest which becomes an
adventure full of discovery, is told in a strong, well-constructed narrative
and storyline.
Jehan
and the Quest of the Lost Dog explores the lives of children of other cultures
in a subtle yet intimate fashion. It shows the resourcefulness of the young,
and showcases how cleverly they adapt to difficult situations, and how they
rise to the challenge of sudden change.
Title:
Jehan and the Quest of the Lost Dog
Author:
Rosanne Hawke
Illustrator:
Briony Stewart
Publisher:
UQP, $14.95
Publication
Date: September 2017
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9780702259609
For
ages: 8+
Type:
Junior Fiction
