Coastwatcher
David Hill
Penguin Books NZ
Pub. 2021
November 16, 2021
David Hill’s Coastwatcher is an exciting book, based on the true stories of the real coastwatchers that operated during the Second World War. The cover, with its silhouette of a soldier’s head, draws you to this book and makes you curious to know what the story is about. The blurb on the back suggests danger and war and spies, and this is the kind of intrigue you can expect all the way through the book.
The main character, Frank, is a 19 year old radio operator. He is shipped out to an enemy occupied island within the Solomon Islands with two other soldiers, and becomes part of a major landing force, aiming to spy on the Japanese. Read more
Coastwatcher
David Hill
Penguin NZ
Pub. 2021
October 27, 2021
Coastwatcher by David Hill is a gripping war story inspired by the coastwatchers of Operation Pacific. Coastwatchers were the eyes and ears of the Pacific Ocean in World War Two who watched for strange ships and aircrafts, listened into radio activity, and reported any activity back to New Zealand Headquarters. In this book we get a glimpse of what it was like to be a coastwatcher in the war.
It’s 1943 and radio operator Frank Benson is settling into the harsh life of being a soldier when he hears the news that he is to become a coastwatcher along with his pal Wally Ropata and Les Murray, an annoying Australian. Read more
Three Scoops
David Hill
OneTree House
Pub. 2021
September 06, 2021
Do you like fantasy? What about historical fiction? Are you a sci-fi fan, or do you like all three genres? Do you find it hard to choose what to read next?
Why not try them all?
History, fantasy, sci-fi. Past, present, future. Three quite different stories set in three vastly different time periods. One thing in common: all written by one of New Zealand’s best authors.
Sometimes, picking up a whole new novel can be too much work. Sometimes, it is nice to just be able to dip your toes into something light, rather than take a big dive into the deep end. Read more
My New Zealand Story: Journey to Tangiwai
David Hill
Scholastic
Pub: 2003 and 2021
July 20, 2021
My New Zealand Story: Journey to Tangiwai is one of prolific author David Hill’s latest books (republished after its first edition in 2003). With a front page full of bold colours and an interesting adventure title at the top of the page, I’m already intrigued. This novel looks like it includes nature, Scouts and New Zealand history.
“It’s creepy when I think back on it. Here I was, an ordinary guy with an ordinary name (Peter Cotterill), living in an ordinary New Zealand town (Napier). Read more
See Ya, Simon
David Hill
Penguin
1992
“Simon’s my best friend, and sometime in the next year or two years, he’s going to die.” Powerful, funny, heart-warming and heart-breaking, See Ya, Simon by David Hill is a novel that everyone needs to read.
See Ya, Simon follows 14-year-old Nathan as he chronicles his last year with his best friend Simon. Simon is much like most teenage boys – charming, witty, and out to impress any girl. However, Simon also has muscular dystrophy and is expected to die within the next few years. The novel writes in raw truth the struggles of Simon’s disability, while recording the hilarious and heart-warming moments of Nathan and Simon’s last year together. Read more
