Spirit of the Crocodile

by Aaron Fa'Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker with Lynn White

Published by Allen & Unwin
ISBN 9781743317099

Set in the Torres Strait amongst the islander communities, there is a strong sense of connection and community in this easy to read story as it begins with 12 year old Ezra on the brink of the summer holidays and the end of his primary school years.

Ezra and his friends are fun loving and they love nothing more than having a dare to spur them on. Even when stuffed to the brim after a big feast, there's one way they can eat another bite, of their Aunties coconut bread. And that's with a dare - over or under.

One of the things that is really bothering Ezra and his best friend Mason, is the way the water levels are rising, particularly when they notice that a step they used is now underwater. They become concerned the second step will also disappear underwater. But what can they do? This is the interesting part of the story.

That dare they had goes wrong and it's the impetus do something positive, to see what they can do to help.When a unusual storm approaches it becomes a disaster that affects the island of Sabai.They muster their strength to see what they can do to help the communities that live here,

Though this situation the novel develops into an interesting story showing what can be done if they care enough about where they and the wider communities live. This is a fascinating adventurous novel which also demonstrates how wonderful it is to be carefree as you're leaving childhood behind growing into teen years,

The author

Aaron Fa'Aoso is a Torres Strait Islander film producer, director, screenwriter and actor. In 2022 he published his memoir, called So Far So Good. Aaron is on the board of SBS and of Screen Queensland, and was the proud co-chair of the Queensland Government's Interim Truth and Treaty Body. He holds a Masters Degree of Screen Business and Leadership, from the Australian Film Television and Radio School. He is known for his roles in RAN: Remote Area Nurse, East West 101, The Straits and Black Comedy, and as the presenter of Strait to the Plateand Going Places with Ernie Dingo. Aaron is the founder and Managing Director of film and television production company, Lone Star, whose many outputs include the documentary series Blue Water Empire, about the history of the Torres Strait Islands.

Michelle Scott Tucker is the author of Elizabeth Macarthur: A Life at the Edge of the World – a biography of the woman who established the Australian wool industry (although her husband received all the credit). Elizabeth Macarthur was shortlisted for the 2019 NSW State Library Ashurst Business Literature Prize and the 2019 CHASS Australia Book Prize. Michelle is the co-writer of Aaron Fa'Aoso's memoir So Far, So Good.

Lyn White who was the consultant editor, has extensive experience as a primary school teacher-librarian and EAL teacher, and in 2010 completed postgraduate studies in Editing and Communications at the University of Melbourne. Lyn is passionate about children's literature and has great expertise in engaging students and teachers with quality texts. Her work with refugee children motivated her to create the acclaimed Through My Eyes series of books set in contemporary war zones. Lyn went on to create and edit the Through My Eyes - Natural Disaster Zones series set around international and Australian disasters.

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