The Fossil Hunter by Tea Cooper

 

1847 and 1919 New South Wales, Australia

Beautifully told timeslip story. Very intricate mystery that unfolds slowly back and forth through time in a deep gorge where fossils were found from a time when the area had been at the bottom of the ocean. Women were restricted as to where they could go, what they could do. For a woman to be given credit for the find of a significant fossil was rare. Mellie was a very young girl in 1919, taken in by a doctor's family after an illness and her father had been taken away. She had other traumatic experiences as well. When she goes with the doctor's family to visit a family friend, she begins to learn about fossil hunting. Australia is a very wild place in the gorge, flora and fauna, and has its secrets which are unveiled little by little. It and the woman who owned it bring healing to Mellie. 

Many years later PJ has her own reasons for going to the gorge. She and her friend had been ambulance drivers in the war. As the mysteries unfold in both time frames, truth is revealed that impacts both women and their families. Sometimes painful, you can't help but cheer Mellie on. Excellent read that holds your interest to the end.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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The Woman In The Green Dress

 

London 1918 and Sydney, New South Wales 1853

It's the end of the war. Fleur had married Hugh, but he hadn't returned from the fighting yet. She has a mysterious request from a solicitor to go to Australia as she has inherited her husband's estate, but she hasn't received a telegram and doesn't believe he's dead. She goes to Australia against her judgement and tries to learn more about what is involved. The solicitor there is away, and their records are in chaos after a move, so the mystery continues to unfold in slow layers as you get to know Fleur and the supporting characters. The story goes back and forth in time, revealing small bits at a time. It's told expertly to hold your interest and get the feel for the people. Great story, right to the end. 

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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The Oceans Between Us by Gill Thompson

Depressing. Realistic with a small ray of hope.
Mostly an account of what it may have been like for a young boy who was separated from his mother in war torn England, and sent to Australia. It's hard for me to imagine what it must have been like since I was brought up by two parents in a loving home. A family that always had what we needed. I doubt that most of us feel that things were always rosie, but the kind of existence that these kids experienced was horrendous.

Australia felt that their population needed a white strengthening, and Britain had a long history of shipping people there. Most of these children were orphans, but not all were. They were told that they were being sent to farms where it was sunny, there were oranges to pick off trees as they wanted, they would have horses to ride, and they would become strong. None of it true. I don't understand though - if they really wanted to strengthen their population with these young people, why they mistreated them so and deprived them of food and education. Instead working them to death. Perhaps it was because of the hands they fell into.

This story tells of those sent to a monastery where the boys were mistreated and abused. Not a loving Christian environment. By including the story of the mother who was back in England, it helps show the injustice even further.

It took 43 years for the truth to be exposed about this tragic happening. It’s estimated that 150,000 children were sent to Australia in total, around 10,000 since 1947. The horrors of German prison camps combined with this horrific treatment of people truly illustrates a time when Satan had his way. Its amazing that there is still a human race at all. But at least people are moved by hearing stories like this about what happened.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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