Library reading challenge entry

By Alex Tavendale | Posted: Thursday June 9, 2022

David Hill is a New Zealand author, known for teen reads such as See ya, Simon and other historical fiction targeted mainly toward boys.

Enemy Camp - by David Hill

This book, Enemy Camp, is no exception. The story is set in WW ll, but instead of it being set in Europe where you would expect, the ‘enemy camp’ is located in a small town, Featherston, New Zealand. This somehow brings a sense of familiarity to the reader. Here, Japanese prisoners are being received from warships and imprisoned. The story follows the historically accurate events of the ‘Featherston Incident’ and events leading up to the deaths of 48 men. It follows a group of friends who, despite the propaganda around the Japanese prisoners, are finding out that they are not all bad.

The book is written as a journal and while each character has an important role in sharing the story of the friends, it is Ewan whose account captures the reader the most and this is why it is ideally aimed at 10-14 year old boys. The story explores the friendships, the adventures and daily occurrences of the boys as well as the realities of wartime in New Zealand.

I found this book both interesting and entertaining, and came away with a greater understanding of New Zealand history.

Review by Alex Tavendale Year 9.