Publisher's synopsis
The shots were so close they seemed to explode inside Vithy’s head. He threw himself to the ground and clapped his hands over his ears . . .
It’s Cambodia. The killing machine that is the Khmer Rouge is in power. Vithy has lost everyone and everything he loved – except his older brother, Mang. They’ve escaped from almost certain execution, but the brothers become separated and Vithy is left alone to ‘follow the lines . . . to the border’ – his brother’s last instructions.
But which lines? Which border?
A gripping tale of the journey of a boy alone and in danger as he tries to find his brother and escape to freedom.
Awards
Highly commended 1986 Children’s Book Council of Australia
Allan Baillie was born in Scotland in 1943 and came to Victoria, Australia with his family when he was six. They moved to Emerald, then Geelong (he still barracks for the Cats), Drysdale, Portarlington and later Melbourne.
Allan began writing stories for fun while still at school. He is now one of Australia’s most successful writers for children. His novels, which include Little Brother (1986), The China Coin (1992), Saving Abbie (2000) and Treasure Hunters (2002), have won him acclaim, awards and international recognition. His books have found success in Japan, Sweden, Holland, Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand and South Africa. His most recent books for Penguin include a collection of short stories, A Taste of Cockroach (2005), and Castles (2005), a superb picture book for young children, illustrated by Caroline Magerl. Allan’s most recent novel, Krakatoa Lighthouse, won the 2010 NSW Premier’s Literary Patricia Wrightson Award. Outpost is his forthcoming novel, and he is currently working on the next two after that.
Allan spends most of his time with his wife Agnes in Avalon, north of Sydney, but they travel regularly to far-flung places including Anak Krakatoa, the Son of Krakatoa, which they climbed during a quiet period.
