Alan Tucker

Alan Tucker is a previous winner of the CBC Book of the Year, nonfiction award for his illustrated book, Iron in the Blood. Since winning that award he has concentrated on writing historical fiction based on Australian history: the Bombing of Darwin, Cyclone Tracy and Atomic Testing in SA. His latest book, Battlefield, is written in the same genre and examines the breakout of Japanese prisoners from the Cowra POW camp in August 1944. He is developing two other manuscripts. One is a first person narrative set in the 1960s. It examines a young man's relationship with a grumpy grandfather who is the product of horrific WW1 experiences. The other tells the story of the sinking of HMAS Sydney.

Latest Book: Battlefield: One Boy's War
Scholastic, Sydney, 2010
Barry Blacker is obsessed with being a soldier. He is desperate to join the army like his older brother Jack, who is in a Japanese POW camp. In the meantime he practises drills on the family farm in Cowra, and spies on the Japanese prisoners in the camp nearby. When some of the prisoners escape, Barry's attempt to be a hero has devastating consequences. A moving, thought-provoking and vividly told novel, based on a true story.
 

Other Books:
My Australian Story: Atomic Testing, Woomera 1953
Scholastic, Sydney, 2009
My Story: Cyclone Tracy: The Diary of Ryan Turner
Scholastic, Sydney, 2004

Prizes and Awards:
2003 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award

Genres:

• middle childhood
• nonfiction
• young adult fiction

Website: Alan Tucker at Scholastic

Available for:

• readings
• school visits
• speaking engagements
• workshops