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Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms
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Check link for latest rating. ( 644 ratings, 117 reviews)
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Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
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Description
Over 1,000 Japanese soldiers break out of the No.12 Prisoner of War compound on the fringes of Cowra. In the carnage, hundreds are killed, many are recaptured, and some take their own lives rather than suffer the humiliation of ongoing defeat. But one soldier, Hiroshi, manages to escape.
At nearby Erambie Station, an Aboriginal mission, Banjo Williams, father of five and proud man of his community, discovers Hiroshi, distraught and on the run. Unlike most of the townsfolk who dislike and distrust the Japanese, the people of Erambie choose compassion and offer Hiroshi refuge. Mary, Banjo's daughter, is intrigued by the softly spoken stranger, and charged with his care.
For the community, life at Erambie is one of restriction and exclusionβliving under Acts of Protection and Assimilation, and always under the ruthless eye of the mission Manager. On top of wartime hardships, families live without basic rights.
Love blossoms between Mary and Hiroshi, and they each dream of a future together. But how long can Hiroshi be hidden safely and their bond kept a secret?
Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms by Anita Heiss explores themes of compassion, love, and the quest for freedom amidst the backdrop of war and cultural restrictions.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms by Anita Heiss is praised for its evocative storytelling and rich historical context, weaving a narrative that captures themes of love and resilience during wartime. Reviewers commend Heiss for her sensitive portrayal of cultural interactions and the deep emotional impact of the story, highlighting its ability to engage readers with its heartfelt and poignant exploration of identity and belonging.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781925184853
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 August 2017
Country: Australia
Imprint: Simon & Schuster Australia
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 198.0mm
Height: 128.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 288
About the Author
Dr Anita HeissΒ is an internationally published, award-winning author of over 20 books; non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial womenβs fiction and childrenβs novels. She is a proud member of the Wiradyuri Nation of central New South Wales, an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the GO Foundation, and Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland. Anita is also the Publisher at Large of Bundyi, an imprint of Simon & Schuster cultivating First Nations talent. As an artist in residence at La Boite Theatre, she adapted her novelΒ TiddasΒ for the stage. It premiered at the 2022 Brisbane Festival and was produced by Belvoir St for the Sydney Festival in 2024. Her novel,Β Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray,Β about the Great Flood of Gundagai, won the 2022 NSW Premierβs Indigenous Writers' Prize and was shortlisted for the 2021 ARA Historical Novel Prize and the 2022 ABIA Awards. Anitaβs first childrenβs picture book isΒ Bidhi GalingΒ (Big Rain), also about the Great Flood of Gundagai. Anita released Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) in about the frontier war in Bathurst in 2024. Her most recent novel is Red Dust Running.
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