Mavis The Little Plane Spotter

Mavis The Little Plane Spotter is a captivating tale of a spirited ten-year-old named Mavis, set in rural Australia during World War Two. Mavis lives with her mum, dad, and sister, Doreen. When Darwin is bombed, their lives change dramatically.

Mavis's dad and Uncle John dig a trench in the backyard, and school lessons are replaced with air raid drills. Eager to contribute to the war effort, Mavis seizes an opportunity when a soldier visits her school seeking volunteers. Convincing her older sister, Doreen, to join her in plane spotting, they dedicate their Saturdays to this cause.

Armed with binoculars and pictures of bombers, they ascend the stairs of the town clock tower to record the times and directions of aircraft. The planes they spot are local friendlies, until one fateful Saturday when Mavis must work alone. Despite her nerves, she is resolute. When an enemy plane appears, she is more exhilarated than scared and successfully reports it, earning momentary hero status.

The triumph is short-lived, as it turns out the aircraft was a captured enemy plane under test by the local air force. Initially deflated, Mavis's spirits are lifted when her mum makes dessert in her honour and her dad allows her to play in the trench. Though she never spots another enemy plane, the sound of aircraft engines after the war perpetually draws her gaze skyward, forever vigilant.