{"product_id":"9780207199424_tom-appleby-convict-boy","title":"Tom Appleby, Convict Boy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA story of transportation and life in a new world from Australia's Children's Laureate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e At the tender age of eight, chimney sweep Tom Appleby is convicted of stealing and sentenced to deportation to Botany Bay. As one of the members of the First Fleet, he arrives in a country that seemingly has little to offer - or little that the English are used to, anyway.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLuckily, not long after tom's arrival in the colony, the fair and kind Sergeant Stanley decides to take on tom as a servant. Together Tom, Sergeant Stanley and his son, Rob, build a house, set up an orchard and a vegetable garden for themselves - and thrive, unlike many others in the new colony.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJackie French weaves Tom's story in with the story of the development of Australia. She tells of a colony that, despite its natural abundance, cannot offer what the colonists want - familiarity. \u003cstrong\u003eWhile the people's health is better than it ever was in England, their morale is low as they wait for news from home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePRAISE FOR \u003cem\u003eNANBERRY: BLACK BROTHER WHITE\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'For really, really good Australian young-adult (and middle-grade) historical fiction, Jackie French has always been a winner ... With \u003cem\u003eNanberry: Black Brother White\u003c\/em\u003e she delivers an excellent fictionalised account of the First Fleet's settlement at Sydney Cove ... a powerful novel' -- \u003cem\u003eAustralian Bookseller \u0026amp; Publisher\u003c\/em\u003e, 5 stars\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'She is one of few masters who can embed historic characters in rattling good tales, and her meticulous research is seamlessly inserted so that you live the detail rather than learn it. Even if you are not into history, \u003cem\u003eNanberry \u003c\/em\u003ewill hook you in ... Irresistible for history buffs of any age' -- \u003cem\u003eGood Reading Magazine\u003c\/em\u003e, 5 stars\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'I've been telling all my friends to read this book, and to give it to their kids to read. It's absolutely engrossing' -- \u003cem\u003eHerald Sun\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jackie French","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46896559030421,"sku":"9780207199424","price":17.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0484\/3175\/9509\/files\/9780207199424_a1562e58-94c7-4b6f-b96d-0ed2d7950b14.jpg?v=1776888276","url":"https:\/\/harpercollins.com.au\/products\/9780207199424_tom-appleby-convict-boy","provider":"HarperCollins AU","version":"1.0","type":"link"}