DescriptionRecommended reading ages 10-14 years.1916: Dig for Victory is a sensitively written and compelling novel. The story follows fictional characters through their war experience and uses actual events to frame the narrative. The novel is an engrossing way to learn about the experiences of New Zealand soldiers during World War I. The main characters, Leith and Tamati, come from very different backgrounds but they form a quick and easy friendship. There are themes that may require some support for younger readers, for example, the racist attitudes that were prevalent in New Zealand and the armed forces at that time. Through the experiences of Leith, Tamati and their fellow soldiers, readers will come to understand more of what it was like to be a soldier, and the inner struggles they faced. They will also discover the tight bonds of friendship that carried men through such harrowing times. Maps, a timeline, glossary, historical notes and author’s notes will assist readers in understanding the events, environment and language of the day.About the Kiwi authorDavid Hair is a New Zealand fantasy writer, currently living in Bangkok. He spent most of his working life in Wellington, in financial services. David became a fulltime writer after the publication of his first novel, while accompanying his wife Kerry on a government posting to India.David’s first novel The Bone Tiki won Best First Book at the 2010 NZ Post Children’s Book Awards, and Pyre of Queens won the LIANZA Young Adult award in 2012. He has 10 YA novels and 4 adult novels published: in New Zealand, the UK, the USA, and India; and his adult fantasy novels have been translated into German, Dutch, Turkish and Bulgarian. David has a BA in Classical Studies and History, and a diploma in financial planning. Travel is an important part of his writing and he has lived in India and the UK, and travelled in Asia, Europe and America.
