Tom Appleby Convict Boy Review 
Tom Appleby, Convict Boy
Have you ever pictured the life of a convict? Tom Appleby, The Convict Boy, written by Jackie French and published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2004, is an intriguing novel, that would appeal to most young Australians. The story brings you back 200 years ago on a historical journey, as Tom revisits the sorrowful yet heart-warming memories of his childhood. The time setting of the story travels back and forth between Tom's past and present as you follow the struggles and fears throughout his life.
The novel begins in the year 1868, Murruroo, Australia. Within the mansion of a wealthy landowner, Thomas Appleby. On the morning of his ninetieth birthday, he looks out his bedroom window to find a white transparent figure standing in his yard, he calls out to it, earning no response. What is it? Is it a ghost? Whose? Tom recalls his past longing for an answer...
8 year old, chimney sweep and orphan Tom is convicted of theft and sentenced to deportation to Botany Bay for seven years. Still mourning his father's recent death, Tom keeps his warm, red 'cloak of courage' wrapped around him, enduring the continuing events of his life. During his time as a chimney sweep, Tom loses his friend Jem, whom he always looked up to. Jem's death was caused by a sudden chimney collapse, he never had a chance to fulfil his dream with Tom. Through his journey to New Holland, Tom suffers from the loss and separation of many friends and family. Tom only pulls his 'courage cloak' around himself tighter, concealing his pain and loneliness, as he bravely pushes forward.
'The Scarborough', one of the eleven ships in the first fleet, was due to take 1450 passengers to Botany Bay. Those including officers, surgeons, sailors marines and their families, as well as convicts. Aboard the ship, Tom was youngest of all the male convicts, wearing ragged clothes and weighed down by the heavy chains cuffed to their arms and legs. They were held in the dark confined space
Have you ever pictured the life of a convict? Tom Appleby, The Convict Boy, written by Jackie French and published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2004, is an intriguing novel, that would appeal to most young Australians. The story brings you back 200 years ago on a historical journey, as Tom revisits the sorrowful yet heart-warming memories of his childhood. The time setting of the story travels back and forth between Tom's past and present as you follow the struggles and fears throughout his life.
The novel begins in the year 1868, Murruroo, Australia. Within the mansion of a wealthy landowner, Thomas Appleby. On the morning of his ninetieth birthday, he looks out his bedroom window to find a white transparent figure standing in his yard, he calls out to it, earning no response. What is it? Is it a ghost? Whose? Tom recalls his past longing for an answer...
8 year old, chimney sweep and orphan Tom is convicted of theft and sentenced to deportation to Botany Bay for seven years. Still mourning his father's recent death, Tom keeps his warm, red 'cloak of courage' wrapped around him, enduring the continuing events of his life. During his time as a chimney sweep, Tom loses his friend Jem, whom he always looked up to. Jem's death was caused by a sudden chimney collapse, he never had a chance to fulfil his dream with Tom. Through his journey to New Holland, Tom suffers from the loss and separation of many friends and family. Tom only pulls his 'courage cloak' around himself tighter, concealing his pain and loneliness, as he bravely pushes forward.
'The Scarborough', one of the eleven ships in the first fleet, was due to take 1450 passengers to Botany Bay. Those including officers, surgeons, sailors marines and their families, as well as convicts. Aboard the ship, Tom was youngest of all the male convicts, wearing ragged clothes and weighed down by the heavy chains cuffed to their arms and legs. They were held in the dark confined space