Storm Boy is a very sad and poignant fictional novel that was written by Colin Thiele in 1963. The first movie adaptation of this novel was released in 1976. In 2019, another movie based on the same work was released in Australia and New Zealand.
The novel Storm Boy is set in the Coorong District Coast in South Australia which is close to Adelaide.
Characters
My favourite characters in this fictional work are Fingerbone Bill and Mr Percival. Fingerbone Bill is a recluse, an Aboriginal man who has been torn apart from his tribe. I like this character because he is a kind fella and he doesn’t like to see his friends sad. Being a wise man, he can read the markings left in the sand by snakes and other animals. I also like Mr Percival, one of the three pelicans who comes back from the sanctuary to stay with his owner Mike, who is the Storm boy.
Story
The novel tells the story of a little boy named Mike who is also known as Storm Boy. One day while collecting some sticks, he hears some gunshots in the distance. After he hears the gunshots, Storm Boy runs towards the noise. But soon he ducks behind the tussocks when he sees Fingerbone Bill holding his gun to scare the hunters. As Fingerbone Bill discovers him, he tells Storm Boy to help him see if the hunters had done any damage. Storm Boy finds that the hunters had killed a mother and father pelican leaving behind their three chicks. Storm Boy takes the three pelicans home and names them Mr Proud, Mr Ponder and Mr Percival.
The book traces the relationship of the Storm Boy with the three pelicans who as they grow old become bigger and more difficult to manage. When Mike releases them into the sanctuary, while Mr Proud and Mr Ponder accept their new life, Mr Percival simply refuses to go ahead. He comes back with Mike. The final plot shows how some hunters shoot Mr Percival and sadly Mr Percival dies after that. This makes Mike very sad and as a reader, I could feel his sadness ringing through my own heart.
Why I Like It!
I liked the novel ‘Storm Boy’ because I had mixed emotions while reading it. It had a very detailed plot and it hooked me to read more just after reading a single sentence. The film had a few differences nonetheless, I enjoyed both the film 🎥 and the novel. My favourite part of the book was when Storm Boy is playing catch with Mr Percival and he found out that Mr Percival is a great catcher. My favourite part in the film is when Storm boy goes fishing with Mr Percival, his dad and Fingerbone Bill on the tiny boat. These and many other interestingly crafted episodes in the story explain why I like the novel and the film ‘Storm Boy’. It is a great story and whether you read it or watch it, you will also definitely enjoy it, just the way I did!
Writer : Annora
Grade : 5 (Year 2023)
Place : Brisbane, Australia
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