The lessons of war are the hardest to learn.

The silence was eerie. In the darkness I could just see the mist that swirled around the rowboat. No-one spoke, no-one made a sound. Somewhere ahead a loud report. A shot? Rifle fire, from the beach, which was only dimly coming into view. This was it.

When Australia throws its support behind Britain in its fight against
Germany, young teacher Stan Moore is one of the first to join up, swapping the classroom for adventure in Europe. But the 11th Battalion is sent with the newly formed Anzac Corp to Gallipoli, where Stan is confronted by the hard lessons of war. Though conditions are dismal and death is everywhere, so is the humour and bravery that is the true spirit of Anzac.

Part of the Australia’s Great War series from Scholastic Australia, 1915 is out now,  in time to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the landing of the first ANZACs at Gallipoli.

Available now from bookshops including Booktopia and also on Kindle.

ISBN: 9781743622483
Imprint: Scholastic Australia
Distributor: Scholastic Australia
Release Date: February 1, 2015
Australian RRP: $16.99

Reviews

Highly recommended…Murphy’s detailed background, the trenches, the Turkish army, Simpson and his donkey, the wounded and the dead, even Keith Murdoch, gives an authenticity to the tale which will encourage students to continue reading.” (Fran Knight at ReadPlus)

1915 is compelling storytelling for teenagers and young adults. (Writing WA)

Sally Murphy has been able to deliver a raw, emotional and yet action-packed narrative that tells of the landing at Gallipoli from the perspective of a highly authentic Australian character. The book is beautifully crafted for a younger audience. (Joel Batson, at ALEA)

More Info:

An in-depth interview with Sharon Kennedy from ABC Radio can be read here.

For tips on researching and writing historical fiction, see my post at Dee Scribe’s Blog.

For more from me about how and why I wrote the book, see Meet My Book: 1915

On why historical fiction is important see: Don’t Mention the War