From the back cover: "Life on Captain Smiler's whaling ship was hard and cruel, not only for young Johnny, the cook's boy on his first voyage, but for the whales that were slaughtered. So when the whaler docked in New Zealand Johnny deserted and made his way through the forest to a gum diggers' camp. It was here that Johnny's cooking talents came into their own. And for the diggers themselves "Johnny's Place" was a welcome sight in the hard-working camp."
National Library of New Zealand Record
Title: Johnny Sweep / Eve Sutton ; illustrated by Paul Wright.
Subjects/Genres: Whaling -- Fiction, Runaways, Frontier and pioneer life -- New Zealand -- Fiction, Children's stories, New Zealand
Publisher: West Melbourne, Vic. : Thomas Nelson Australia
Publication Date: 1979, c1977
Format: 87 p. : ill. ; 19 cm.
Identifier: ISBN : 0170056147
Notes: First published: London : Hamish Hamilton, 1977., Novel for children.
Language: English
Source: NLNZ ALMA 9911076893502836
This is the first of Eve Sutton's book I will be reviewing. They are all quick to read so I will be popping them onto this blog quite quickly.
Johnny takes a job on a whaling ship to save money for his family. Originally a chimney sweep, he has grown too big so he finds work as a cook's assistant on a ship. But the captain requires all hands on deck when a whale is captured and Johnny finds the killing and stripping of blubber repulsive. Brutally disciplined by the captain, Johnny decides sea life isn't for him and deserts the ship when it docks in New Zealand. There he finds a gum camp and learns the art of finding gum in the ground and on trees. Unhappy with that work too (as it scars the landscape and kills trees), he decides to contribute by becoming a cook in the camp.
What I liked about the book:
Johnny's character. He is a sensitive boy who has learnt to read from his parents and has a good moral character. He wants to contribute to life rather than take from it. Towards the end of the book, he has a guilty conscience about deserting the ship, living under a false name, and not paying for his clothing. He confesses his guilt and bravely faces the ship when it docks again.
Even though the book is short, you actually learn quite a bit about whaling and gum digging.
The illustrations are very good. I have a 1977 edition with illustrations by Paul Wright. They are pen sketches and very well done. Here are some examples.
The book is written for 6-9-year-olds in mind. I did not have any issues such as language, attitudes, etc. A wonderful story for younger readers.