David Laing

David Laings novels, Forest Spirit, Forest Shadows and Forest Secrets, are drawn from his experiences gained teaching Aboriginal children and mixing with their parents and the general bush community. Based on these experiences, he has created a young Aboriginal girl, who finds herself involved in a series of exciting Tasmanian adventures. A rhotosaurus, a phantom kid, a ghost mountain and a Bushman Extraordinaire, called Reginald Blowhard, all come together to form David Laings latest tale, Forest Secrets, the third book in the trilogy for young adults. The protaginist is a young Aboriginal girl called Jars, who, along with her faithful dog, Shadow and her tearaway cousin, Snook, embark on an adventure neither will forget.

At the beginning of book two, Forest Shadows' (one year on) we find Jars and Snook accused of a crime of which they are, of course, innocent. To prove their innocence, with the help of Shadow, who is now Jars' dog, they embark on another exciting adventure. A continuity of characters from book one, with the mystical theme also enduring, and with a hint of another kind of celestial visitor, will please readers of Forest Spirit'. Forest Shadows' however, like Forest Spirit', will also stand on its own as a children's adventure that I'm sure will stand the test of time.