Grave of the Roti Men

Aaron is an average Australian teenage boy who hasn't seen much of his Dad since the divorce, but now he is going to spend a whole month with him in Pepala in the Indonesian Isles. Suddenly he finds himself having the time of his life. Not only does he make friends with some local Pepala boys but he finds himself plunged into a pulse-racing adventure from which he is lucky to come out alive. Author Geoff Havel is a primary school teacher with an interest in Indonesian cultures and language. He has previously published two very successful picture books for children and a novel for adolescent readers.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Aaron is excited. Not only does he get to spend a month with his dad, but he will also be on an exotic Indonesian island where they can swim, fish, and enjoy one another's company. However, it turns out that Aaron's dad is often busy and the boy is left alone. He finds a friend in a local boy, Husni, and they enjoy learning each other's language, fishing, and playing soccer. Then, his new friend has to leave to work on a fishing boat to pay off his family's debt, and Aaron, desperately seeking an adventure, stows away on it. When notices arrive that a cyclone is approaching, he realizes that his adventure has turned into a fight for survival. This novel has many local phrases and words that will confuse readers. The background information about the Roti people and Australian rules about illegal fishing is interesting, but seems to fight the character development. While the writing style is smooth and consistent, the plot is contrived. Readers who long for exotic adventure stories will be disappointed.--Jana R. Fine, Clearwater Public Library System, FL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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