‘when I saw water
pouring
toward me
I ran like billy-o’
In 1907, the mining town of Bonnie Vale experiences a sudden deluge of rain that floods a gold mine while miners are still at work down the shaft.
Joe’s dad is one of them. And it soon becomes clear that he’s the only one who hasn’t made it back out yet. Where is he? Why didn’t he escape with the others? And more importantly, how will they rescue him?
Inspired by the true story of the trapped miner of Bonnie Vale and told in verse, Julia Lawrinson weaves a tale that will beckon readers down into the gold mine with Joe’s dad to find out how the rescue unfolded.
Shortlisted for the Young People’s History Prize, NSW History Awards 2026
Shortlisted for the Young Adult Book of the Year, WA Premier’s Book Award 2026
Novel Insight Reviewer’s Choice Award Upper Primary winner
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
‘Lawrinson took this slice of Australian history and turned it into a gripping tale that makes the past feel totally alive. Reading this book isn’t just fun, it teaches you something amazing about bravery, survival and the strength of a small town during a big disaster.’ Better Reading
‘With a tempo that reflects historical reality by alternating between urgency and latency, author Julia Lawrinson delivers the gripping story of an ingenious rescue that deployed everything from community support and worker solidarity to the technologies and human courage of those in the mining and diving industries. The author’s decision to place a teenage boy, Varischetti’s fictional son Joe, at the heart of the narrative transforms this book from a tale of industrial catastrophe and masculine adventure into a historically informed account of a young Italian-speaking migrant’s encounters with bullying and racism, and the harsh realities of attempting to integrate into a community that is shaped by preconceptions and hostility. The use of verse over prose is an astute choice for an author determined to convey the confusing complexities of a child’s lived experience to other young people distanced by time and place.’ NSW History Awards judging panel
