Tank Boys
  • Published: 3 February 2014
  • ISBN: 9780857981448
  • Imprint: Random House Australia
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 304

Tank Boys

Formats & editions
EBook
3 Feb 2014
Paperback
3 Feb 2014
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A gripping story that brings to life one of Australia’s World War I military victories.

A gripping story that brings to life one of Australia’s World War I military victories.

Frankie and Taz didn't think about killing, or dying, when they lied about their age to join the Australian army. They thought the war was going to be a big adventure. Now they're marching to the front.

Richard is another sixteen-year-old heading to war. He's inside the massive German tank Mephisto as it powers towards the battle lines at Villers-Bretonneux, France.

The other side have their tanks ready too. War is about to change forever . . .

Based on true stories of the world's first tank-versus-tank battle and what it was like to be an underage soldier in World War I, Tank Boys follows Frankie, Taz and Richard's footsteps as they take part in what will become one of the decisive battles of the war.

What will happen when the boys meet as enemies on the battlefield?
  • Published: 3 February 2014
  • ISBN: 9780857981448
  • Imprint: Random House Australia
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 304
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About the author

Stephen Dando-Collins

Stephen Dando-Collins is the author of the acclaimed Captain Bligh's Other Mutiny. Pasteur's Gambit was shortlisted for the science prize in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards and won the Queensland Premier's Science Award. Crack Hardy, his most personal history, received wide acclaim. Mistaken Identity tells another episode of previously undiscovered Australian history. Sir Henry Parkes: The Australian Colossus is a biography of Australia’s Father of Federation. He also writes about American and ancient Greek history, and his series about the legions of ancient Rome has found considerable success in the US, UK and Australia and been translated into numerous foreign languages. Stephen has also written several books for children and young adults including the Caesar the War Dog series, Tank Boys and Chance in a Million. Stephen and his wife, Louise, live and write in a former nunnery in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley.

portrait photo of Stephen Dando-Collins

Also by Stephen Dando-Collins

Heroes of Hamel
Mr Showbiz
The Hero Maker: A Biography of Paul Brickhill
Caesar the War Dog 5: Operation Black Shark
Caesar the War Dog 4: Operation Green Parrot
Caesar the War Dog 3: Operation Pink Elephant
Sir Henry Parkes: The Australian Colossus
See all

Praise for Tank Boys

Tank Boys is an engrossing, but at times distressing story of courage, mateship, innocence and heroism. Boys aged 12 to 16 would revel in this superbly crafted story, composed with a mix of plenty of amiable, youthful humour.

Joan Kerr-Smith, readplus.com.au

A warm, human story that also accurately portrays the dangers and difficulties of the crews trying to manoeuvre these crude, early tanks in a new, untested style of fighting. Stephen Dando-Collins brings the ugliness, uncertainty and sheer misery of the gas attacks, the artillery bombardments and mindless bloodletting of the World War I killing fields, poignantly to life, with the actions of the novel’s fictional characters credibly intertwined with those of real soldiers who fought in this great tank battle. His writing style effectively and authentically conveys the tenuous strength of human decency amidst the senselessness of that epic slaughter. Upper primary to junior secondary readers would thoroughly enjoy this novel.

Russ Merrin, Magpies

Expertly weaves fiction and fact into an addictive whole

readingtime.com.au

The movement-to-movement, scene-to-scene descriptions are so visual, I felt I was watching a movie. The characters' voices came through so clearly that all my senses were engaged on every page, and in every chapter. Author/historian Stephen Dando-Collins has recreated a monumental time in history.

Susan Whelan, http://www.kids-bookreview.com

I loved this book because it was exciting and had me on the edge of my seat. It’s based on a true story of the world’s first tank-versus-tank battle in World War I, and I recommend it for everyone.

George Murrihy, age 12, Herald Sun
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