Pubished by Interactive Press in 2008
Chapter 1
On the run…
I glanced back up the street. I couldn’t see any fire so my kidnappers must’ve been able to put it out. Which meant they could be after me any second. Which meant I had to get out of sight.
The closest doorway looked heavy and strong. I’d never make much sound on that. My arms were too skinny. I hurried on. The next one was lighter but also made of wood. It wouldn’t rattle.
I spotted a glint of light across the road and ran over. Yes! A sheet of that crinkly iron stuff. I kicked it hard, hurting my toes. Again, with the side of my foot, like passing in soccer. Whang!
“Help! Help!” I yelled.
“There he is, the yellow devil! Get ‘im!”
I turned. Giraffe and Shorty were charging down the street. In the dark, it was hard to tell how close they were. I bashed the iron with my shoulder and yelled out the only Chinese word I could think of.
“Chou! Chou!” I couldn’t remember what it meant.
Giraffe’s boots were pounding the dirt. I could almost smell Shorty’s bad breath. I kicked the iron and yelled, not sure whether to stay or run.
A strong hand grabbed my shoulder. It pulled me into a dark space beside the metal sheet. I’d been bashing on a wall. A wooden gate crashed shut. A chain clanked. One figure stood by the door. The hand on my shoulder didn’t let go. I sensed the man who owned the hand just behind me in the dark. I heard his breath about level with my ear. He spoke quickly and quietly in Chinese and two more figures came out of the shadows. Giraffe and Shorty were outside, cursing and swearing. One of them kicked the iron.
“Leave us alone,” said a voice from nearby.
He had a strong accent. A bit like that boy from Taiwan in Grade Six, when he’d just arrived.
“We don’t want trouble.”
“Well you’ve got it,” Giraffe grunted, “unless ya give us that little runt back.”
“What do you want with him?” said the Chinese voice.
“Mind ya own darn business,” said Giraffe. “Give ‘im back. He’s ours.”
The strong hand let go of my shoulder. My whole body went tight. I took a deep breath, thinking it could be my last ever. Whew! Strong stuff. Fish and fruit.
A match flared. Two hard brown eyes stared at me. He said something sharp in Chinese to the man by the door then shouted to Giraffe and Shorty. “No!” he said. “You go away. He is ours.”
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Book Review from PIO
By Jill Smith ©Aug12
Title: Jason Chen and the Time Banana
Author: Duncan Richardson
Publisher: IP Kids http://ipoz.biz/Titles/JasonC.htm
Jason Chen lives with his parents who run a fish and chip shop. His father escaped Vietnam as a refugee and came to Australia by boat. Jason is a bit of a loner in a mixed culture and feels like he has trouble fitting in.
Mrs Bryant is the weird neighbour; she has a big plastic banana in her yard. Everyone especially Jason’s friends at school, thinks she’s crazy. When Jason stops some young kids throwing stones at the banana, Mrs B invites him in for a drink and biscuit, as a thank you. She asks him to come and help around the yard when he’s able. Little does Jason realize that this is the start of a very big adventure, Mrs B has a secret she eventually shares; the plastic banana is a time machine.
At first, Jason thinks going back to early Brisbane is a joke. Quickly he realizes travelling back to the 1860’s, with the Great Fire of Brisbane just days away, is quite an experience. Jason finds the past a very strange place indeed. For a start they have to walk everywhere, no buses or trains. The bush is all about the area that is built up in the present. No telephones or internet. He encounters real bigotry and battles to keep a low profile and speak when he’s spoken to.
Mrs B has friends she wants to warn about the impending fire and the disaster it could cause them. The Chinese community in Brisbane could be blamed for starting the fire and be driven from the growing town. Her friend is a Chinese merchant and she can’t meet him openly, but, Jason can. The plan is set to prevent a change in the history of the future cities past.
Jason learns a lot about facing his own fears. He still thinks Mrs B is a bit odd when she assures him that although they are in the 1860’s for many days, they’ll return to the Brisbane present only minutes after leaving. His parents will never know that he played a big part in preventing riots in the burgeoning city.
I bought this book at the Indie Writers Festival last year. I met Duncan in person having read and admired his efforts with the FAW Queensland group and SCOPE magazine. I think it’s a great tale with in depth research into our past. I think it is worthy of sharing with the young adults you may know. It’s a wonderful insight into Brisbane’s past for all ages.