McKENZIE'S BOOTS

by Michael Noonan ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1988

Rod Murray takes his ever-growing feet from the pavements and schoolrooms of Sydney to the jungles of New Guinea during WW II. Rod's great size makes him clumsy on the dance floor, but it's enough to get him into the army (under the assumed name of McKenzie) at 15. Before he is killed in action two years later, he meets a varied and quirky lot of Aussies, Americans, and Japanese. Rod's own character is John Wayne-like: huge, heroic in battle, innocent (despite several remedial efforts, he dies a virgin), and incorruptible, he makes his associates seem smaller, and not just physically. Aficionados of action stories may chafe at the casual pace, but most readers will enjoy the offbeat humor. The detailed portrait of wartime Australia holds considerable interest; and the epilogue--which neatly ties together the themes of heroism and the mixture of good and evil qualities in people on both sides of the conflict--is satisfyingly sentimental.

Pub Date: March 1, 1988

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 240

Publisher: Orchard/Watts

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1988

Categories: CHILDREN'S