The Wahine Disaster: Wellington, 1968

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Debbie Atherton keeps a diary and writes to it as if it were a pen pal, telling of her frustrations at school, of her older cousin Val and her exciting life, and of her home life. When she gets glandular fever she is sent to Christchurch to recuperate, accompanied by Val. Debbie meets Bronwyn and the two are instant friends. Coincidentally Val and Debbie return to Wellington on the Wahine at the same time as Bronwyn and her grandmother. During the night of the storm, as the Wahine lolls in the entrance to Wellington harbour, Val and Debbie become separated and Bronwyn is fully occupied looking after her grandmother. Each experiences the tragic night of the sinking of the Wahine in different ways and not all of the group survive. Afterwards Debbie finds comfort in talking to Bronwyn about her experiences - the feelings of guilt at their survival, and the horror of watching others struggle to survive.

Reviews

Praise for My Story: Abandon Ship! "This is a highly readable account of a 12 year old girl's reactions not only to the horrors of the disaster but also to the day by day events of the late 1960s" -- Around the Bookshops "Early teens and pre-teens will find a lot to identify with, and fascinating points of difference" -- NZ Herald Canvas Magazine "The diary format works beautifully and I enjoyed the way [Corlett] combined two stories hundreds of years apart to provide such a satisfying conclusion to this novel" -- Marlborough Express