The Blue-Eyed Aborigine - Softcover

A definite must-read this summer! (www.youngwriters.co.uk)

A confronting look at a significant event in history, with deft interpretation and excellent character development - a great read. (nayusreadingcorner)

Hayes gets the tone, pace and action just right. Jan's story is gripping. Straight on to the school readings lists for this one, and for the best possible reasons." (Weekend Australian)

A fascinating documentary but also a gripping adventure story that raises timeless questions about human behaviour, conditioning and ultimately the power of love. (Magpies)

A fascinating adventure story about a real-life drama including the possibility of early contact between Indigenous Australians and Western Europeans. Suitable for readers aged 13+, this interesting based-on-fact historical fiction novel is likely to appeal to teens with an interest in Australian history, particularly stories of early European contact with Indigenous Australians. (www.suite101.com)

Having read many accounts of this tragic episode, I was impressed by the author's research and skill in relating history whilst telling a captivating tale. Necessarily for younger adolescents, many explicit details are avoided and the volence and degradation are described as moderately as possible. (www.readplus.com.au)

A fascinating story. (School Librarian)

Makes an enthralling and often exciting read. (Ibby Link)

A great read for girls and boys who like a bit of adventure... I would recommend this book to anyone. You'll never want to put it down!
Nansi, age 11 (Aquila)

It is 1629, and there is mutiny in the air aboard the Dutch ship Batavia as she plies her way towards Java with her precious cargo. Jan, a cabin boy, and Wouter, a young soldier, find themselves caught up in the tragic wrecking and bloody revolt that follow. But worse is to come...
Based on the diaries of the ship's Commander, Rosemary Hayes recaptures some of sea history's most dramatic moments, linking the fates of of Jan and Wouter with discoveries that intrigue Australians to this day.
Praise for Payback:

"This is contemporary novel-writing at its most relevant."

The Independent

This title is also available as an ebook, in either Kindle, ePub or PDF editions