Waiting for the Durian

Little Captive: Wait for Freedom is the
inspiring true story of a child whose city was bombed, whose
rescue ship was sunk, and who was held prisoner of war by
the Japanese during World War II. Author Susan McCabe knew
it was a story that had to be told when she met Des Woodford
at his home in Perth Australia, where she and her family had
moved from Canada. The story takes the reader with the
young Des on his journey of adventure, pain, suffering,
heroism and survival. This book not only tells the dramatic
tale of what happened, it reveals the inner journey of the
soul of the child, and leaves us breathless with admiration
at his strength and depth of character. Des lives for us,
as do his parents Rosy and Sonny, who share his ordeal,
though they are all ripped apart before being brought back
together. There are camp heroes like the Dutch Barfing
brothers, the irrepressible Aussie jockeys who take on the
brutal prison guards, and Des's pet chicks Bluey and Koefer.
All of them - even the pet birds - become three-dimensional,
living breathing personalities who engage our feelings.