Hills End
Encyclopedia
Hills End is a children's book by Ivan Southall
published in 1962 and later adapted for television.
while a fierce cyclonic storm destroys the fictional town of Hills End. They face a struggle to survive as well as having to deal with their loss. A mystery also surrounds ancient aboriginal art found in the cave.
and internationally.
John Rowe Thompson wrote of the book "Hills End is almost a perfect novel of its kind.... The rapid character development and self-discovery of the children under stress are notable."
Hills End is regarded as a classic of Australian children's literature. The book is studied in Australia in the early years of high school both as a work of literature and to aid discussion on the impact of natural disasters.
, Maree D'Arcy, Katharine Cullen, Clayton Williamson, Jason Degiorgio, Emma Fowler, Haydon Samuels and Caitlin Procter. It originally aired on ABC Television in 1989.
Ivan Southall
Ivan Francis Southall AM, DFC was an award-winning Australian writer of young-adult fiction and non-fiction. He was the first and still the only Australian to win the Carnegie Medal in Literature for children's literature. His books include Hills End, Ash Road, Josh, and Let the Balloon Go...
published in 1962 and later adapted for television.
Plot summary
The story follows seven children and their teacher who are trapped inside a caveCave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
while a fierce cyclonic storm destroys the fictional town of Hills End. They face a struggle to survive as well as having to deal with their loss. A mystery also surrounds ancient aboriginal art found in the cave.
Literary significance and reception
Southall had lost his family farm shortly before the publication of Hills End, but its success established him as a writer both in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and internationally.
John Rowe Thompson wrote of the book "Hills End is almost a perfect novel of its kind.... The rapid character development and self-discovery of the children under stress are notable."
Hills End is regarded as a classic of Australian children's literature. The book is studied in Australia in the early years of high school both as a work of literature and to aid discussion on the impact of natural disasters.
Television adaptation
The mini-series Hills End starred Madge Ryan, John NobleJohn Noble
John Noble is an Australian film and television actor, and theater director of more than 80 plays. He was born in Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia and is currently starring as scientist Walter Bishop in the J. J. Abrams television series Fringe.He made occasional appearances on the...
, Maree D'Arcy, Katharine Cullen, Clayton Williamson, Jason Degiorgio, Emma Fowler, Haydon Samuels and Caitlin Procter. It originally aired on ABC Television in 1989.