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The Lanternist
1901. The slide clunks into the lantern, and Phantoms
come alive on the wall. The father-and-son Magic Lantern
team of Bert and Tom Eliot are masters of The Art of the
Story. The only problem is that they are missing a wife and
mother. Then one morning eleven-year-old Tom wakes to
find his father missing, too.
The Lanternist’s apprentice is thrown out of home, forced
to work for the arch-criminal Jimmy Sacks, arrested and
imprisoned. Will he ever be able to escape with his new
friend Max and make the long, flea-bitten, rat-infested
journey to Sydney in search of his parents?
The Lanternist is a story about stories, and how they show
us a way through life, despite callous landladies, corrupt
officials, criminal companions and the problems with
living in incinerators. But mostly, it is about searching, and
making your own endings.
come alive on the wall. The father-and-son Magic Lantern
team of Bert and Tom Eliot are masters of The Art of the
Story. The only problem is that they are missing a wife and
mother. Then one morning eleven-year-old Tom wakes to
find his father missing, too.
The Lanternist’s apprentice is thrown out of home, forced
to work for the arch-criminal Jimmy Sacks, arrested and
imprisoned. Will he ever be able to escape with his new
friend Max and make the long, flea-bitten, rat-infested
journey to Sydney in search of his parents?
The Lanternist is a story about stories, and how they show
us a way through life, despite callous landladies, corrupt
officials, criminal companions and the problems with
living in incinerators. But mostly, it is about searching, and
making your own endings.
400 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2021
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Orr
19 books31 followersStephen Orr is an Australian writer of novels, short stories and non-fiction. His works are set in uniquely Australian settings, including coastal towns, outback regions and the Australian suburbs. His fiction explores the dynamics of Australian families and communities.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 24, 2021
This book was cool and I'll tell you why! Set in 1901 Tom's dad is a Lanternist (old school projector thing) his dad leaves him to find his mum...Tom sets off to track down his dad. He meets all these dodgy characters along the way..and some good ones too. Divided into slides and pics rather than chapters. Definitely wanted to know what happens in the end! Middle school readers or old people like me would hopefully like it! Cool book!
July 2, 2021
Thank you to the Children's Book Council for an ARC in exchange for my honest review, which I will share here once it is published on readingtime.com.au.
January 31, 2023
Read for review
Set in Adelaide in the 1900s, this historical fiction shows what life was like for struggling families.
Story is a little hard to get into at first, not my favourite way to have a book written - the flow was often interrupted, but by the middle, the story had more action and a better pace.
Set in Adelaide in the 1900s, this historical fiction shows what life was like for struggling families.
Story is a little hard to get into at first, not my favourite way to have a book written - the flow was often interrupted, but by the middle, the story had more action and a better pace.
January 22, 2022
An exciting tale of friendship and loyalty, set in early Australia. Strong characters (almost all male) but interesting story that keeps you until the end.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews