The Green Piper

by Victor Kelleher

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult

1 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1985

About the author

Victor Kelleher is an Australian author. Victor was born in London and moved to Africa with his parents, at the age of fifteen. He spent the next twenty years travelling and studying in Africa, before moving to New Zealand. Kelleher received a teaching degree in Africa and has taught in Africa, New Zealand and Australia. While in New Zealand, he began writing part time, prompted by homesickness for Africa. He moved to Australia in 1976, with his South African wife, Allison, and taught at the University of New England, in Armidale, New South Wales, before moving to Sydney to write full time. Many of the books he has written have been based on his childhood and his travellings in Africa.

Kelleher has won many awards for his books, such as the Australian Children's Book Award.

Reviews

[Lyf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, what a history with this book. I tried to read it back in '89 but at some point, while I was reading it, it frightened me so much that I began screaming in my sleep. My parents took the book away from me and I never finished it. Several decades later I managed to find it (thanks to some great used book store staff) and was eager to read it again.

I can see why I was afraid back then. It is an unsettling book, in fact the first 1/3rd of the book is probably the most frightening and the rest of the book is the consequence of that first part. The writing is simple and straightforward. The characters are very complex and enjoyable to read, especially in this day and age when I feel like many characters in books written with young adults in mind have one personality trait and that's it.

IF you can find this book I highly recommend it.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genuinely creepy story that mashes Invasion of the Body Snatchers with The Pied Piper. Would have loved it as a kid, but may be a little scary for primary school kids.

Given that Kelleher lived mostly in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, only having lived in Britain as a kid, it is remarkable how English this story is - chalk quarries, rolling downs, spruce trees, etc.

[Cal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in 7th grade.

[Shuja · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is supposed to be for young adults. The level of horror and intrigue is at times so empowering. Read it back in school days and the plot of the story would appear as main theme of some nightmares I had. What a good idea. Trees taking over. :)

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most frightening book I read as a kid.