Dingo Creek Challenge

“I’m required to make a report of this,” Constable Fitzgerald finally whispered. He squeezed the leather bridle between his hands.

“Fine. You write that someone is trying to make it look as if the McWaid family is involved in horse theft. You write that the real – what do you call them here in Australia – the real gully-rakers are still out there raking gullies, or stealing horses. Put that in your report. Good day, Constable.”
With that he took Patrick’s arm and marched back to the cabin. “Why are you so mad, Pa?” squeaked Michael.

“I don’t fancy to being accused like that.” Their father was still red in the face as he waved a long bony finger in their faces. “But now, you two, I’ve had quite enough of this business. After last night, and now this escapade-”

“John, you can’t blame them,” put in Mrs. McWaid, drying her tears. Patrick couldn’t remember seeing his father this angry. Not for a long time.”

Book: Dingo Creek Challenge (Adventures Down Under Book 4) by Robert Elmer, Bethany House Publishers, 1998

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 12-16

Subjects: Justice, Loss

Summary: Horse thieves and bullies sneaking around in the night and captives escaping in the dark bring the latest round of trouble to the McWaid family. Patrick and Becky happen to be across the creek when the people from town ride in to the Aborigine camp, accusing them of stealing horses and making trouble. Late that night, a young Aborigine sneaks out to the McWaids house, dragging their family into the middle of the situation. Soon they are being accused of being the ones stealing the horses, Patrick and Becky and their friends are organizing a game of cricket to help the Aborigine children stand up to the bullies threatening them, and their life is once again in danger.

Notes: Dingo Creek Challenge is the fourth in the Adventures Down Under series. The books tell the story of Patrick, his sister and his little brother as they face the challenges of trying to survive in Australia shortly after it was being settled as a prison colony. The author found many of the adventures someone living there at that time would have faced and has Patrick, his family and his friends encounter them all throughout the course of the series.

This fourth book focuses on prejudice as Patrick, Becky and the other children have the opportunity to befriend and stand up for someone who looks very different than them. They are determined to stand up for and reveal truth, no matter what danger they face in doing so.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Isaiah 1:17 – Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.