My Story: The Mine’s Afire! by Susan Battye & Thelma Eakin

Target age 10+

Tommy Carter is a typical boy living in the West Coast mining community of Dobson in 1896, looking forward to the day when he will leave school and get a job.

He’s not keen to follow his Uncle Fred down into the Brunner mine, with its hardships and ever-present danger. One terrible day, Tommy’s worst fears come true when an explosion rips through the mine.

This fictional diary records the tragedy, heroism and bitter aftermath of New Zealand’s worst ever industrial disaster.

Susan Battye and Thelma Eakin are both interested in drama and social history, particularly the history of the West Coast. When they realised that their students didn’t know much about their local history, Susan and Thelma wrote a community-based play called The Shadow of the Valley, which was first performed in 1977. From this play came the idea to write about the event from the point of view of a boy caught up in a mining disaster that affected not just the local people but the whole colony.

Reserve me!

This award allows our toughest critics - New Zealand's young readers - to have their say in the New Zealand Post Book Awards. School-aged children and teenagers from all over New Zealand can vote for their favourite book from among the 20 finalists selected by the judges.

The award winner is announced by young readers at the awards ceremony and the author and/or illustrator of this coveted award wins $1,000.

Each year this award produces an enormous response - proof of its enduring popularity. Book lovers can vote only once, in any form. Every voting card or online vote that is received puts the voter's nominated school in the draw to win $1,000 of Booksellers Tokens.

Voting for 2010 closes at 5pm 30 April 2010.