Waiting for the Durian

Little Captive: Wait for Freedom is the inspiring true story of a child whose city was bombed, whose rescue ship was sunk, and who was held prisoner of war by the Japanese during World War II. Author Susan McCabe knew it was a story that had to be told when she met Des Woodford at his home in Perth Australia, where she and her family had moved from Canada. The story takes the reader with the young Des on his journey of adventure, pain, suffering, heroism and survival. This book not only tells the dramatic tale of what happened, it reveals the inner journey of the soul of the child, and leaves us breathless with admiration at his strength and depth of character. Des lives for us, as do his parents Rosy and Sonny, who share his ordeal, though they are all ripped apart before being brought back together. There are camp heroes like the Dutch Barfing brothers, the irrepressible Aussie jockeys who take on the brutal prison guards, and Des's pet chicks Bluey and Koefer. All of them - even the pet birds - become three-dimensional, living breathing personalities who engage our feelings.