A history lesson from just 17 syllables

Parents, caregivers, in fact, anyone looking for reading material for 12-year-olds and over ... here's a tip: don't go past Susan Brocker's latest novel.
Inspired by a haiku (Japanese poem), the Tauranga author's Dreams of Warriors is a delightful read that will not only entertain but teach young readers some of New Zealand's history. Susan read the haiku on a plaque at a memorial garden just outside Featherston in the Wairarapa. It reads: Behold the summer grass, All that remains of the Dreams of Warriors. It is in a Peace Garden planted in memory of Japanese soldiers who were imprisoned and died near the site during World War ll.
The story opens in June, 1942. Bella is 14 and lives on a dairy farm in Featherston with her mum and older sister. Her father is away overseas, fighting in the war, and it's up to those left behind to keep the farm going. Not only does Bella have to get up at dawn to milk cows, go to school and do chores, she also has to find a way to try to save her father's much loved, but bad-tempered racehorse Gipsy.
Bella has a "bad leg", a legacy of contracting polio when she was younger. She limps and knows some people call her a cripple. Susan said she deliberately put more than a few obstacles in Bella's path. "I wanted readers to understand that although life can throw bad things your way there are ways to overcome just about everything."
However, she makes sure there are plenty of other characters in this charming novel to come to Bella's aid. There's China Joe, who talks in riddles and sleeps in the grandstand at the Featherstone racecourse; Yoshi, a Japanese prisoner of war; and Nick, an apprentice jockey.
Although Bella comes from Susan's imagination, much of this story is based on actual events. Susan, who has a degree in history, said she had always been interested in history and has a great affection for animals. "To be able to combine both my interests in this novel has been really fun," she said.
"I had to pull myself back into line more than once while researching this book as I would go off in all directions.
"I also got a lot of the incidental material for the book based on my mum's memories. She remembers young women, who couldn't get pantyhose, painting their legs and drawing a line down the back for the seam."
Susan, who lives on a farm and enjoys horse-riding with her husband hopes her book will encourage young readers to find out more about New Zealand's history.
She says her next novel is also about animals - it's "a bit funny" and set in in the present day.
Unfortunately, we will have to wait until next July for its release. Ah well ... that's something to look forward to.
Dreams of Warriors
by Susan Brocker, HarperCollins, $19.99
An entertaining and educational read for anyone over 9.
Author Susan Brocker has managed to take a slice of New Zealand history, mix it up with animals, family and teenagers, to create a touching tale.
Set in Word War ll, in rural New Zealand, Dreams of Warriors tells the courageous story of a family struggling to cope on a farm while the man of the house is away at war.
At only 14, Bella has to deal with milking cows, going to school and looking after a mad horse - a racehorse that her father has great plans for. Trouble is, Bella's terrified of the animal.
The family also must cope with Mr Bloodsworth, a neighbour who not only has his eye on Bella's mother, but also the farm.
He's just waiting for the family to fail so he can swoop in and take the farm. However, Bella and her family are fighters and when help with the horse is offered from an unexpected source Bella has to decide who she can trust.
A great read for young and the not so young.