Teaching Notes
Harbour Terror is a novel that will appeal to teenagers between Years 7 - 10.
The main character, Luke, is a Year 9 student who volunteers on a community radio station.
Plot:
Luke’s radio co-host, Bilal, has an uncle who is a terrorist planning to kill the heir to the British throne when he visits Australia. The action is set around Sydney Harbour and the city of Sydney. Because of his close links to the terrorist’s family, Luke is approached by ASIO and MI5 to discover what he can find out about the plot. Despite the danger Luke agrees to spy on the group, but is torn when he discovers that terrorism is not a simple good guy/bad guy proposition.
Issues:
This issues novel includes current events such as the London bombings and persisting terrorist threats around the world. Students can discuss reasons why terrorism occurs and can gain an understanding that the causes of terrorism begin with intolerance and inequality, and that the solutions to terrorism are not as simplistic as engaging in military action.
Other issues in the novel that can be used to generate class discussion include
Media influence and media literacy.
Citizen journalism, the empowerment of ordinary people through new media developments.
History of Indonesia and other Asian neighbours to Australia.
Character:
The main character, Luke Archer, is confused. Like Hamlet, he vacillates between being convinced Bilal’s uncle is an evil terrorist, and thinking he is being tricked by ASIO and MI5 into believing badly of his friend’s uncle. Luke’s indecision about who is right and who is wrong is because the issues behind terrorism are not as clear cut as they are often portrayed. With an Irish-Australian background Luke’s family articulates some of the issues faced by people who come from a background of an occupied country.
Luke, like most teenagers, is angry. As he learns more about methods of achieving inner peace from his contact with Islamic prayers, he develops his personality further. Ironically, the religion that is seen as bringing terror by some in the story, is what leads Luke to a deeper understanding of himself.
The other main characters are Luke’s friend and co-host Bilal, and his cousin Dan and friend Georgie. Stereotypes are used in portraying Bilal and his uncle, but then the stereotypes are reversed and there is an unexpected end that will lead readers to question racial stereotyping. Dan and Georgie help Luke unravel the mysteries he encounters as he gets deeper into the plot and, because they are not as closely involved as Luke, can see a bigger picture of what is happening that Luke can. Points of view are compared and contrasted in the exploration of these characters.
Useful references:
In The Shadow Of Swords by Sally Neighbour
The Year of Living Dangerously, by Christopher Koch
The Northern Ireland Troubles, Wikipedia
IRA Cease Fire talks in 2003, news report from RTE. Search RTE for other similar reports
London Bombings 2005, BBC special report
radioinfo news story LONDON bombing.pdf, radioinfo.com.au report June 2005
* The Year of Living Dangerously was written by Chris Koch, about his brother, ABC Foreign Correspondent Phil Koch.
