Teresa Moran, Soldier by Ken Catran
I have been reading Ken Catran’s Moran series from the beginning, and this one is just as good as all the rest. However, I do question whether or not it will appeal to the same crowd.
The Moran series follows the military careers of each member of four generations. Jacko was a sniper in World War 1. Robert, his son, was in Africa and Greece in World War 2, Jimmy fought in Vietnam and now Teresa is a lieutenant in a unit headed for East Timor and from there to Iraq. Most of the books appeal to year 7 and 8 boys because of the realistic violence therein. This book is different. The wars being fought are different, and as a result this book needs to tell the story radically differently. Teresa is in command and this requires that she think about collateral damage far more than any of her ancestors. And of all the Morans, at the end of the book you get the feeling that she will survive and go on to live a normal life after the army, something her fathers never could do.
Personally, I liked this finish to the series. However, I doubt the boys interested in the blood and guts will tolerate this book for long. It’s a shame really.
