Presented with a box of family photographs, maybe a scrapbook or two, and perhaps recalling an oft-told anecdote, it’s tempting for those turning family history into stories to write non-fiction which adheres closely to the facts.

There’s a lot of telling, not much showing, and while there could be a good story in there, it’s hidden beneath a recitation of names and dates. Maybe interesting to other family members, not so much to general readers.

Bob Kerr, admittedly a highly experienced writer and illustrator best known for Terry Teo and the Gunrunners, has done something far more satisfying. He’s taken a personal story inspired by his own father Robert Kerr’s WWII experiences to craft Jack & Sandy, a part fiction/part fact adventure story which rings true and spans three generations.

Using his own water colour drawings, Kerr communicates the story in short, boldly illustrated chapters – some in graphic novel format. This is combined with Kerr Snr’s own photos, documents and newspaper clippings. The result is poignant, deeply moving and expansive touching on everything from male friendship, parental expectations, lost love, the impact of war across generations and grief and forgiveness.

It’s an incredible achievement to pack so much into 104 bountifully illustrated pages. It’s subtle, never moralistic, and because of this succeeds in being entertaining, instructive and yes, educational.

Jack & Sandy starts in 2001 when Jack and his best mate Eddie finish high school and embark on a week-long kayaking adventure on the Waihou River which winds its way to the Firth of Thames and Te Ara Moana – the sea-going pathway for kayaks which skirts Auckland’s eastern coastline. Reading about familiar locations was a buzz and even if you’re not fortunate to live on the Firth of Thames, the rural and coastal environments will be familiar to many young readers.

Both boys know they’ve got tough decisions to make about their futures but Jack has other concerns. Unbeknown to his father, Alec, Jack’s real mission is to meet his long-estranged grandfather, Sandy, who disappeared from family life decades ago. The twist revealed, Kerr takes readers back to 1931 when Sandy and his best mate Billy have limited prospects in their Scottish shipbuilding town so opt to become merchant seamen. 

At first, sailing the world’s oceans and visiting foreign ports is a great adventure but when WWII breaks out, they find themselves on a dangerous convoy to the island of Malta. This is based on Operation Substance, a real event where six fast merchant ships protected by 25 warships raced from Gibraltar across the Mediterranean to relieve besieged Malta. The voyage will have far-reaching ramifications for Sandy’s family and future.

Kerr’s own father was one of the merchant seamen who took part in Operation Substance. He’s made good use of family photos and stories, like the one about a kangaroo onboard the ship, to illustrate the book and add deft personal details to it.  A two-page spread, featuring a synopsis about Operation Substance, a map and timeline, will appeal to history lovers and, if nothing else, the book will be useful reference for studying WWII.

But there’s so much more to it than this  Kerr says his primary audience are 10 – 15 year old boys who find chapter books with solid blocks of text daunting. I hope it finds this audience who are inspired, moved, reassured and perhaps even convinced that while the world is big, it’s worth getting out to explore and find your place in it.

 Reviewed by Dionne Christian