
Strange Objects is a sophisticated middle-grade mystery that uses an epistolary format, a collection of letters, diary entries, and photocopies, to tell the story of 16-year-old Steven Messenger. After discovering artifacts from the 1629 Batavia shipwreck, Steven disappears. The book delves into his investigation of the relics and the dark history of mutiny and survival, paralleling it with his own psychological struggles, including psychotic episodes. It's set in Western Australia, exploring the complex history of European settlement and the often-overlooked perspective of Aboriginal people. This novel is ideal for mature readers aged 10-14 who enjoy complex narratives, historical mysteries, and books that prompt critical thinking about truth and perspective.
After discovering valuable relics from a seventeenth-century shipwreck, a sixteen-year-old Australian disappears under mysterious circumstances.