The SS Admella was shipwrecked off the coast of South Australia in1859.
It is one of the worst disasters in Australian maritime history.
Building on the facts of this disaster, Helen Edwards presents two brilliant stories, a century apart, in two voices and alternate chapters.
Daisy is fourteen years old at the beginning of August 1859, when she travels on the SS Admella.
She is studying her much-loved Botany, intending that to become her future.
With her parents and little sister Marigold, the family plans a journey to Melbourne by ship.
Daisy is initially reluctant to board another ship as her journey from England to Australia at three years old, was a terrible experience which remains a beacon of fear in her mind.
They travel by cart to the port with other travelers, their parents encouraging them to view their trip as an adventure.
This is not possible for Daisy.
Racehorses are also on board, intended for entry in the Champion Sweepstakes. Two lifeboats and a quarter-boat are all they have when the ship hits a reef and splits into three.
Eighty-nine people lose their lives.
A century later, it is the last day of term for Maxwell and his sister Rosemary in Kingston, SA. Max is bullied for his dyslexia and is glad the holidays are before them.
But Max is extremely bright, has perfect recall, and a gentle manner. He loves birds and animals and cares for anything wounded, while keeping a journal of everything he does through Rosemary.
They are holidaying at the Cape Jaffa lighthouse, when they see lights flashing on the reef.that
This is not the only curious happening. The ghost of a horse, one of which was travelling on the SS Admella when it sank, appears neighing to Max.
Magical occurrences go to work again when the ghost whale, Moriarty, becomes a lifesaver.
An accident at the lighthouse forces Max to step into the caretaker’s role of keeping the light going throughout the night. He realizes he is more than what others see in him, and much more than what he believes of himself.
I loved the characters in this book, especially Max. The backdrop of Australian history enhances the fictional parts.
This book is highly recommended. Between the above happenings there are lots of adventures, and fast-paced plots keep the reader turning pages quickly to see what happens next.
Title: A Light on the Rocks
Author: Helen Edwards
Publisher: Riveted Press, $17.99
Publication Date: 28 January 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781764007191
For ages: 10+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
