Hills End

{{Short description|1962 children's book by Ivan Southall}} {{About|the book by Ivan Southall|the DMA's album|Hills End (album)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox book  | name = Hills End | image = Hills End cover.jpg | caption = First edition  | author = Ivan Southall | country = Australia | language = English | series = | genre = Children's novel | publisher = Angus & Robertson, Sydney | pub_date = 1962 | pages = 174 pages }}

'''''Hills End''''' is a children's book by Ivan Southall published in 1962 and later adapted for television.

==Plot summary ==

The story follows seven children and their teacher who are trapped inside a cave while a fierce cyclonic storm destroys the fictional town of Hills End. They face a struggle to survive as well as having to deal with their loss. A mystery also surrounds ancient aboriginal art found in the cave.

==Literary significance and reception== Southall had lost his family farm shortly before the publication of ''Hills End'', but its success established him as a writer both in Australia and internationally.<ref>"Ivan Southall." ''Authors and Artists for Young Adults''. Vol. 22. Gale Research, 1997.</ref>

John Rowe Thompson wrote of the book "''Hills End'' is almost a perfect novel of its kind.... The rapid character development and self-discovery of the children under stress are notable."<ref>"Ivan Southall." Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 22. Gale Research, 1997.</ref>

''Hills End'' is regarded as a classic of Australian children's literature.<ref>It was reissued by John Ferguson as part of the ''Australian Children's Classics'' series in 1981 [http://nla.gov.au/nla.ms-ms5379]</ref> The book is studied in Australia in the early years of high school both as a work of literature and to aid discussion on the impact of natural disasters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://scs.une.edu.au/TalentEd/EdSupport/Disasters.htm |title=University of New England Talent Ed |access-date=19 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829201735/http://scs.une.edu.au/TalentEd/EdSupport/Disasters.htm |archive-date=29 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Television adaptation==

The mini-series ''Hills End'' starred Madge Ryan as Miss Godwin, John Noble as Ben Fiddler, Peter Gwynne as Frank Tobias, Maree D'Arcy, Katharine Cullen as Frances McLeod, Clayton Williamson as Adrian Fiddler, Jason Degiorgio as Paul Mace, Emma Fowler as Gussie Mace, Haydon Samuels as Harvey Collins, Caitlin Procter as Maisie Johnson and Keith Eisenhuth as 'Butch' Buchanan. It originally aired on ABC Television in 1989.<ref>{{IMDb title|97510| Hill's End (1988)}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}} {{Portal|Children and Young Adult Literature}}

Category:1962 Australian novels Category:Australian children's novels Category:Novels set in Australia Category:Australian children's television series Category:1962 children's books Category:1980s Australian television miniseries Category:1989 Australian television series debuts Category:1989 Australian television series endings Category:Angus & Robertson books