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Book Review By John Marcel
Pobby and Dingan by Ben Rice

Pobby and Dingan are the imaginary friends of Kellyanne Williamson. When her dad takes her friends to the mine he unsuccessfully prospects in Australia and loses them. Even Ashmol, her disbelieving brother, joins in the hunt. But dad strays onto Old Sid's prospect and is accused of ratting (thieving) by the old miner. The police are called and dad is arrested. Kellyanne becomes ill with worry for her friends. Soon Ashmol has enlisted the whole town in their search. This raises Kellyanne's spirits a bit but she must go into hospital as she has stopped eating with worry. She gets Ashmol to go into the mineshaft at night where she thinks they are lost. Ashmol discovers a cave-in and a beautiful opal. He shows it to Kellyanne and tells her they are dead. She says the opal is Dingan's bellybutton. Even he starts to believe they existed. Kellyanne makes him secretly trade the opal for a real funeral for Pobby and Dingan. Ashmol invites the whole town to the funeral and they turn up. This wonderful story is about belief in something that is hard to see and to keep looking for something that is hard to find.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day)
Internal struggle/realization? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Coping with loss of loved one(s) Yes
Loss of...

Main Character
Gender - Male
Age: - a kid
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - a kid
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 ()
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - Australia
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - little dialog
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