Christopher Cummings 
Barbara and the Smiley People 
The Army Cadets

Seventeen-year-old Australian Cadet Under-Officer, Barbara Brassington, is on a desperate search to find her best friend, Fiona, who has gone missing.
Barbara and her fellow Army Cadets track Fiona into the unforgiving North Queensland bush, where she has been kidnapped by a religious sect known only as ‘The Smiley People’.
As they go deeper into the bush, Barbara finds herself torn between conflicting desires and difficult moral choices. Her leadership and character are tested to the limit, and her physical endurance stretched to breaking point.
But in the jungle-covered mountains, Barbara must not only discover the whereabouts of her best friend, but also her true self.

About the author

Christopher Cummings is a Vietnam veteran, teacher, parent, traveller, Officer of Cadets, and author of 35 books. Bushwalking, history and travel have added depth to his experiences. He grew up in Cairns and Cape York Peninsula, experiencing many adventures in the North Queensland bush and at sea in his father’s ships, adventures he has woven into his books.