Blueback by Tim Winton True and False

Abel's mother was not in the dinghy when he ran down the jetty.

Abel's mother's skin was tanned and wrinkled from the sun.

Abel did not have to untie the bowline before they surged away.

Abel's mother asked him to stay close while diving.

Abel and his mother were diving for abalone in the ocean

They used scuba tanks to collect the abalone from the seabed

Abel encountered a terrifying moment when a shark approached him aggressively

The huge fish that approached Abel was a blue groper

The blue groper was described as having colorful scales and a large size

Abel's mother fed the blue groper an abalone

The blue groper swiftly devoured the abalone before disappearing into a deep hole

The story emphasizes the disregard for marine life and the lack of importance of conservation

The underwater setting is not vividly described in the story

The story conveys a sense of adventure, danger, and wonder

The story does not capture the bond between Abel and his mother

The importance of leaving some abalone to breed and grow is emphasized in the story

Abel Jackson's family makes a living by selling abalone shells and fishing off Robbers Head

Abel's father's body was found after he was buried in the family cemetery

Abel and his mother lead a self-sufficient life with mains electricity and TV

Abel convinces his mother to visit Robbers Head to see Blueback again

They encounter Blueback while diving for crayfish, and the groper outsmarts them

Abel keeps Blueback a secret from the rest of the world

The story is set in a landlocked town where the sea has no impact on the characters' lives

Abel dreams of having a small family of his own in the future

The Jacksons have lived at Longboat Bay for over fifty years, living off the land and sea

Abel daydreams about Blueback at school, pondering the fish's age and experiences

Abel encounters Blueback while fishing off Longboat Bay

The sea plays a central role in the characters' lives in the story

Abel is an experienced abalone diver

Macka disregards safety concerns while diving for abalone

Abel's mother jumps into the water to save Macka

Macka was attacked by a shark while diving

Abel leaves his home to attend school

Abel takes a piece of coral as a memento from a peppermint tree

The text does not suggest any dangers of abalone diving

The story focuses on themes of friendship, loss, and challenges of growing up

Abel was able to swim with Blueback despite rough seas

Abel's mother did not express concern for Macka's safety

Abel's father had a shrine under a peppermint tree

Macka operated alone using a hookah while diving

Abel's father was a pearl diver who died when Abel was two years old

Abel is given lines for daydreaming in class, but his thoughts remain fixated on Blueback

Abel worries that Blueback's popularity might attract someone who would harm the fish to gain notoriety

Abel's mother warns passing boats and fishermen about Blueback to protect the fish from being hunted

Abel swims with Blueback at Robbers Head every day, keeping their encounters a secret

Blueback becomes a local legend, with stories spreading about the boy and the fish

Abel ponders the mysteries of nature and the passage of time, particularly in relation to the fish Blueback

Abel takes care of the ducks and has a close encounter with Blueback while diving with his mother

Mad Macka, an abalone diver, knows about Blueback and assures Abel's mother that the fish is safe with him

The text portrays Abel's deep connection with nature, his contemplation of life's mysteries, and his efforts to protect the natural world

Abel wonders about the thoughts of dead people and fish, reflecting on the mysteries of life and death

The story emphasizes the bond between Abel and Blueback, as well as Abel's concern for the fish's safety in the face of growing attention

Abel and his mother used to feel bad about something that happened before their time, but now they feel they must be even with the sea.

Abel feels like a speck, like a bubble on the sea, left by a breaking wave, here for a moment and then gone.

Abel pulls into tiny sheltered coves and swims with his mother in turquoise water beneath streaky cliffs and trees loud with birds.

Abel drifts amidst huge schools of tuna as they rise around him, feeding like packs of wild dogs on terrified baitfish that leapt across his boat.

Abel's mother wants to leave their property due to financial strain

Abel's mother expresses a desire to die by the sea

Abel decides to confront Costello despite feeling helpless

Abel's hands have become calloused from being at school

Abel decides to take action by putting on his wetsuit to confront Costello

Abel's mother dislikes inland living and wants to stay by the sea

Abel's mother shares her emotional attachment to their home

Abel's mother wants to sell their property due to financial strain

Abel becomes increasingly distressed by Costello's constructive actions

Abel encounters a terrifying moment when a shark approached him aggressively

Macka, an abalone diver, assures Abel's mother that the fish Blueback is safe with him

Abel's mother jumps into the water to save Macka

Abel's mother accepted gifts and money from the developers to sell her land in Longboat Bay.

Abel felt regret for not meeting Costello and was disappointed to learn about him later.

Dora, Abel's mother, gave in to the pressure from developers and sold her land in Longboat Bay.

The text highlights themes of greed, resilience, and the bond between a mother and her son.

Abel held his breath during high school years, wondering if his mother would remarry.

The developers resorted to sabotaging Dora's life, including damaging the road and causing mysterious bushfires.

Abel felt helpless being away from his mother during these struggles.

The tiger shark, hooked and dragged with a buoy by Costello, was left to die in agony.

Abel returned to school after the summer, feeling older and wiser.

Abel's mother, Dora, resisted pressure from developers who wanted to build a resort in Longboat Bay.

Abel realized the cruelty of greed when he witnessed the suffering of the tiger shark.

Blueback avoided Abel's mother after a Fisheries patrol boat fined Costello and put him out of business.

Abel's academic pursuits bring him closer to understanding the thoughts of fish and the secrets of the sea

Abel's mother finds solace and strength in her love for the sea, the bush, her house, and her late husband

Abel's mother outlasts sneaky businessmen through calm patience and perseverance

Abel witnesses a mass die-off of pilchards along the coast without a clear cause, leaving his mother convinced that 'the ocean is sick'

Abel falls in love with Stella, a girl who shares his passion for the sea, and introduces her to his aging mother

Abel takes both women to swim with Blueback, an old groper at Robbers Head, where they experience a playful interaction with the fish

Abel's mother humorously hints that Stella will have to share Abel, indicating her acceptance of their relationship

The narrative weaves themes of love, loss, perseverance, and the unyielding connection to the sea, creating a rich and emotional tapestry

Abel's mother's aging becomes apparent to him when standing next to Stella, highlighting his absence from home

Abel returns to Longboat Bay during breaks, engaging in traditional activities with his mother and making home improvements

Despite his academic pursuits, Abel feels no closer to understanding the thoughts of fish and the secrets of the sea

The text reflects on the enduring bonds of love, the passage of time, and the mysteries of the sea, all intertwined in the lives of the characters

Abel and his mother find Costello's boat covered in blood with illegal catches of abalone and crayfish

Abel's mother goes diving to release the abalone back into the water

Abel follows and empties crates of abalone over the side

Abel discovers divers spearing a large blue groper, Blueback, and runs out of air

The mother's act of bravery in saving Blueback prevents the spearing of the fish

Costello and his accomplice stop their illegal fishing activities after the confrontation

The story highlights the duo's compliance with illegal fishing practices

The mother's unconventional behavior makes her blend in with the story's characters

The narrative emphasizes the unimportance of standing up against illegal fishing and protecting marine life

Abel and his mother return to shore without waiting for trouble

The story emphasizes the unimportance of standing up against illegal fishing and protecting marine life

Abel and his mother's action highlights the importance of defying illegal fishing practices

Abel's expertise in marine biology led to invitations for lectures and study tours by foreign governments

Stella and Abel had a feast on the cool verandah with a table bristling with crayfish and abalone

Stella and Abel watched dolphins jumping and hooting in the moonlit bay, which was considered a celebration

Abel realized he was older than his father while diving in the Greek islands and observing the underwater desert created by dynamite fishing and pollution

Abel's father died in a diving accident caused by a tiger shark

The oil tanker accident resulted in oil reaching the shore of Longboat Bay

Dora Jackson witnessed environmental changes in Longboat Bay

Dora's efforts led to the declaration of Longboat Bay as a marine sanctuary

Abel and Stella were diving when they received the news of Longboat Bay's sanctuary status

The dream of Abel's mother's death left him feeling happy and content with the sea

Dora's efforts to protect Longboat Bay were unsuccessful

The story reflects on the impact of human activities on the natural world

Abel's mother accepted gifts and money from the developers to sell her land in Longboat Bay

The text highlights themes of greed, resilience, and the bond between a mother and her son

Abel's mother expresses a desire to leave their property due to financial strain

Abel's mother fed the blue groper an abalone

Abel's mother, Dora, was known for her long, flowing white hair and her storytelling.

Abel's father believed in introducing Abel to the sea at a young age to prevent homesickness.

The fish, Blueback, is described as having a huge head and scales that shine.

Abel's family made a living by selling abalone shells and fishing off Robbers Head.

Abel and Stella continued to work as scientists and study the ocean even after becoming well-known.

The huge blue creature that appeared while diving was a tiger shark.

Abel's mother, Dora, resisted pressure from developers who wanted to build a resort in Longboat Bay.

Abel's mother expressed a desire to die by the sea.

Abel and his mother used scuba tanks to collect abalone from the seabed.

The story emphasizes the unimportance of standing up against illegal fishing and protecting marine life.

Abel's mother finds solace and strength in her love for the sea, the bush, her house, and her late husband.

Abel leaves his home to attend school.

Abel's mother convinces him to take responsibility for the neglected family property

Abel's mother becomes frail and Abel and Stella carry on the traditions of the bay while welcoming their daughter, Dora

The bay is declared a marine reserve while Abel and Stella nurse Stella back to health

Abel's mother passes on her love for the sea to the next generation

Abel's deep connection to the place is evident as he reflects on his father and feels drawn to the bay

Abel's mother finds solace and strength in her love for the sea, the bush, her house, and her late husband

Abel's mother wants to leave their property due to financial strain

Abel's mother expresses a desire to die by the sea

The story emphasizes the unimportance of standing up against illegal fishing and protecting marine life

The text reflects on the enduring bonds of love, the passage of time, and the mysteries of the sea, all intertwined in the lives of the characters

Abel and his mother's action highlights the importance of defying illegal fishing practices

The sea plays a central role in the characters' lives in the story