1. Adventure
2. Allegory
3. Curiosity
4. Fear
5. Freedom
6. Grandparent and child
7. Happiness
8. Home
9. Imagination
10. Metaphors
11. Migration
12. Safety
13. Self-confidence
14. Survival
15. Symbolism
16. Visual literacy

‘The Wall’ is a book about a world in which adult fear can so easily discourage the imagination, the bold desire for adventure and the love of the natural environment that we associate with young children. Tom is a boy who loves the natural world he has experienced for himself, and that he has read about in books, so he is determined to see as much of it as he can. More than anything, he wants to see a jaguar, but to his grandmother, a jaguar epitomises the danger of the world beyond the safety of home.

Other adults on TV and in the news amplify her fear of the outside world, so they build a wall to keep the monsters out. Tom learns to be afraid too and feels safer inside the wall. But an unexpected message from a young girl makes him curious enough to climb over the wall with her, and beyond it is a magical world of exotic plants, animals, and colours. Everyone is enchanted by the girl's stories about this world, so they break down the wall and enjoy the wonderful freedom on the other side. And at last Tom even gets to see the jaguar he used to dream of.

Younger readers of ‘The Wall’ will enjoy discussing ways that the optimism of children can change both adult behaviour and the world. They may also like to think about how we learn to be afraid, and how TV, the news and the internet exacerbate that fear. And how, conversely, books can nourish our optimism. Older readers may be aware of the political controversy over the building of a wall on the US-Mexican border, and be interested to discuss the reasons for it, and brainstorm some possible alternatives. They may also research other famous walls in history: Hadrian's Wall, the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall, the West Bank barrier in Israel. Did these walls achieve the aims of those who built them? If not, why not?

United Nations statistics on 20th-21st century migration will inspire readers to ask why millions of people feel compelled to migrate, and what kinds of changes in society might result in different choices. Older readers might also like to consider metaphorical walls or barriers, and research the role of laws and detention as solutions to Australia's desire to control its borders.

1. New Frontier Publishing, Teachers' Notes https://www.newfrontier.com.au/files/teachers_notes/the-wall-teaching-notes1.pdf
2. Catalina Eccheveri's dedication on page 2 is an acknowledgment of her Colombian heritage. Discuss with young readers her author website, the impact of her heritage on the theme of The Wall and her use of colour and line to contrast two different societies. https://www.cataverri.com/
3. KGUN9 (2023). ''A history of our border wall along the US-Mexico border' (2.54 mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RpNrNrDR3c
4. 'US border wall see-saws allow children on each side to play together' (0.45mins) Guardian News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wzco5geQFo
5. The following are for teachers' contextual understanding; the implied age is secondary or adult.
6. Andrews, Evan (2018). '7 Famous Border Walls' https://www.history.com/news/7-famous-border-walls
7. Imperial War Museums. 'What was the Berlin Wall and How did it Fall?' https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-was-the-berlin-wall-and-how-did-it-fall
8. Institute for Middle East Understanding. 'Explainer: Israel's West Bank Wall' https://imeu.org/article/israels-west-bank-wall
9. Fisher, Toni (1962). 'West of the Wall' (song) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVeG-MllgXI