The Ivory Trail is a 1999 young-adult horror

Horror fiction

Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...

 novel by Victor Kelleher

Victor Kelleher

Victor Kelleher is an Australian author. Victor was born in London and moved to Africa with his parents, at the age of fifteen. He spent the next twenty years travelling and studying in Africa, before moving to New Zealand. Kelleher received a teaching degree in Africa and has taught in Africa,...

. It follows the story of Jamie Hassan who is coming of age in a traditional mysticism bohemian family. After receiving an ivory carving he is sent on journeys through time in order to find his spiritual guide.

Background

The Ivory Trail was first published in Australia in 1996 by Viking Press

Viking Press

Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...

 in trade paperback format. In 2001 it was published in the United Kingdom by Puffin Books

Puffin Books

Puffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:...

. Its front cover is used in Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 as a visual text in the New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

 English Stage 6 Syllabus Journeys Stimulus Booklet. The Ivory Trail was a short-list nominee for the 1999 Aurealis Award

Aurealis Award

Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award.-History:...

 for best young-adult novel and best horror novel

Aurealis Award for best horror novel

The Aurealis Awards are presented annually by the Australia-based Chimaera Publications and SpecFaction NSW to published works in order to "recognise the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy, horror writers"...

 but lost to Dave Luckett

Dave Luckett

Dave Luckett is an Australian children's writer born in Stanmore, New South Wales. He has written three non-fiction books about cricket and medieval weapons and armor. He has also written three series of fantasy books as well as a number of standalone fantasy books. One of the series, The Rhianna...

's A Dark Victory

A Dark Victory

A Dark Victory is a 1999 young-adult fantasy novel by Dave Luckett and is the last book in the Tenabran Trilogy. It follows the story of how Will is preparing for his final battle as Prince Nathan's armies mass on the moors.-Background:...

and Christine Harris

Christine Harris (author)

Christine Harris is an Australian writer of children's and young-adult with works both in speculative fiction and historical fiction.-Biography:...

' Foreign Devil

Foreign Devil

Foreign Devil is a 1999 young-adult horror novel by Christine Harris. It follows the story of Tyler Norton who is abducted by pirates from the past and faces a bid for freedom.-Background:...

respectively.