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Posts tagged ‘Our Australian Girl’

Meet Rose

9780143305361By Sherryl Clark

Part of the Our Australian Girl Series

It is the turn of the century and Rose lives in a big house in Melbourne. Rose is a little different to other girls, she doesn’t want to get all dressed up and wear corsets and do needlepoint, Rose wants to explore, learn, go on adventures and play cricket. Her mother will not agree to any of that though and Rose is feeling very out of her element. She cannot bring herself to be the girl her mother expects her to be. Then Rose’s favourite young aunt comes to stay, bringing as much joy to Rose as she brings pain to Rose’s mother. Rose finds a kindred spirit in her Aunt Alice and she begins to wonder if there will ever be a chance that she can do all the things she dreams of doing.

Rose is a real tomboy, she has great strength of spirit. She knows what her mother wants and she just can’t bring herself to be it, though she does try because she doesn’t like feeling like a total disappointment. This is a wonderful story set in a time of great change, not only technologically but also for women and their place in society. There are themes of not just finding yourself but also the Suffragette movement, a great topic to explore further if you want. This series as always has great stories, with worlds that are full of life, and colour. A wonderful read and I really want to know how Rose’s story continues.

Publisher: Puffin

Published: 31 January 2011

Format: Paperback 132 pages

Categories: Historical, Australian Themes

ISBN 13: 9780143305361

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page.

Category:

Fiction 8-12

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Lina at the Games

I received my copy from the publisher9780143307020By: Sally Rippin

Part of the Our Australian Girls Series

Lina is excited, the best thing about living in Melbourne in 1956 is the Olympic Games and they are finally here. Lina is fit to burst about her school paper and the chance to actually go to some of the Games. She misses her friend Mary, and wonders how she will ever get the paper finished with Sarah. Other things are going on too, as Lina comes to understand how much some people don’t like those from different backgrounds. In the midst of all this she strikes up a friendship with a boy who shows her a different way of looking at things. His idea will change things in a way she never thought someone of their age could.

Lina is an appealing girl with with goals and very real problems both at school and within her family. Rippin has placed her wonderful characters in the midst of a very real recreation of Melbourne in the late 50’s. The things Lina experiences seem so real, the excitement of that time almost tangible. This series is great for readers after something real and historical.

Recommended.

Publisher: Puffin

Published: 26 June 2013

Format: Paperback 132 pages

Categories: History, Australian

ISBN 13: 9780143307020

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page

Category:

Fiction 8-12

Tagged with:

Meet Lina

I received my copy  as an ARC from the publisher.
9780143307006By: Sally Rippin

Part of the Our Australian Girl series

Lina lives in Melbourne, she goes to a fancy school on a scholarship and dreams of being a writer someday. Her strict Italian parents have a very different idea for her future. Lina spends her time torn between two worlds. To fit in at school she must keep her home life secret. Not even her best friend knows the truth about where she comes from. How long can Lina keep lying to keep all her secrets?

Lina is a great character, passionate and torn. She wants to do right by her parents but has her own dreams that she is desperate to follow. Lina’s story is about finding a place to belong, a place for her to be accepted and honest about who she is. This is merely the first part of Lina’s story and I look forward to seeing how she changes and grows, how she is able to come to terms with the two lives she lives. The wonderful thing about this series is it’s distinctly Australian flavour and it’s great historical backdrop.

Highly recommended.

Publisher: Puffin

Published: 30 January 2013

Format: Paperback 132 pages

Categories: Historical

ISBN 13: 9780143307006

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page

Category:

Fiction 8-12

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Meet Ruby

I received my copy as an ARC from the publisher.
9780143307426
By : Penny Matthews

Part of the Our Australian Girl Series

Ruby Quinlan lives in a big house in Adelaide, she goes to a private girls school, has a house keeper and fox terrier. She has just turned 12 and got a camera for her birthday. Then little things start to happen that she doesn’t understand. There is the boy who sleeps one night in their garage, the man who will do anything just to get a little bit of money and the arguments between her parents. Then one of her friends doesn’t came back to school after the holidays. The world around Ruby is changing and her familiar, comfortable life falls apart.

This is one of the Our Australian Girl series and these are wonderful books. They are easy to read, and their distinctly Australian edge makes them rather unique in the middle grade fiction category. Ruby is an easily relatable character. She is young, enthusiastic and a little unaware of what is going on around her. When things change she is going to have to change with them and it is going to be interesting to see how her character develops throughout these four books. One of the great things about this book is it gives the reader a wonderful insight into living in Australia at the start of the Great Depression.

Recommended.

Publisher: Puffin

Published: 30 January 2013

Format: Paperback 132 pages

Categories: Historical

ISBN 13: 9780143307426

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page

Category:

Fiction 8-12

Tagged with:

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