Jackie French's novels for primary aged readers embrace the history, they revel in the history, the roll around in the mud like pigs in love with history...but she does it so well.
And it's not just HIStory - Jackie rights the imbalances of most historical records by making this book HERstory.
Matilda is a strong, level-headed, gutsy protaganist. After the death of her mother and aunt, Matilda is forced to decided a better way for her to live her life. Poverty, factory work and a drunken husband seem the only way ahead. That is until one day Matilda's friend, Tommy, suffers a crushing, painful injury in the jam factory where they both work.
Matilda decides to leave the city in search of her father, a shearer, who had gone bush years before and hadn't been heard from for over year.
This sparks an extraordinary adventure and introduces Matilda to a completely new way of life, full of possibility and hope.
We follow the course of Matilda's early life in the country, finding out the 'true' story behind our national folk song "Waltzing Matilda". She endures hardship, drought, grief and loss. Despite all this Matilda thrives.
This is a wonderful ramble through Federation Australia. Easy to read & enjoyable from start to finish. Highly recommended to mature readers 10+
My son's teacher read this to his Year 5 class last year. It took them most of the year, but it held their interest. I must get to read it soon. Her Nanberry was one of my favourite books of 2011.
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