Wednesday 22 April 2020

Goldfields Girl


Goldfields Girl by Elaine Forrestal (Fremantle Press) RRP PB $16.99
ISBN 9781925816495

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Goldfields Girl is a middle grade historical fiction novel set in the early 1890s,  based on the true story of Clara Saunders.

Clara grew up in a large family who moved all over Australia, chasing the dream of finding their fortune in gold. From a young age she was taught to be reliable, hard-working and independent. This type of childhood gave Clara the confidence to move away from her family at age fourteen, to make her own way in the world. The story follows Clara’s move to Coolgardie, a new remote gold mining town in Western Australia, where she is one of only two females. We soon discover that Clara will experience a range of adventures, triumphs and tragedy in the isolated town.

Goldfields Girl is an engaging novel written in the first person by the strong female protagonist, Clara. It is divided into short chapters, each titled with the month and year. It is recommended for children aged 12+ years, especially those who enjoy learning about Australian history.

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