Flying through Clouds

Flying through Clouds by Michelle Morgan (self-published)

PB   RRP $18.99   ISBN 9780995386501

Reviewed by Bill Condon

Flying through the Clouds takes readers on an entertaining ride with 14-year-old, Joe Riley, a boy who author Michelle Morgan first introduced in her successful 2014 novel Racing the Moon (Allen & Unwin).  Joe is a rebellious lad with an impetuous streak that often lands him in trouble, but Morgan skillfully counterbalances this with glimpses into his inner thoughts that show him to be good-natured.

The book is set in Australia during the early 1930s when the country was in the throes of the Great Depression. However, Joe’s mother and sister have plenty of sewing work to do, and his father is an illegal bookie and debt collector. Unlike much of the population, the Riley family doesn’t appear to be too unfavorably affected by the Depression. This isn’t a criticism of the author. No doubt there were those who coped with adversity better than others, and it could be said that it’s to Morgan’s credit that she took a less obvious approach than other Depression stories have taken.

Joe’s dad is a hard man, who is quick to discipline his sons with a strap, or a backhander. He is also a heavy drinker. Not, it would seem, an ideal father, but once again Morgan manages to show his good side, and it’s great to see that, as in life, the characters in Flying through Clouds have positive aspects, as well as negative ones.

Morgan has done a brilliant job in researching this era. Fact after fact comes tumbling out, but none are boringly presented; instead they are seamlessly woven into the narrative. Through the course of the book Joe joins the Boy Scouts and takes a flying lesson, his first step to becoming an aviator, just like his hero Charles Kingsford Smith (Smithy). As Joe learns, so does the reader; in-depth knowledge about the Scouts and flying add an extra layer of reality to Joe’s often daring escapades.

I enjoyed this story. It was well-written and believable, and Joe is a very likeable character. Read it for its accurate depiction of Depression-era Sydney. Read it for a rattling good story; it’s highly recommended.

 Flying through Clouds can be ordered from bookshops and educational and library suppliers from 2 April or from www.michellejmorgan.com.au

Bill Condon’s latest novel is All Of Us Together (About Kids Books, 2016).

Racing the Moon

Racing the Moon by Michelle Morgan (Allen and Unwin)
PB RRP $15.99
ISBN 978-1-74331-635-1
Reviewed by Ann Harth (www.annharth.com)

Joe Riley rigs billy cart races and sells eggs in the streets of Sydney during the Depression. His techniques for making a few shillings, although not strictly legal, are a matter of survival. His parents want something better for Joe and he is sent to a boarding school across the harbour. Joe is miserable. He misses his family, his home and especially his freedom. St Bartholomew feels like a prison – the food is terrible, the uniform scratchy and the boys, superior. But these are nothing compared to his interactions with Brother Felix. After a final life-changing altercation, Joe is sent to The Farm, a reform school south of Sydney.

At The Farm, Joe grows to feel as though he belongs – something he never did at St Bartholomew’s. He makes close friends, gains valuable skills and finds fulfilment in hard work and productivity. The year is almost over and Joe is ready to go home but before leaving The Farm, he has one final and dangerous challenge. Joe Riley must Race the Moon.

This historical novel for children aged 12-14 will transport young readers into New South Wales during the 1930s. Rich with sensory images, and accurate historical details, Racing the Moon offers a taste of life during the depression in three distinct settings: the streets of Sydney, a Catholic boarding school and a tough, but fair, reform school. 13-year-old Joe tells his story in the realistic voice of a young boy and the reader is invited to grow close to him as they watch him experience a painful, but beneficial year away from home.

I would recommend this story for young people who enjoy character-driven historical fiction. Clear and compelling, this book will leave its audience with a genuine feel for life during the Depression. Michelle Morgan lives in the Southern Highlands with her family and the local wildlife. She has written many plays, some of which have been performed during short play festivals in NSW. She also writes songs with her husband. This is her first novel. For more information about Michelle, visit http://www.michellejmorgan.com.au/ 

Ann Harth is a published children's author, freelance editor, ghostwriter and writing teacher at Australian College of Journalism. She loves to read and is committed to creating children's literature that inspires, entertains and triggers a tiny twist in the mind. Her latest middle-grade novel, The Art of Magic, is now available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.