Those Girls

Those Girls by Pamela Rushby, Walker Books, PB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9781760657840

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

New, from award-winning historical novelist, Pamela Rushby, Those Girls is a YA novel exploring the roles, and struggles, of women in wartime, especially dealing with the ‘Land Girls’. These girls, aged from sixteen years and older, join the Australian Women’s Land Army, where they are intended to replace the labour of men leaving farms and rural properties to join the armed services. About 7,000 Australian women joined: they were paid thirty shillings for a 48-hour week.

When Hilary -- Hilly – whose brother Graham is a prisoner of war, volunteers in 1942, she’s sixteen years old, having seen a poster outfit with a picture of a tanned, healthy girl, wearing a regulation uniform hat and shorts that were, surely, anything but regulation. Hilly expects to be picking sun-kissed fruit and bottle-feeding fluffy white lambs, all while she's wearing a flattering uniform. The truth is she is roped into dirty work, harvesting potatoes, and then picking prickly pineapples. Travelling to farms across Queensland, She encounters backbreaking work, but also friendship and fellowship with other Land Army girls.

They include Aileen and Glad, both of whom are seeking independence for their own reasons. (Aileen is a married women deserting a young baby). War is a chance for a life away from family and familiarity, offering adventure and romance. But the posters don’t mention crutching sheep or 4 am starts. Or the prejudice they would face, and that some men needed to be fought off, rather than fought for. During adversity, Hilly finds exactly what she is capable of … and it might be more than she ever thought possible. She is one of ‘those girls with grit’. She also goes on dates with American soldier Gene Larsen with her buddies, and his.

Interlaced with the adventures of Hilly and her friends are real-life episodes such as the riot the girls witness between American servicemen and locals. There is ongoing action and much interest in the book which makes for a very engaging read. As well as girls and women, the book’s historical themes include social life, new experiences, and the military at the time of war.

Book creator Pamela Rushby is the author of over 200 books for children and young adults, as well as children's TV scripts, documentaries, short stories, and freelance journalism. 

 

 

The Mud Puddlers

The Mud Puddlers by Pamela Rushby (Walker Books Australia)

This is a middle-grade historical novel by multi-award-winning author Pamela Rushby

What lies hidden in the mud? What might happen if you look at it too long? And what will happen if you let it go?

Twelve-year-old Nina is not happy. Her scientist parents are spending a year in Antarctica, and Nina’s sent to London to stay with her Aunty Bee. Nina arrives with an Attitude. Her parents have never left her behind before. She’s determined to hate everything. But Aunty Bee, an intertidal archaeologist, lives on a converted barge on the Thames. She’s also a keen mud lark, searching river shingle and mud for fascinating, long-forgotten articles from past lives. Nina can’t help becoming interested. She joins in with the Mud Puddlers, a local group of wildly enthusiastic amateur mud larks and becomes friendly with Molly, an elderly Mud Puddler living on a nearby, haunted barge. Molly knows things. Sees things. She draws Nina into the mystery and magic of the ancient river and the treasures it holds. But soon, Nina becomes aware that there can be unexpected and uncanny dangers in the things she discovers. She finds herself stranded in time, in the Blitz in 1940. And she and a very unwilling fellow traveller, Tom, become runaways. Fumbling their way across wartime England, desperate to return to London. Will they ever see their families again?

Interned

Interned by Pamela Rushby (Walker Books Australia) PB RRP $17.99 ISBN: 9781760653071

Reviewed by Kathleen Grace

Based on true events, Interned is a moving, and evocative historical fiction novel that highlights an often-forgotten moment in Australian history. This thoroughly researched novel, is based on the Berrima Internment Camp in New South Wales.

It’s 1914. Gretta lives a privileged life in Singapore, the daughter of a businessman; Tilly lives a modest life in Brisbane, the daughter of a baker. When war breaks out, Gretta and her family are sent by boat to Sydney and then taken by train to Bornabba from where her father is taken away:  Gretta and her mother and other Germans must live in a dirty, neglected hotel. Meanwhile, Tilly’s father, a naturalised Australian, is forced to register as an alien enemy. Someone breaks his bakery shop window and customers stop coming for German bread. Father is then taken to a camp for German prisoners at Enoggera, a suburb outside Brisbane. He is subsequently transferred to Bornabba. His family also travel there, and it's there that Tilly’s beloved violin is stolen.

Eventually, Gretta and Tilly find themselves taken from their homes, interned at a camp in rural New South Wales. Far away from everything they have ever known, the two girls are forced to face prejudice, overcome adversity and to make their own community.

Pamela Rushby is the author of over 200 books for children and young adults, as well as children's TV scripts, documentaries, short stories, and freelance journalism. Pam has been an advertising copywriter, pre-school teacher, and producer of educational television, audio, and multimedia. She has won several awards, including the NSW Premier's Ethel Turner Prize and five CBCA Notable books. Her website is www.pamelarushby.com . 

Interned by Pamela Rushby

Pamela Rushby’s new middle-grade historical novel, Interned is out now with Walker Books.

It is based on a little-known event in Australian history that Pamela tripped over on a small island off Singapore, in a shrine to 'the German Girl' 

Australia jailed 7000 'enemy aliens' of German origin during World War 1. Most of these were men. But 84 were children.

It's 1914. The world is on the brink of war. Gretta, daughter of a German businessman, lives a privileged life in Singapore. Tilly, daughter of a German-born baker, lives a modest life in Brisbane. Two very different lives. But the girls will spend the next four years together, in Australia. In an internment camp. Jailed. 

The Secret Battle

The Secret Battle by Pamela Rushby, illustrated by Fiona McDonald (Eagle Press) RRP $17.99 ISBN 9780648815426

Reviewed by Wendy Haynes

Roddy Malone has just started back to school in Brisbane in 1942, after threats of war with Japan. Right after the Darwin bombing, deep trenches were dug in Roddy’s school grounds, sandbags stacked against buildings in the city street.

 Though only nine, Roddy was proud to start his first job as a newsboy selling newspapers on the busy streets of Brisbane. He befriends three American soldiers who take him under their wing when he is picked on by two older boys, also newsboys trying to muscle in on his turf.

But one evening on his way home, Roddy witnesses a street fight between America and Australian soldiers. After helping an injured American soldier and reporting the riot to his boss Mr. Sadler, the story was never reported on or recorded in the newspaper Roddy sold, and in fact, it was kept low-key at the time.

Author Pamela Rushby explores and tells that story in this historical junior middle-grade novel and spans from 1942 to 1945. Roddy takes the injured American soldier Hank to his place -- where else could they go? Nursed back to health by Roddy’s single mother, they become close friends.

Achievement

Pamela Rushby’s latest picture book is The Cow that Swam Out to Sea, illustrated by the awesomely talented illustrator Nicola Hooper. It's part of the State Library of Queensland's specially commissioned new series, Stories for Little Queenslanders.

Matilda dreams of new places and things, away from her ordinary life on the farm.  But she never expected to see them by being washed away in a flood!

Based on a true story of a cow's journey down the Brisbane River, this is a book about finding courage and being brave.

The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle

A chance visit to a small museum in Macclesfield, England, and an encounter with the ancient Egyptian  mummycase of a 15-year-old girl named Shebmut, led to author Pamela Rushby’s latest novel, The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle (Walker Books, July 2020).

Shebmut’s mummycase was smuggled, totally illegally, out of Egypt in 1873 by an English lady adventurer on the Nile, Miss Marianne Brocklehurst. It can still be seen today in the museum that she founded. Miss Brocklehurst acquired the mummycase in the course of a one-thousand-mile journey up the Nile on a dahhabiya – a fashionable excursion at the time.

Rushby’s interest in this story led to her discovering another fashionable, and rather bizarre, Victorian social event. Afternoon tea parties where, for the entertainment of guests, an ancient Egyptian mummy would be divested of its wrappings, to reveal the body beneath.

And when you have that kind of information at your fingertips, what do you do with it? You put it all together and write a book, of course!

The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle is a middle-grade novel: a thrilling tale of an orphaned heroine, a mysterious mist-shrouded castle in the Fens, mummy unwrapping parties, a family of house-keeping cats, and a thousand-mile journey up the Nile in (illegal) search of ancient Egyptian mummies.

Pamela Rushby was awarded a writers’ residency in England to research the book: visited the West Park Museum in Macclesfield, haunted the British Museum mummy room and the Petrie Museum, University College London, and generally had (as they say) about as much fun as it’s possible to have with your clothes on. She’d be delighted to talk about the fascinating details of Victorian mummy unwrapping parties, intrepid lady adventurers on the Nile, all things ancient Egyptian – and, of course, the book!

(Published by Walker Books July 2020, illustrations by Nelle May Pierce)

For interview or further information: Pamela Rushby 

P.Rushby@internode.on.net      0418778058       www.pamelarushby.com

Achievement

Pamela Rushby is delighted to announce that she’s just signed a contract with Walker for her middle-grade historical/fantasy novel, 'Hattie: or, a Thousand Miles Up the Nile'. A thrilling tale of mummy unwrapping parties, crumbling castles, house-keeping cats, and a thousand-mile journey up the Nile. 'Hattie' will be published June 2020.

www.pamelarushby.com

Other books by Pamela:

When the Hipchicks Went to War (Hachette 2009) winner Ethel Turner Prize NSW Premier's Awards 2010

The Horses Didn't Come Home (HarperCollins 2012) short-listed Qld Literary Awards  CBCA Notable Book

Flora's War (Ford Street Publishing 2013) CBCA Notable Book

The Ratcatcher's Daughter (HarperCollins 2014) CBCA Notable Book, short-listed Qld Literary Awards

Sing a Rebel Song (Scholastic 2015) CBCA Notable Book

Princess Parsley (Scholastic 2016)    Lizzie and Margaret Rose (Scholastic 2016) CBCA Notable Book

Buzz Words Achievements

Pamela Rushby is happy to announce that her novel, Lizzie and Margaret Rose (Omnibus/Scholastic, a 2017 CBCA Notable book) has won the NSW Society of Women Writers award for a children's book for 2018.  

The story is set London in 1940. Bombs are falling, and 10-year-old Margaret Rose survives a deadly raid, but her family home is destroyed. In faraway Townsville in Queensland, her aunt is ready to take her in, although her 11-year-old cousin Lizzie is not so sure. But first there is a long and dangerous voyage to a strange country, also at war. Margaret Rose knows it's not going to be easy, and Lizzie is not about to make it any easier. 

Pamela has had a long and distinguished writing career in the areas of advertising, journalism, screenwriting and children's books. Having worked as a writer and producer of educational television, audio and multimedia for the Queensland Department of Education, Pamela is now a full-time freelance writer.

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Little Book Press is to publish two of Janeen Brian’s picture books: I am this Big and Look Baby! (the latter illustrated by Renee Treml) while Janeen's poem, ‘The Dilemma of a Dachshund’ will be published by the School Magazine. You can read more about Janeen at www.janeenbrian.com

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Dingo by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Tannya Harricks, and published by Walker Books Australia, has received a certificate of commendation in the Illustrated Children's Book category of the 2018 Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales's Whitley Awards!

The Whitley Awards are presented annually for outstanding publications that contain a significant amount of information relating to the fauna of the Australasian region, and are a tribute to Gilbert Whitley, an eminent Australian ichthyologist.

Claire Saxby is an award-winning and bestselling picture book author. Two of her previous Nature Storybooks, Big Red Kangaroo (2013) and Emu (2014), both illustrated by Graham Byrne, have won numerous awards, including the Royal Zoological Society of NSW’s Whitley Award. Big Red Kangaroo was a 2014 CBCA Notable Book, and won the CBCA Crichton Award for illustration, and Emu was short-listed for 2015 CBCA Eve Pownall Award and won the Environment Award for Children's Literature. Claire lives in Melbourne, where she works part-time in a bookshop. Her latest book is Koala, illustrated by Julie Vivas.

Flora's War

Flora’s War by Pamela Rushby (Ford Street Publishing)

PB RRP $18.95

ISBN 978-1921665981

Reviewed by Francine Sculli

Flora’s War is a rich book. Rich not only for its beautifully written and compelling story, but rich also for the way it transports you in time with its illustrative style. Pamela Rushby has written an amazing tale steeped with history, coming-of-age, friendship, love and a taste of what it was like to be female during World War 1.

Flora’s War is set in Cairo, Egypt in 1915. Flora, a sixteen-year-old Australian is visiting Cairo with her archaeologist father, both regular visitors to Egypt during excavation season. This time around, Flora can already sense that this year’s trip won’t be like any other. She sees the army bases set up, the soldiers roaming around, the influx of nurses sent over for duty and how fewer excavation sites there are in Egypt. Still, Flora goes about her typical life in Egypt – staying in an extravagant hotel, ushered around by an influential Egyptian, working on her father’s site and traipsing around Cairo with her best friend, Gwen, an American girl whose father is also an archaeologist.

But within moments, their usual life changes to something extraordinary. Flora’s lush hotel is overtaken by the army and converted to a hospital, forcing her and her father to move to another house, known as the house of the butcher and blacksmith. And things keep changing, soon Flora and Gwen are given first aid training at Lady Bellamy’s Recreation and Rest Centre where they volunteer their time writing letters, talking and serving tea to the soldiers. Quickly, their volunteering duties start to involve driving the wounded soldiers to and from the hospital, as they start to arrive by train from Gallipoli. Flora and Gwen see unspeakable travesties that will change their life forever but in these tragedies, they find solidarity in friendship, love and being a modern woman.

Flora’s War has many, many strengths. The writing is poetic and transformative – so vivid and articulate that it is so easy for the reader to lose themselves in the bedlem and magic of dusty Cairo, or the heart break of the mental ward set up in the makeshift hospital that was once an extravagant hotel. But more than that, it is easy to get lost in the characters – so wonderfully carved, full of life and character, and wholeheartedly believable. Flora paints the picture perfectly of what it would have been like to be a female growing up in this time – fighting to be a modern woman with simple tasks like learning to drive a car or working on an excavation site. With so much subtext and so many sub-stories, Flora’s War,  is an epic story that will engross anyone who picks it up.