This is another gem from Belinda Murrell. Not so much a “time-slip” novel, but rather 2 journeys that are interconnected. Marli is sent to spend the school holidays with her estranged father in Melbourne, and is not well pleased! However, she soon becomes intrigued by the story of her great-grandmother Violet. We are then transported to Melbourne, 1922 where we meet Violet, aged 15 who is railing against the strict life that society imposes on a “young lady”. Both these girls are very believable: Marli and her typical teenage “it’s all about me” attitude, which is fortunately squashed by her natural good-naturedness & curiosity; and Violet, whose horror at the injustices she sees around her moves her to act and make a difference. Highly recommended for readers from Year 5+.

Set in Darwin at the time of the Pearl Harbour bombing & then Australia. Fantastic story that makes WW2 seem so much closer to home. Years 7+

Time slip from contemporary Annandale to 1890s. enjoyable read for years 7-8

Another fabulous time-slip story from the very talented pen of Belinda Murell. She just ticks all the boxes for me: strong female lead character with whom to identify; adventure, history and a touch of (age appropriate) romance. In some ways, I suppose you could say her stories are a bit old fashioned, as they don’t deal with any of the more contemporary issues that are the theme of so many books written for the young adult audience. But I think she does still introduce her readers to worlds that they probably know nothing about; in this novel, the Depression and Circus life. I’m sure I would have loved these books when I was 12ish, and I know they are very popular with the girls at my school, in years 7&8. Highly recommended.