From the Bookshelf of Aussie Readers…

A Waltz for Matilda (Matilda Saga, #1)

Jackie French

Why we're reading this: In 1894, twelve-year-old Matilda flees the city slums to find her unknown father and his farm. But drough…more
[close] In 1894, twelve-year-old Matilda flees the city slums to find her unknown father and his farm. But drought grips the land, and the shearers are on strike. Her father has turned swaggie and he′s wanted by the troopers. In front of his terrified daughter, he makes a stand against them, defiant to the last. ′You′ll never catch me alive, said he...′

Set against a backdrop of bushfire, flood, war and jubilation, this is the story of one girl′s journey towards independence. It is also the story of others who had no vote and very little but their dreams.

Drawing on the well-known poem by A.B. Paterson and from events rooted in actual history, this is the untold story behind Australia′s early years as an emerging nation.

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What Members Thought

Jan 24, 2011 Clare rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, adults, 13-15yrs, young-adult

I’m re-writing this review to do it justice, because I really loved this book. It covers so many poignant things about the history of my country (we celebrated Australia Day yesterday), and it’s well told with wonderful characters that you really get to know. They are real characters, each one independently taking the story where they will, you never feel that there’s an overbearing author pushing everyone about.

Jackie French is renowned for highly readable historical fiction with an Austral ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Feb 08, 2018 LauraW rated it really liked it

Shelves: strong_female, australian, historical-fiction, music-related, indigenous_people

I read this on my way back to the US from Australia, so I had visions of gum trees and the dry countryside in my brain. I have enjoyed quite a few of Jackie French's books. I find historical fiction to be much more interesting than the history lessons I was subjected to in virtually all of my classes in grade school and beyond. That said, I do have a few things that make me uneasy about this book.

Jackie French acknowledges in the introduction and the notes at the end of the book that the racism ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2011 Ceri rated it really liked it

Jackie French truly does have a way with words. She has delighted readers of all ages for many years and this book is simply superb as many have come to expect from this much loved Australian author.

One cannot help but be inspired by the strength and determination of Matilda as she leaves the only home she has ever known and ventures out into the outback in search of her father and a better life. The joy she finds is sadly cut short when her father dies in an attempt to escape the Troopers, leav ...more

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