Name: Playing Beatie Bow
ISBN: 9781903015117

Ruth Park

An Australian time-travelling classic where Sydney girl Abigail suddenly finds herself back in the early nineteenth century.

Playing Beatie Bow

'Now then,' thought Abigail, 'something very weird has happened to me. I'm in the last century. I don't know why, and that doesn't matter. I've got to get back.' Every so often, there comes a story so brilliant and lively and moving that it cannot be left in the past. Rediscover the magic of our country's most memorable children's books in the Penguin Australia Children's Classics series of stories too precious to leave behind.

Ren Christina

This was a book written by a woman born during WWI & published in 1980 - and it shows. I can’t recommend it on the basis of the erring on racist language used & the (presumably) time appropriate portrayal of sex workers + disabled people. 

The protagonist is unlikeable until the very last chapter, there are several plot points that sit poorly with me (in no book is it appropriate for a 19 year old to kiss a 14 year old!), and the only redeeming thing was the end. Even that is soured on the basis of the kiss sadly.

Sorry, Mum. Childhood favourite or not, it wasn’t a very enjoyable reading experience for me. I can’t believe they let kids read this in school! 

2.5/5