From one of Australia's finest writers for young people comes this evocative novel juxtaposing the inner life of three girls, the undercurrents of their parents' marriage, and the political dramas of the adult world
The earth smelt strong to Matilda and full of things growing and dying all at the same time. She thought about the grey-green tangled bush at the end of her street, full of cowboys and Red Indians, waiting with their guns and their bows and arrows. She thought about the Japs and the Germans and the shining sword and chocolate biscuits, and the Argonauts sailing across the ocean, and the silver trail of snails on cardboard. She thought about the princess in the film, 'How do you do, so glad you could come, how do you do' and the wonderful butterfly bathroom and poor little Karen and her beautiful red shoes. She thought about the sad smiling man with his chess set and the newsreel and her tennis ball, up and up and up in the air, high as the tallest tree in the Basin, and Uncle Paul with his hands in his pockets, and her mother's red shoe falling down down down into the deep green bush for ever.
Funny, tough-minded, and tender, this is the story of Matilda and her two sisters growing up in Sydney in the 1950s at the time of the Petrov Affair. Punctuated by the headlines of the time, it shows with unsettling clarity how the large events of the world can impinge on ordinary lives.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Ursula Dubosarksy is a multi-award winning novelist and one of Australia's finest writers for children. She has published many award-winning books, including Abyssinia, The First Book of Samuel, High Hopes, and The White Guinea-Pig. Her work is recognized overseas as well as in Australia: the Cambridge Guide to Children's Books in English describes her as "one of the most original voices in Australian writing for young people."
Grade 5–8—This novel set in Sydney, Australia in the Cold War era interweaves actual newspaper accounts of a Russian diplomat's 1954 defection with the day-to-day affairs of a local family with three sisters and a father away on military duty much of the time. Focusing mostly on the fascinations and fancies of six-year-old Matilda, the tale follows her observations of the strange men who have guns and fast, shiny black cars staying at the big house next door. When she sees one of those men in a newsreel about the Russian who defected amidst controversy about the fate of his wife, she lets slip to their other neighbor, a crazy old man with his own gun, that spies live on the other side of her, leading to some action, which is in rather short supply here. A family drama evolves piecemeal in flashbacks to a beach picnic at which the father, continuing to be distraught in the aftermath of World War II, attempts to hang himself while his brother looks on immobile. While key characters are young people, even their dramas of pet parades and teenage nervous breakdowns are unlikely to interest American readers. Even incidents involving Matilda's imaginary companion are strangely flat and unappealing. This plot and its characters won't motivate most children to follow the slow story to its happy conclusion.—Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 9.81
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: Used; Acceptable. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. The book is perfectly readable and fit for use, although it shows signs of previous ownership. The spine is likely creased and the cover scuffed or slightly torn. Textbooks will typically have an amount of underlining and/or highlighting, as well as notes. If this book is over 5 years old, then please expect the pages to be yellowing or to have age spots. Seller Inventory # CHL9756779
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Phatpocket Limited, Waltham Abbey, HERTS, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. Your purchase helps support Sri Lankan Children's Charity 'The Rainbow Centre'. Ex-library, so some stamps and wear, but in good overall condition. Our donations to The Rainbow Centre have helped provide an education and a safe haven to hundreds of children who live in appalling conditions. Seller Inventory # Z1-J-012-02061
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Syber's Books, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Softcover. Condition: Very Good. Reprint. 183 pages, illustrated softcover binding with flaps, no damage, no annotations. Funny, tough-minded and tender, this is the story of Matilda and her two sisters growing up in Sydney in the 1950s at the time of the Petrov affair. The book has line drawings throughout and is punctuated with reproductions of the headlines of the times taken from newspapers obviously. The book one a number of awards and was an Honour book for the children's book Council of Australia in 2007 Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Please refer to accompanying picture (s). Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilo. Category: Children; ISBN: 1741142857. ISBN/EAN: 9781741142853. Inventory No: 0281943. Seller Inventory # 0281943
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Adelaide Booksellers, Clarence Gardens, SA, Australia
Softcover. 1st Edition. Octavo Size [approx 15.5 x 22.8cm]. Near Fine condition. Black & white illustrations. Robust, professional packaging and tracking provided for all parcels. . A story of three sisters growing up in Sydney in the 1950s at the time of the Petrov Affair. Seller Inventory # 317772
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Express (NZ), Wellington, New Zealand
Paperback. Condition: Good. 183 pages. Cover worn. From one of Australia's finest writers for young people comes this evocative novel juxtaposing the inner life of three girls, the undercurrents of their parents' marriage, and the political dramas of the adult world The earth smelt strong to Matilda and full of things growing and dying all at the . Seller Inventory # 1387i
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Hay-on-Wye Booksellers, Hay-on-Wye, HEREF, United Kingdom
Condition: Fine. Seller Inventory # 005747-2
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: BOOKHOME SYDNEY, Annandale Sydney, NSW, Australia
1st ed. Paperback trade, very good condition, card covers (with flaps), pages lightly toned as usual, minor edgewear. 183 pp. Novel for young adults by gifted writer Ursula Dubosarsky. This is the story of Matilda and her two sisters growing up in Sydney in the turbulent 1950s at the time of the Petrov spying affair. Can our neighbour be a spy? Punctuated by the headlines of the time, it shows clearly how ordinary lives can be altered by the larger events of the world. The Children's Book Council of Australia Honour Book for Older Readers. First edition. (1 of 2 available copies.). Seller Inventory # 28482
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Manyhills Books, Traralgon, VIC, Australia
Medium Trade Paperback. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Inscribed by Author. Medium Trade Paperback. 178 pages. Inscribed by Author. *** PUBLISHING DETAILS: Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2006. First Edition. *** CONDITION: This book is in very good condition. More specifically: Covers have no creasing. Corners of covers are lightly bumped. Spine is uncreased. . Pages are reasonably tanned. *** ABOUT THIS BOOK: The earth smelt strong to Matilda and full of things growing and dying all at the same time. She thought about the grey-green tangled bush at the end of her street, full of cowboys and Red Indians, waiting with their guns and their bows and arrows. She thought about the Japs and the Germans and the shining sword and chocolate biscuits, and the Argonauts sailing across the ocean, and the silver trail of snails on cardboard. She thought about the princess in the film, 'How do you do, so glad you could come, how do you do' and the wonderful butterfly bathroom and poor little Karen and her beautiful red shoes. She thought about the sad smiling man with his chess set and the newsreel and her tennis ball, up and up and up in the air, high as the tallest tree in the Basin, and Uncle Paul with his hands in his pockets, and her mother's red shoe falling down down down into the deep green bush for ever. *** Quantity Available: 1. Category: Children & Young Adult; 1001 Children's Books You Must Read; ISBN: 1741142857. ISBN/EAN: 9781741142853. Inventory No: 18040494. Seller Inventory # 18040494
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Bookbot, Prague, Czech Republic
Condition: Fine. Seller Inventory # 8e56d517-9323-4123-a88d-253b6b648774
Quantity: 1 available