KBR loves the Our Australian Girl series, published by Puffin, and the success of the first four girls - Rose, Poppy, Grace and Letty - is testament to how much young girls are loving the series, too.
25 January saw the release two new girls to this historical fold - Nellie and Alice.
It's 1849 and Nellie O'Neill is arriving in South Australia on a ship bringing orphan girls from Irish workhouses. Nellie and her best friend Mary have left the famine in Ireland far behind, and are full of hopes and dreams for the future. Nellie longs to learn to read, to be part of a family once more and never to be hungry again. But with no job and no one to turn to, how will Nellie make her wishes come true?
It's 1918 and Alice lives with her big family by the Swan River in Perth, while on the other side of the world, the Great War rages. Alice's deepest wish is to become a ballerina, and when she auditions for a famous dance teacher from London, it seems as if her dreams might come true. But then there's a terrible accident, and Alice must ask herself whether there are more important things than dancing.
Once again, these two first books will be followed by six more, rounding out four books per character. Showcasing our girls through time, the Our Australian Girl series beautifully melds history with entertaining and enlightening storylines. Perfect for girls aged 6 to 10, but older girls will appreciate them, too.
Title: Meet Nellie / Meet Alice
Author: Penny Matthews / Davina Bell
Publisher: Penguin, $14.95 RRP
Publication Date: 25 January 2012
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780143306238 / 9780143306290
For ages: 6 - 10
Type: Junior Fiction, Historical Fiction