Because quite early on in this narrative, the storyline whisks us into an intriguing, if unsettling, world.
The action
takes place on a boat for wayward schoolboys that is permanently anchored in
1800s Sydney harbour, and on the mean streets of Sydney’s Rocks area.
This is a wonderful work of historical fiction (or ‘faction’ if you prefer) that features real people and places from Australia’s history.
It also serves up nasty and compelling characters to marvel at and dodge!
The main character is based on the real-life Neitenstein. In this story, Marion’s best friend has boarded a steamship to Paris, and now Marion is the only girl on a boat full of boys. Being the principal’s daughter means that she feels even further isolated and alone.
New boy Alexander Walker arrives and the floating school – usually a bastion of
propriety apart from a handful of scoundrels – suddenly starts to feel
dangerous. It turns out that this undercurrent is directly related to The
Forty Thieves of the title.
I won’t
spoil the actual story which I urge everyone to read – but suffice to say that
it’s a page-turner and incredibly entertaining rendering of this historical
period.
We care about the characters, we’re invested in the outcomes and if you’re anything like me, we experience the book viscerally. I could smell the streets of Sydney and all the gloomy, dank and threatening criminal spaces.
Written
using primary sources, the book contains a glossary of terms from ye
olde Sydney, information on the real-life characters who appear in the story,
and fabulous photographs of the real Sydney boat Sobraon and Rocks area. It
entertains on every level.
Teacher’s
notes and larger photographic images are available from the publisher’s
website.
Highly
recommended.
Title: Marion And The Forty Thieves
Author: Sarah Luke
Publisher: National Library Australia, $19.99
Publication Date: 1 July 2024
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922507679
For Ages: 7 - 12
Type: Middle Grade Fiction