Common to the times, minds are influenced by gossip and people in high positions.
The intelligent and strong-minded thirteen-year-old Lily Jordan is the only child of two actors touring with a theatre company. For her future stability, Lily's parents have decided to send her to a school for young ladies.
Lily doesn’t want to go. Travelling from place to place, seeing new things and meeting different people, is more of an education in her opinion. And the thought of her being separated from her parents is devastating.
Four bushrangers arrive in town. Ben Hall is the leader. He has just executed the biggest gold robbery of all time. All the town is held hostage at the Hotel.
Surprisingly, fear does not rule them. Hall assures everyone that they are safe until his group leaves, as long as no one tries to get away to call police.
Lily befriends cousins Polly, and Sam, a stable boy, who aspires to become a stagecoach driver with the support of Sir Frederick Pottinger, a powerful but deceitful man.
Polly seems to know a great deal about Ben Hall’s private life, and she secretly shares it with Lily.
After she learns his backstory, it is hard for Lily to believe that Hall is the wretched man others claim.
Sam imagines that by getting information from Lily about Ben Hall and passing it on to Pottinger, he will win favour with him.
When the bushrangers depart, a package left with Polly, is passed on to Lily to deliver. This must be kept secret, and secrecy means danger. This string is tied to a secondary story.
Lily’s friendships are tested. But her mind is her own.
This is a riveting story told in three parts, with a background rich in Australian history and the human condition.
Thrilling sub-stories and interesting leading characters, engage the reader.
Bold Ben Hall, from the Our History series, explores amongst other powerful themes, how, based on conjecture, people’s assessment of others is governed by perception, for without knowledge of a whole situation, the truth cannot be known.
Title: Bold Ben Hall
Author: Sophie Masson
Publisher: Walker Books, $
17.99
Publication Date: 5 March 2025
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760658403
For ages: 9+
Type: Junior Fiction
