The Rebels of Mount Buffalo by Helen Edwards
THE REBELS OF MOUNT BUFFALO, is out now with Riveted Press! It's a captivating time-slip tale in which a girl lost to grief meets a daring rebel on a misty mountain who guides her to rediscover her courage and find her way home.
Bringing in themes of early feminism and issues such as bullying, never being a bystander, managing grief and finding your courage, this engaging middle grade timeslip story draws on the true history of Mount Buffalo and the incredible role the Manfield family, and Guide Alice in particular, played in the preservation of the National Park and the development of tourism in the Mount Buffalo region.
It's available in my own shop here and is available in many bookshops and libraries across Australia. If you can't find it in your local bookshop or library, just ask them to get it in for you.
Here's the blub!
It's 1998 and Clara and her parents are staying at the Mount Buffalo Chalet for the national park centenary celebrations. It couldn't be more different from their last visit - they were a family of four then.
With her twin brother Darius gone, Clara has no reference point anymore, no guide. It's like being lost in the bush without a compass.
Without him, she doesn't really know who she is.
After a strange night, Clara wakes up in 1893. There she meets Alice, a girl who lives within the fern-filled valleys at the base of Mount Buffalo. To her surprise, Clara realises she is Guide Alice, considered a rebel of her time, an adventurous non-conformist who spent much of her life boldly leading people along the rugged trails between granite tors and misty mountain peaks.
The 1890s were a difficult era in Australia's history. The country is in the grip of a terrible Depression, and desperate people can be dangerous. When Alice's life is threatened, Clara must rediscover the courage she has always had, and become the girl she was always meant to be.
THE REBELS OF MOUNT BUFFALO TEACHING NOTES
Resources for The Rebels of Mount Buffalo
Visit Mount Buffalo
The Visit Mount Buffalo website is a treasure trove of information to visiting Mount Buffalo. All the information you need to plan your trip to Mount Buffalo is included on the website. This includes history, maps, walking trails, activities, sightseeing, camping and weather information.
Legend of the Lighthous Moon by Helen Edwards
Legend of the Lighthouse Moon will be published on 2nd October with Riveted Press, distributed by Simon and Schuster.
Rich with folklore and brimming with adventure, Legend of the Lighthouse Moon is a captivating tale of family, resilience, and the enduring magic of the sea. Join Mona on a journey of self-discovery where the whispers of the past guide her towards a future filled with hope, love, and legends brought to life. This story was inspired by my grandmothers who were both born on islands in the Irish Sea, as well as the legends from those regions, the magic of lighthouses, the stunning kangaroo island, and my own experiences growing up with type 1 diabetes.
It’s the 1970s and on Kangaroo Island, Mona McKenna and her brother Albert live with their grandparents at Cape Willoughby Lighthouse. For five long years they have mourned their mother and longed for their missing father to return. Since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a year earlier, Mona has been increasingly acting in ways that make her hate herself. While she loves the rugged beauty of their isolated sanctuary—and dearly loves her grandparents—she yearns for her parents and finds her diabetes frightening and confusing. Mona finds solace in the treasures she collects along the island's shores. But when she encounters a mysterious sea lion pup, Neo, the world as she knows it is forever changed. The two siblings embark on a journey that leads them to uncover secrets hidden within their family's past. As they bond with Neo, Mona and Albert's quest for truth takes them deeper into the heart of Kangaroo Island. With the fate of their beloved lighthouse hanging in the balance, they must summon courage and resilience to protect their home and the endangered sea lions who call it their own.
It's available for order in my online shop
Via Riveted Press
Via online retailers
And in many bookshops here
You can also contact your local bookshop or library and ask them to order it for you!