THE REBELS OF MOUNT BUFFALO BY HELEN EDWARDS, PUBLISHED BY RIVETED PRESS

t’s 1998 and Clara, along with her parents, travel to the Mount Buffalo National Park to celebrate Australia’s centenary. It’s a holiday at the chalet they have enjoyed many times in the past, but this year is different. This year, Clara’s twin brother Darius is not with them. His death has torn Clara’s family apart. Her parents haven’t been able to find a way to exist together and have separated. Clara is left grieving not only her brother’s death, but the deep, dark hole of a lost family.

Clara is interested in visiting Mount Buffalo chalet again as she has done plenty of research for a school project about a young mountain guide, Alice Mansfield, who lived there in the 1890s. Guide Alice was an adventurous girl who explored the area and knew it so well, she guided travellers through the treacherous landscape. She was an early feminist and a keen photographer as well.

One night, Clara, while exploring an exhibition of Alice’s possessions, finds herself transported back in time to Alice’s cabin in the mountains, not far from where the modern chalet stands. Clara is fascinated by meeting Alice and while trying to figure out a way back to her own time, she learns first hand, about life in 1893.

Helen Edwards has given readers an interesting timeslip novel. Taking a real person and inserting a fictional one along-side creates an engaging narrative. Clara’s first-person perspective lets us into her thoughts and the elaborate journey to her healing and acceptance. We learn about life in outback Australia and gain insights into the themes of feminism, grief, family and courage. Readers who enjoyed timeslip novels such as Timefire by Nean McKenzie will like these real events intermingled with fictional characters.

For Ages: 9-11 years

Number of Pages: 208

Published: October 2023

Themes: Grief, family, courage and feminism

Purchase here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-rebels-of-mount-buffalo-helen-edwards/book/9780645218077.html