TIGG AND THE BANDICOOT BUSHRANGER BY JACKIE FRENCH, PUBLISHED BY HARPER COLLINS

Orphaned Tigg lives with Ma Murphy close to the Victorian gold fields. It’s 1859 and times are tough. Tigg needs to make some money so she can escape and hopefully find a better life. With the silent but bulky help of Big John, the Bandicoot Bushranger is born. Holding up stage coaches, they only take what people can afford and nothing of sentimental value.

The Bandicoot Bushranger’s lucky streak is broken when she crosses the path of a rich man who doesn’t take kindly to being held at gunpoint. He shoots her in the shoulder and she only just escapes.

With a bounty on her head and the police searching for the Bandicoot Bushranger she must leave the goldfields. With the help of Ah Song, her only real friend, Tigg joins a group of Chinese travellers being guided by Henry Lau. Tigg and Henry trek many hundreds of miles and become friends despite their different backgrounds. But is Tigg really safe? Why has someone put a bounty out for her and who can she now trust?

Jackie French once again has created a wonderful character that grabs the reader right from the start. Feisty Tigg doesn’t feel sorry for herself or her situation and works to fix her problems with ingenuity and bravery. The goldfields were places of great suffering and despair for many, especially the Chinese who worked the tailings. There were many acts of discrimination and violence made against them which were sanctioned or at best, ignored by local authorities. The themes of family, racism and resilience are thoughtfully examined, and readers will enjoy this adventure with a fairy tale ending.

For Ages: 9-13 years

Number of Pages: 320

Published: December 2024

Themes: Family, racism and bravery

Purchase here: https://www.dymocks.com.au/tigg-and-the-bandicoot-bushranger-by-jackie-french-9781460763506