Wild Bush Days (Penny Harrison, illus by Virginia Gray, MidnightSun)
Wild Bush Days is an illustrated account of two young explorers who go on a journey to find the hiding spot of infamous female outlaw Jessie Hickmans. A real-life historical figure, known by her moniker of The Lady Bushranger, Hickmans is a rebellious and enigmatic character that looms large in the minds of the young narrators. The imprint page offer readers a short biography of Hickmans to tie the story to its historical inspiration. Penny Harrison’s descriptive language brings the sometimes-treacherous landscape to life and the pacing of the narrative ebbs and flows to build suspense and emphasise important words and phrases; the word bushranger is given its own page to signify the gravity of the term. The diverse Australian flora and fauna is similarly depicted to great effect by illustrator Virginia Gray, and the artwork brings a sense of movement to every page, giving an overall effect of adventure and aliveness. The text and illustrations combined are sure to be enjoyed by curious and creative kids who like history and nature. Wild Bush Days walks the line between informative and imaginative, and will motivate young readers to ask questions about this wayward side of Australia’s history, and possibly head off to some exploring of their own.
Karys McEwen is the library manager at Prahran High School, a middle-grade author, and the president of the CBCA VIC Branch.
