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5.0
‘Funny, thoughtful, sometimes painfully sad, this is a book that lingers long in the memory.’
Bookseller+Publisher
‘Klein again shows that she’s a master of dialogue, sibling dynamics, and youthful characters at once unique and undeniably creatures of their age group. Fresh, humorous, offbeat, with a bit of nostalgia for the era of film stars and red, red lipsticks.’
School Library Journal
‘Klein’s attention to detail—Grace’s debutante dress, cooking disasters, coping with the O’Keefe family, cousin Isobel’s flights of fancy and her depth of insight into small town ways make this story come to life.’
ReadPlus
‘A sentimental, intimately Australian series about four loving and warring sisters that is a must-read for any Australian citizen, whether they be the ages of the sisters, or older.’
Reading Time
‘What a fascinating book by Charlie Lovett, author of The Bookman’s Tale. Its denouement sends tingles through the body…The plot meanders through a then-and-now of glorious old books and manuscripts, the thrills of discovery and agony of obstacles. It is eminently engaging.’
SA Weekend
Bookseller+Publisher
‘Klein again shows that she’s a master of dialogue, sibling dynamics, and youthful characters at once unique and undeniably creatures of their age group. Fresh, humorous, offbeat, with a bit of nostalgia for the era of film stars and red, red lipsticks.’
School Library Journal
‘Klein’s attention to detail—Grace’s debutante dress, cooking disasters, coping with the O’Keefe family, cousin Isobel’s flights of fancy and her depth of insight into small town ways make this story come to life.’
ReadPlus
‘A sentimental, intimately Australian series about four loving and warring sisters that is a must-read for any Australian citizen, whether they be the ages of the sisters, or older.’
Reading Time
‘What a fascinating book by Charlie Lovett, author of The Bookman’s Tale. Its denouement sends tingles through the body…The plot meanders through a then-and-now of glorious old books and manuscripts, the thrills of discovery and agony of obstacles. It is eminently engaging.’
SA Weekend
emkoshka's review
4.0
Such a heartwarming, life-affirming and joyously rambunctious read, as only a book about an Australian family could be! The country town and characters of Wilgawa come to life so vividly that I wonder if part of it is Robin Klein's own childhood story. What a fantastic writer she is too, not shying away from using adult words like 'miasma' and 'temerity' in what is ostensibly a young adult book. I remember a teacher reading the chapter 'Something to Drop Stitches Over' to my class when I was in primary school and we laughed ourselves silly. Cousin Isobel epitomises the little Aussie larrikin beautifully. A special book to be reading in the early days of summer; having finished it on Christmas Eve, I found the last line was blissfully perfect: 'Blue unclouded weather ... That's how it's going to be tomorrow for Christmas'. :)
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