Walker Books Australia
July 2024
ISBN13:9781760657345
Australia RRP:$16.99
New Zealand RRP:$18.99
Yes, I said not so long ago that I’m not a huge fan of verse novels, and there are only a few exceptions. Sally Murphy’s are one of those rare anomalies. Each one is so utterly absorbing, with such beautiful narrative flow that I don’t even notice it’s a verse novel really. [I know – I can be such a pleb, at times.] And I do think this is my favourite so far, probably because it’s immersing the reader in some history of which many people, myself included, might be unaware.
Admittedly, Melbournites might have a better idea, but my very limited knowledge or familiarity with that city certainly didn’t include the carousel at St Kilda. This is a history voiced by 3 connected characters. There is Evelyn: who moves from the country to St Kilda with her parents at the outset of WWI, Rory: Evelyn’s new neighbour and best friend, except when their views diverge drastically and Anton, the owner and architect of the most wonderful carousel ever.
Evelyn already knows Anton from the times he has visited her town in the country. Although she is not so keen on living in St Kilda, she is mightily thrilled when she discovers Anton’s plan for his new wondrous carousel attraction. She is also very pleased, after some initial doubts, when she and Rory become good friends.
But how can she possibly remain friends with Rory once he starts castigating Anton for being ‘a Hun’, and siding with the rabble who choose to hound the carousel owner with threats and violence. Evelyn cannot fathom how her community can turn against a man who is officially an Australian citizen because of his country of birth.
This is a beautifully delivered examination of prejudice, mob mentality, stereotyping and ignorance which can be used with students from mid-primary up to lower secondary with ease.
Despite the fact that Anton’s new carousel is one of the marvels of the age, the like of which has never been seen before in Australia, and notwithstanding his innate generosity and kindness, the impact of the war turns normally rational people into rabid agitators and thus, the conflict doesn’t just rage on in Europe but right in Evelyn’s own neighbourhood.
This was, for me, a binge read in one sitting and I found it utterly absorbing, as well as very moving. The juxtaposition of the imagery of the carousel, with lights and colour and music, with the ugliness of the very insular average Australians of the early 20th century is so striking, as is the gentle nature of Anton compared to those who effectively drive him out his ownership, after all the love and effort put into his riding gallery. The occasional illustrations from Martina Heiduczek add a real depth to the text.
Certainly, it also reminded me of happy times working in Canberra, and taking The Kid there last November for her first visit – when she, disappointedly, was not one whit interested in riding that historic carousel – the very same carousel commissioned by Anton Weniger.
Sally is IMO, our greatest exponent of the verse novel for young readers and with each new book, she cements that position very firmly. The evidence of that is not just the acclaim from adults in the kids lit arena, but the readers themselves.
To be honest, hers are the only verse novels I’ve had in my libraries that regularly circulated. And for my money, the voice of the kiddos is the most important. As well as, of course, just sharing this for the sake of its inherent beauty, it will sit perfectly in your HASS studies of Australian history and the formation of the Australian identity as well as any examination of WWI higher up the school as an example of the experience of the ordinary people – and the PoV of opposing thinking. And, additionally, as a wonderful model for narrative from multiple perspectives/PoV.
I highly recommend it to you for your readers from around year 4 upwards with a big musical 5 carousel 🎠🎠🎠🎠🎠rating.
PS and if you enjoy the carousel theme, why not pick up Michael Morpurgo’s Flamingo Boy (also set in wartime) which is another truly magnificent read.
Just So Stories 
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