Charlotte Barkla, 11 Ruby Road: 1900, Walker Books Australia, March 2024, 192 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760657949
11 Ruby Road: 1900 is the first in a new series following the history of the house at 11 Ruby Road and the families who live in it. The prologue is set in 1860 when the bare block of land in South Brisbane is chosen by Millie’s mother after Millie discovers an enormous Moreton Bay fig tree growing there.
The novel then starts forty years later in 1900 when Great Aunt Mildred asks Dorothy’s parents to take over the running over her store on the property as she is getting too old and forgetful. The family of eight, six girls and their Mama and Father, move off their drought-ridden property on the Darling Downs to move into the city.
Dorothy, the third daughter, is independent and opinionated. She wants to be an author but finds school difficult. Her handwriting on her slate is messy and she often daydreams, much to her teacher’s annoyance. She retreats to her ‘writing room’ underneath the house for some uninterrupted time to herself.
But this is 1900 and societal change is afoot. Aunt Esme is a suffragist and she helps Mama and the girls to establish the Ruby Road Women’s Equal Franchise Association, with Father’s blessing. Dorothy’s best friend George is Chinese and faces racist attitudes and remarks. Dorothy is also supposed to learn needlework and other housewifely skills and not worry about an education.
Dorothy decides to write a play with George tackling these issues and to found a theatre group to perform for their families and neighbours. The performance is a resounding success and causes many attendees to question their opinions.
This middle grade novel will show young readers what life was like in Australia in 1900. No cars or refrigerators, phones or exercise books – just horses and carts and ice deliveries. Dorothy is an engaging, lively character and her relationships with her family, friends and neighbours are well-drawn. There are just a few little mysteries that are brought up and then do not develop.
If Millie in the prologue is Great Aunt Mildred in the first chapter, then she cannot be much older than 50, hardly the elderly lady described. Dorothy is sure that a ghost opens the door to the house mysteriously as it swings open without anyone unlocking it but no-one believes her. And the dog Ruffles appears out of nowhere several times but we aren’t told who owns him or where he lives.
These are minor quibbles in a promising start to the series which will continue in the next episode set in 1925.
Reviewed by Lynne Babbage
