Helen Edwards, The rebels of Mount Buffalo, Riveted Press Australia, October 2023, 208 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781743835104
The Rebels of Mount Buffalo is a story of the Australian past. However, it impacts on us today as we strive to preserve our environment. Clara and her parents are staying at the Mount Buffalo Chalet for Mount Buffalo’s Centenary in 1998. They are all struggling with the death of Clara’s twin brother Darius in a car accident. In this time slip novel, Clara wakes up 100 years ago in the 1890s where she meets a remarkable girl who changes her life. Guide Alice Manfield defies the traditional roles of wearing skirts and conforming to the way girls are supposed to behave. A rebel of her time, she bravely explores the rugged trails of Mount Buffalo and leads visitors into the wilderness. Clara and Guide Alice develop a close friendship as Guide Alice takes Clara into Mount Buffalo.
As Clara and Guide Alice come face-to-face with danger on the mountain, Clara learns to deal with her twin’s death. She regains her own bravery as she helps save two people on the Mountain through modern medical skills.
Guide Alice Manfield was a pioneer of tourism in Mount Buffalo. She believed in the power of women to preserve the environment. The Rebels of Mount Buffalo delves into lost history. Inspired by a true story of a pioneering young woman, this time slip novel unlocks historical facts, early feminism, and the value of Mount Buffalo.
Suitable for upper primary school. Ages 9 plus
Reviewed by Susanne Gervay
