This is one book in the children's/teen's My Story series about people from Autralia's past. The other books in the series are:

"Surviving Sydney Cove - the Diary of Elizabeth Harvey, Sydney, 1790" by Goldie Alexander

"The Rum Rebellion - the Diary of David Bellamy, Sydney Town, 1807-1808" by Libby Gleeson

"A Banner Bold - the Diary of Rosa Aarons, Ballarat Goldfield, 1854" by Nadia Wheatley

"The Yankee Whaler - the Diary of Thomas Morris, Bunbury WA, 1876" by Deborah Lisson

"Plagues and Federation - the Diary of Kitty Barnes, The Rocks, Sydney, 1900" by Vashti Farrer

"Who am I - the Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney, 1937" by Anita Heiss

"A Tale of Two Families - the Diary of Jan Packard, Melbourne, 1974" by Jenny Pausacker.

This book was short-listed for The Children's Book Council of Australia awards.

Blurb from the back of the book:

"As the horrors of the First World War are drawing to a close, a danger has arisen that will kill more people around the world than the Great War itself - an influenza pandemic.

Charlotte McKenzie, assisting the doctor next door, finds herself experiencing at close jand the effects of this devestating disease - and when it finally attacks her own family, how can Charlotte cope?"

I was interested to read this chldren's book by Kerry Greenwood, as I have enjoyed many of her adult books, and she seems to be able to easily write well in different genres.

This was was no exception and the book was very easy to relate to and quite topical, given talk of another worldwide flu epidemic - the bird flu. If this book is any indication of the rest of the series, I'll be keeping a look out for some of the others.

Definitely recommended for older children and teens (and those adults who are young at heart!)

I'm offering this book up for an Australian bookray.

AUSTRALIAN BOOKRAY:

What should I do when I receive the book?
1. Log on to Bookcrossing and write a journal entry so I know it reached you safely.
2. PM the next BC member on the list for their address.
2. Try and read the book within 30 days and then add another journal entry with your thoughts about the book. Tell the truth! Was it the best thing you ever read or a complete and utter waste of time? - you can write one sentence or a hundred.
3. Send the book onto the next reader.

The order of reading is:

* catsalive (Rooty Hill, NSW)
* magicjessnrach (Adelaide, SA) - to be read to by 2 people so allow 2 months
* Sally906 (Darwin, NT)
* Viola7 (Brisbane, Qld)

Book received, thankyou. Great bookmark.

This is a very good book. Easy to read & understand. Excellent for young people to pick up a bit of history.

I quote this from p.170: 'Even today the schoolchildren at Villers-Brettoneux have a sign on their school that says 'Never Forget the Australians'. The people were deeply grateful that the Australian soldiers should come so far from their home to defend them and they have never forgotten their courage. The Australians were considered excellent troops but cheeky, insolent, insubordinate and occasionally unwilling to carry out some order which they considered ridiculous.'

This is a bit of a coincidence as I have just been reading The Perfect Journey by David Dale where he mentions the very same thing, having just visited the area with his family.

Thanks, aleonblue, I enjoyed this book very much. I have PMd magicjessnrach & await a response.

Posted to magicjessnrach 25/1/5.

P.S. I was pleased to see that one mention of Jicky in this one too. Must have been a very popular scent in the early 20th century.

I apologise profusely as I forgot to journal this when it arrived last week. Jess has read it already and loved it. Now I just need to get some spare time to read it too :)

I have the flu so thought this was appropriate reading :) I really enjoyed this book and thought Greenwood captured the feel of the era very well.

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to the next participant. Enjoy!

Had forgotten I was on this ring :)

Arrived in today's mail - I have a few ahead of it.

Loved it - what an interesting insight to the Spanish Flu pandemic.

Was actually a type of swine fever that had crossed from animal to human - puts a whole new slant to the predicted bird flu pandemic.

Am ready to mail it on as soon as Viola7 sends me her snail mail.

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Viola7 in today's mail.

I haven't liked any of Kerry Greenwood's novels except the Phyrne Fisher ones, but this one is about the influenza epidemic after the First World War. That might be interesting, considering all the fuss about bird flu!

This was a vividly described account of a teenage girl's life during the influenza epidemic just after the First World War. It was well-written and I liked the heroine, but I had to skim it at the end because it was very depressing and frightening.

It doesn't look likely that there's going to be another influenza epidemic soon now, but I think that I might worry about it a bit more after reading this book!

Received back from Viola7 today - will probably pass this to a young "bookworm" friend to read.

Passed onto Cheekychizzels to read before I pass it on to someone else.