What a cracking book about two girls living more than a century apart but coming together across a time passage in the high country in northern Victoria.

Teenagers who know their Australian history will recognise one of the girls, Kate Kelly, as Ned Kelly’s sister, even before she reveals it, and the whole story will send other readers scrabbling to research the history of that family.

Ruby lives in Shepparaton in 2022, is rebellious, and always seeking the thrill of minor crimes such as shoplifting. She likes spending time on her uncle’s farm in the high country where she rides and rides and rides, even when she should be helping around the house.

It is during one of those rides that she meets fellow horserider Kate, who has accidently come through the time passage on Moonlight Track from 1878. The two girls become friends, even though they do not really understand each other’s lives and surroundings. They go back and forth between their times and Ruby becomes involved in helping keep the police off the trail of the Kelly gang, riding out at night in one direction as a decoy while Kate rides in another to keep the gang supplied. Ruby knows some of the Kelly gang history, so tries to warn Kate about the outcome of the gang’s activities.

This is an easily readable book, written jointly by two Melbourne authors who have each specialised in junior and YA novels, painting accurate word pictures of life for the Kelly family in 1878 as well as Ruby’s life in 2022. It should stimulate readers to research further into the notorious Kelly gang.

Reviewed by Jennifer Somerville

Age Guide 10+

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Emily Gale (left) and Nova Weetman (right)

Emily Gale’s much-loved books include The Goodbye Year, The Other Side of Summer and its companion novel I Am Out with Lanterns, the Eliza Boom Diaries series, Steal My Sunshine and Girl, Aloud, as well as her middle-grade collaborations with friend and fellow author Nova Weetman, Elsewhere Girls andOutlaw Girls.