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  • Published: 2 August 2010
  • ISBN: 9781864718874
  • Imprint: Random House Australia Children's
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 304
  • RRP: $24.99

A Brief History Of Montmaray




For anyone who loves the enchanting old-world charm of I Capture the Castle and the wartime adventure of How I Live Now, this is a book to be treasured.

For anyone who loves the enchanting old-world charm of I Capture the Castle and the wartime adventure of How I Live Now, this is a book to be treasured.

'I need to write down what has just happened. I need to set down the truth. If I write lies or if I write nothing at all, this journal is worthless. I must do this, in case anything happens. All right. This is what happened tonight, every single terrible thing that I can remember . . .'

Sophie FitzOsborne lives in a crumbling castle in the tiny island kingdom of Montmaray, along with her tomboy younger sister Henry, her beautiful, intellectual cousin Veronica, and Veronica's father, the completely mad King John.When Sophie receives a leather journal for her sixteenth birthday, she decides to write about her life on the island. But it is 1936 and bigger events are on the horizon. Is everything Sophie knows and loves about the change?

From Sophie's charming and lively observations to a nailbiting, unputdownable ending, this is a book to be treasured.

  • Published: 2 August 2010
  • ISBN: 9781864718874
  • Imprint: Random House Australia Children's
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 304
  • RRP: $24.99

About the author

Michelle Cooper

Michelle Cooper is the author of The Rage of Sheep and The Montmaray Journals trilogy. The first Montmaray book, A Brief History of Montmaray, won a NSW Premier's Literary Award and was listed in the American Library Association's 2010 Best Books for Young Adults. Its sequel, The FitzOsbornes in Exile, was shortlisted for the NSW and WA Premier's Literary Awards, named a Children's Book Council Notable Book and listed in Kirkus Best Teen Books of 2011. The FitzOsbornes at War concludes the Montmaray Journals.

Michelle lives in Sydney and is currently working on her next book for teenagers.

Also by Michelle Cooper

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Praise for A Brief History Of Montmaray

Winner

Ethel Turner Prize for Young Adult Fiction in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2009

Shortlisted

Golden Inky Award, Australian Centre for Youth Literature

Once in a while, a special book will cross our paths and make us grateful for life and the ability to read. Such a book should be celebrated and used to teach in schools. No, I'm not talking about the Bible or the Koran. I'm talking about A BRIEF HISTORY OF MONTMARAY by Michelle Cooper. I'm calling her Australia's next stroke of literary brilliance.

Soo Lee Tan, Viewpoint

A smart and stirring choice to usher fans of the Brontës into the twentieth century.

Starred review, Booklist

Fabulous storytelling.

ABA Kids' Reading Guide 2008-2009

It has everything: a love story, a war story, a spy story, an adventure story and is well researched with convincing historical detail of the 1930's, complete with the satirical outlook of the narrator. I was completely taken away by the pace of the narrative and my interest in the characters.

Ernie Tucker, English in Australia

A thundering good yarn ... Recommended.

Magpies

An endearing narrator and a nail-biting adventure will leave readers on tenterhooks for the sequel that is scheduled to follow.

Sunday Telegraph

Michelle Cooper draws on history, literature, politics, religion and mythology, as well as the smaller moments of a life, and delivers a story that has more facets than a well-cut diamond. Adventure, intrigue, romance, and the supernatural - it's all here, bound together by a ripping plot.

Sunday Age

This book should be cherished.

Woman's Day

Awards & recognition

Australian Centre for Youth Literature

Shortlisted  •  2008  •  Golden Inky

NSW Premier's Literary Awards

Winner  •  2009  •  Ethel Turner Prize for Young Adult Fiction