The Riding Gallery
Age 8+
Fantasy & Magical Realism
Exploring the true story of the St Kilda merry go round during World War 1, by Australia's most revered verse novelist
In Melbourne's St Kilda, as World War 1 begins, Anton, a German immigrant fulfils his dream of creating the most beautiful steam-driven “riding gallery” - a merry go round – in the world. Evelyn, who has just moved to the city befriends local boy Rory, but the war, and anti-German sentiment, soon takes its toll on the children, Anton, their families, and the riding gallery itself.
Based on true events, this is a cleverly structured, multiple point-of-view story, including poems created from contemporaneous newspaper headlines, and Sally Murphy at her finest form.
Resources
Creators
Sally Murphy grew up loving books, babies and beaches, and nothing much has changed. Now she is grown up (though she tries hard not to be), she thinks a perfect day is one which involves reading, writing, walking or swimming at the beach, time with her six (also grown up) children, her grandchildren, and her animal babies. When she isn’t doing these things, Sally is a university academic, teaching teachers how to teach.
Martina Heiduczek grew up in a small village on the Baltic Sea in Germany. Here you could find her mostly galloping through the forests with flying piggy tails on her Shetland pony, drawing or reading. She studied illustration and graphic design in Hamburg. These days she is living with her family on the Gold Coast, Australia, creating illustrations that are quirky, poetic at times, textured and mostly colourful.
Reviews
The Riding Gallery is a stellar example of both middle-grade verse novels and Australian children’s historical fiction.
Books + Publishing
This was an exceptional novel using a true story, one that perhaps many people don’t know about to show the impacts of war on a community and how it can change things for years. Another great verse novel to add to the collection.
Ashleigh Meikle
In true Sally Murphy style, it is beautifully written and evokes the time period it is set in perfectly. It’s a wonderful story of friendship and resilience, and gives an insight into how difficult it was during the war for all families. Will perfectly suit those aged 10 and up.
Lamont Books
The conflicts and joys the characters feel in this story are complex and incredibly well told. Heiduczek’s black and white illustrations really enhance the text, not so much that it becomes a picture story but just enough to add further meaning.
Wondrous Words
Do not miss out on the simply magnificent The Riding Gallery. Sally Murphy, at her very finest, has written that rare, special thing: a book that will last.
Magpies Magazine
