Playing Beatie Bow
May 2nd 2006 06:31
Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park
Chances are that if you went to school in Sydney, Australia, during the 80s, you read this book at one point or another. You probably also saw the film, and you might have also gone on an excursion to the Rocks in Sydney to look at some of the old houses there.
For those not in the know... 'Playing Beatie Bow' is a 'children's book' (I don't really like that genre classification as - for most people - it implies that it's only for children) about a girl named Abigail who travels back in time to colonial Sydney-Town in Australia where she meets Beatie Bow, a girl whose name has become part of Abigail's local folklore. For obvious reasons, it was a staple in schools all over Sydney... the book is very successful in recreating an era-past in a detailed yet easily understandable way. We read it in Year Six I think, and then we went to the Rocks for a really boring excursion. I can't remember if I saw the film or not, I don't think it's really regarded as an Australian film classic.
The Rocks, circa 1900
'Playing Beatie Bow' is still available and can be found in the children's section of your local bookstore. If they don't have it they should be able to order it in... school reading lists have ensured that it remains in print.
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Comment by Bunbury
It's all coming back to me now!
Didn't really like reading it in Primary School though, but then I preferred skipping to anything back then.....
Will check it out next time in a bookstore
Comment by Glen
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Why was the excursion boring? I would have loved to go an excursion to the rocks. The rocks is the heart of Sydney town.
Glen
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