Alice-Miranda in the outback by Jacqueline Harvey
![cover image](https://www.readplus.com.au/covers2/amintheoutback.jpg)
Alice-Miranda book 19. Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760891039.
(Ages: 8+). Recommended. Alice-Miranda in the outback is the
nineteenth book in the popular middle grade series. Author
Jacqueline Harvey has once again delivered an entertaining and
exciting read full of mystery and dangerous situations. She also
provides an Acknowledge to Country out of respect for the Indigenous
characters in her story as well as recognising the land the story
takes place.
In this newest adventure Alice-Miranda, her family and best friends
travel to the Australian outback in their school holidays to help
support a family friend of Alice-Miranda's father. The story begins
with a prologue where the reader is introduced to Barnaby Lewis the
owner of the outback station who is struggling with the demands of a
failing bore and family concerns. He is needing support and help is
on the way with the gang from the city. On the journey to Hope
Springs, the family and friends meet some interesting and colourful
characters although astute Alice-Miranda already has her radar up
about the owners of the General Store where they stop for lunch.
They run into one of the owners later in Coober Pedy and all is not
what it seems. An old mate of Hugh's, Sprocket McGinty, lives in a
local dug out and shows the group around but later turns up at Hope
Springs with a somewhat cagey explanation. Added to this mix is a
partly torn map, a hidden diary, a snake bite, a missing child, an
opal miner named Taipan Dan who has not been seen for many months,
cattle mustering, limited water and mysterious strangers camping on
the station.
Jacqueline Harvey has set the scene for another enjoyable read where
Alice-Miranda and her friends use their clever problem solving
skills to help Barnaby and his family solve the issues with the
bores and the unwelcome strangers. Alice-Miranda is also
instrumental in solving a sensitive family issue with her wise and
caring manner. Themes: Family, Friendship, Adventure, Australian
outback, Opals, Mystery, School holidays.
Kathryn Beilby