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Outlaw Girls

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Kate and Ruby live in the High Country in Victoria. They're both daring, quick-thinking and prepared to break the rules, and they're both brilliant horse riders—they'd probably be great friends. But they live in different times, more than 140 years apart.

While galloping through the mountains, Kate rides headlong into a thrilling experience that transports her from 1878 to the future, where she meets Ruby. Kate and Ruby return to 1878, where Kate is secretly taking supplies to her brother Ned and the rest of the Kelly Gang, who are in hiding from the police. Together the girls work to confuse the police and keep the gang from being found and arrested. But the looming disaster makes things less clear-cut for Ruby.

They're about the have the ride of their lives!

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 2024

11 people are currently reading
74 people want to read

About the author

Emily Gale

29 books97 followers
Emily Gale has worked in the children’s & YA book industry for over twenty years. In London she worked as an editor for Penguin and Egmont, and later as a freelance manuscript consultant and pre-school book writer. In Melbourne she worked with the late literary agent Sheila Drummond, finding new children’s and YA authors; she has reviewed for Bookseller and Publisher, spent several happy years at independent bookshop Readings as a children’s buyer, during which time she was instrumental in establishing the Readings Children’s Book Prize, and worked in two school libraries. Emily’s writing includes novels for teenagers like Girl, Aloud, Steal My Sunshine, and I Am Out With Lanterns, as well as books for 10+ including The Other Side of Summer, Elsewhere Girls, and The Goodbye Year. Her junior fiction character is Eliza Boom, which is published all around the world.

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5 stars
32 (39%)
4 stars
29 (35%)
3 stars
16 (19%)
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3 (3%)
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for John Gilbert.
1,386 reviews218 followers
April 22, 2024
Having read and enjoyed several of Nova Weetman's books, this was my first venture with her collaborations with Emily Gale. An interesting premise with Ruby and Kate meeting in a time switch between present day Victoria and the 1870s, with Kate being Ned Kelly's sister. Entertaining and mostly historically accurate, it still fell flat for me for the most part. Dual narration but not always easy as we already know of the demise of Ned Kelly and his bushranger gang as they went down in history. In the end the only real thing the two girls shared was their love of horses. Library ebook 3 stars.
Profile Image for Jade K.
9 reviews
June 20, 2024
I enjoyed this book, as I got to learn more about Ned Kelly's family, which I did not previosuly know about. It was a bit too similar to Elsewhere Girls, but I get that's what it was meant to be, and it was a pretty good book anyway. Would recommend to 8 and up.
Profile Image for ALPHAreader.
1,272 reviews
March 22, 2024
Shout out to one of my new favourite Aussie middle grade series (that can be read as stand-alone) - by two of my favourite authors: Emily Gale & Nova Weetman!

I vividly remember reading Ruth Park’s ‘Playing Beatie Bow’ as a kid, and both loving that it had a *tiny* bit of romance in it - but more than that, was the whole concept of ~time-slip~ and time-travel. That kickstarted what has now become an obsession with this literary device, which is used brilliantly in these two books.

I love the ways that Emily & Nova use this time-slip framing to put a spotlight on Australian history, girlhood empowerment, strength of family, and ways that the past is within arm’s reach, in more ways than we think …

‘Narrated in alternating chapters by Cat and Fanny, ELSEWHERE GIRLS is a moving and funny story of two girls with a deep connection, one based on the Australian Olympic champion, Fanny Durack. It’s a fresh and engaging exploration of the challenges and pressures for young women growing up in the past and today.’

Meanwhile: ‘OUTLAW GIRLS is an exciting, fast-paced time-slip novel, narrated by both Ruby and Kate, about family, friendship, loyalty and betrayal, the complexity of right and wrong, and working out what matters most.’ And this latest novel puts a focus on Ned Kelly’s sister Kate Kelly - and is a particularly timely tale about discrimination and when it’s time to do the wrong thing, for the right reasons. It’s a very clever and complex tale that pulls compassion out of an oft-misunderstood and disabused era in Australian history, that’s sometimes slipped into mythology.

I think with this concept and loose series, Emily & Nova have found a way to connect Aussie kids to the past in a way that feels thoughtful, immediate and vibrant - it’s history and hijinks, beautifully delivered and written with such pace and compassion that it’s impossible not to fall in love!
Profile Image for Tien.
2,274 reviews79 followers
April 22, 2024
I love time travel. I love reading a modern character transplanted into the distant past. And this idea of time travelling horses and encounters with the infamous Kelly family sound absolutely fascinating! I have to admit that I don't thin my 9-yo boy found it that fascinating. We read about 50 pages together and he had so many questions. He is a rather advanced reader for his age but there were just concepts in this book, he was unfamiliar with and it was a bit much for him.

While I found myself mostly disliking these 2 girl protagonists, I do admire their grit! It's just that these girls are so far from my own personality and would probably be those I'd stay away from at school because I'd just be too intimidated by them. Their loyalty and love for family (Kate) and friends (Ruby) are admirable though misplaced in case of Ruby. I just found her so frustrating though she did finally grow up at the very very end. I feel that reading this as a mother of a teenager fully coloured my perspective and I may not find these characters are frustrating otherwise. I have to admire her persistence though or is that stubbornness?!

Overall, Outlaw Girls is a fun but thought-provoking read. On the surface, it was a great adventure being had by the girls. Reading between the lines, I'd suggest to not be afraid to ask all the hard questions to get into the heart of things in your discussions.

My thanks to Text Publishing gifting me a copy of this book in exchange of my honest thoughts
Profile Image for Text Publishing.
713 reviews288 followers
Read
August 29, 2024
The following reviews have been shared by Text Publishing - publisher of Outlaw Girls:

‘A thrilling ride of danger and friendship across time, Outlaw Girls is an adventure of courage and loyalty from two favourite authors. I wanted to gallop away with Kate and Ruby.’
Kate Constable

‘Emily Gale and Nova Weetman deliver again with Outlaw Girls...This time-slip story is riveting upper-middle-grade historical fiction like you’ve never seen it before.’
Books+Publishing

‘4.5 stars. A great history book [with] several underlying themes which deal with things such as honesty, making the right choice (not the easy choice), and choosing friends wisely. Ruby has many flaws and we see her struggle with growing up. There could be much discussion in a classroom setting around these themes...Their characters are well rounded and the imagery makes it easy to imagine life in the high country of Victoria in the 1880s...Young people who love horses will particularly enjoy Outlaw Girls.’
GLAM Adelaide

‘A compelling read where modern-day teenage angst and privilege meets poverty and injustice in colonial Australia…Ingeniously [tells] the story of the Kelly women and how they supported their brothers and kept the family together.’
ReadPlus

‘The thing that stood out to me the most was that the women and girls were at the forefront, having their voices heard…That is what makes historical fiction like this so powerful—allowing people who have previously been silenced to have a voice…Emily and Nova’s books bring history to life.’
Book Muse

‘This is an awesome story for young readers interested in historical fiction, or anyone who loves a bit of action and intrigue!’
Better Read Than Dead, March Kids Book of the Month

‘Horses and history combine in this exciting middle‑grade novel that will have children who love stories about the bush and bushrangers completely hooked.’
Readings

‘Emily Gale and Nova Weetman passionately delve into untold stories of female empowerment in history, crafting accessible and joyful historical fiction for young readers.’
Novel Insight

‘Rich in historical detail, including an Afterword that speaks to the research process. It brings the Kelly myth to life, focusing on the Kelly women. As a time traveler, Ruby acts as a translator for the reader, identifying social and economic changes over time, and grappling with ideas of justice, loyalty and revenge. Whilst history itself might not change, the ways in which we interrogate it do. This book brings opportunities for nuanced reflection on the Kelly myth beyond “good” and “bad” towards exploration of the drivers of crime, including racism, poverty and illiteracy.’
StoryLinks

‘Two of the most inspiring women I know…Beloved for their writing around the country.’
Be More Bookish podcast

‘This captivating time slip, middle grade novel seamlessly weaves elements of mystery, adventure and history with depth and authenticity...With a deft touch, Outlaw Girls brings the past to life, exploring universal themes like betrayal, loyalty, family, friendship and finding your voice. Young readers will be engrossed by this very Aussie tale….Saddle up for this rollicking romp of a ride over 150 years through Victoria’s high country.’
CBCA Reading Time

‘A ripping good yarn!…Such is the beauty of a well-crafted time slip novel; allowing readers to become fully submersed into the then and now and emerge with a more profound appreciation of both characters’ points of view…For those who are wild at heart, love a great galloping tale with a healthy dose of fantasy and history, get involved with the Outlaw Girls!’
Kids’ Book Review

‘5 stars. The educational adventure novel not only gives an insight into Australian history, but also explores the themes of family, friendship, loyalty and betrayal, right and wrong. Outlaw Girls is intriguing, heart-warming and cleverly written with both main characters portrayed as well rounded and growing…A pleasure to read and a must have at any school library.’
AU Review

‘With just the right number of historical facts sprinkled into this time slip tale, Outlaw Girls gallops along keeping the pages turning with fun, humour, and adventure. The reader can easily imagine being in the saddle with Ruby and Kate…Such a great Aussie read and even though most will know the history of Ned Kelly, few will know about his brave and fearless younger sister Kate Kelly, until now.’
BuzzWords

‘A rollicking adventure…A pacy, exciting narrative…Sheds light on courageous Australian girls whose place in history has been overshadowed.’
Sisters in Crime

‘Amplifies the voices of females, portrays the power, beauty and importance of female friendships…Not only do the girls in the story teach each other lessons, they benefit from viewing life through a different lens…Girls and women take centre stage.’
Reading Opens Doors

‘An exciting narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The themes of courage and adventure are beautifully woven into the story, making it a must-read for anyone looking for an exciting and adventurous story.’
Alphabet Soup, Aashi (age 9)
Profile Image for Alana Rose.
13 reviews
March 11, 2025
That’s a wrap on my Year 7 novel spree - good way to finish it
Profile Image for Literary Redhead.
2,708 reviews693 followers
February 18, 2024
A fun MG time travel novel featuring two Australian girls who slip into each other's lives through a time portal. Ruby gets in trouble in 2022, after falling in with a bad crowd. Katie is the sister of outlaw Ned Kelly and tries to keep him and his gang safe from the law in 1878. As the girls appear in each other's respective eras, they learn from each other in this well-written tale that will keep young readers captivated. Recommended!
Profile Image for Isabelle Parrot.
17 reviews
July 15, 2025
This book truly was a thrilling adventure full of friendship and surprises!
❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️🩷
I loved every second of reading this book.

This story shows how you should never give up on your family,like Kate, even though her brothers shot a man dead and were wanted criminals,she didn’t want them to get killed by the police how Ruby who came from the future said they would. But sadly Kates brothers didn’t believe that Ruby was from the future and that had sealed their fate. But you know the saying you can’t change the past and that’s exactly what happened.

Luckily Ruby made it back to her time. But as she arrived the portal from her time to Kate’s time had been shut forever but Kate and Ruby will always remember one another.

A DEFINITE FIVE⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️STARS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ms Harrison.
147 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2025
A fantastical time slip historical fiction adventure. A favourite for our Year 5 Literature Circles.
Profile Image for Melissa Wray.
Author 5 books93 followers
April 1, 2024
Ruby and Kate live two very different lives over140 years apart. One day Kate finds herself transported through time from 1878 to 2022 where she meets Ruby. Before long the two girls find themselves on the ride of their lives with only one outcome for certain. Neither belong in the other girl’s world, especially when the history books have already been written.

Ruby lives with her mum in 2022 who is busy working to make ends meet. Her friends are fun, but don’t always make great choices which leads to Ruby being in trouble, regularly. After one particularly bad choice she finds herself sent to her uncle’s farm which has one bonus. She gets to ride the beautiful horse, Queenie.

Kate lives with her family in 1878 who are known relatives of the Kelly gang. In fact, the infamous Ned Kelly is her brother. He’s on the run and it is her job to elude police and safely drop off food to him. This suits Kate because it means she gets to ride her horse, Oliver.

When the two worlds collide, the action is non-stop as Ruby becomes part of the Kelly family. With just the right amount of historical facts sprinkled into this time slip tale, Outlaw Girls gallops along keeping the pages turning with fun, humour and adventure.

Gale and Weetman’s writing styles are so seamless, so in sync, it is difficult to believe it was not just one person who wrote this book. The story includes brilliant horse-riding skills and with attention to detail about the setting in the high country, the reader can easily imagine being in the saddle with Ruby and Kate.

This book is such a great Aussie read and even though most will know the history of Ned Kelly, few will know about his brave and fearless younger sister Kate Kelly, until now. Outlaw Girls is suitable for a 10+ readership.
Profile Image for Farah G.
2,043 reviews38 followers
February 17, 2024
This is a really entertaining middle grade book about time travel that I increasingly enjoyed the further I got into it. Initially, I did not find Ruby a particularly likeable character. Raised by a single parent who is working all God's hours, Ruby falls in with a problematic peer group, engaging in shoplifting and a series of pranks and misdemeanours.

After their attempt to spirit away a tractor belonging to the strict father of one of the friends goes badly awry, Ruby is sent to stay on the farm with her Uncle Harry. She is resentful of the punishment and misses her friends, who continue to be up to no good.

It is while she is riding her horse Queenie one day that Ruby comes upon a time travel portal and meets Katie, the younger sister of the outlaw Ned Kelly, who has accidentally travelled to 2022 from 1878!

An exciting adventure follows, with the girls using the portal to travel back and forth. In the process, Ruby learns not to take her advantages for granted, while Katie is introduced to the pleasures of pizza in between trying to help her brothers who are fugitives from the rough justice of that earlier era. This story was a lot of fun, and will be greatly enjoyed by readers in the target age group.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Judy Wollin.
Author 10 books8 followers
July 14, 2025
I enjoyed this story. While it was a time-slip action adventure, it addressed a contemporary issue - shoplifting. The main characters were finding their way in life and felt hard done by. How they reacted was thought-provoking. The power of this story lies in its engaging plot and well-incorporated moral.
Ruby is struggling in school and has friends who are also often in trouble. She is anxious to fit in and shows bravado and a thoughtlessness that leads her down a path she does not want. Sent to stay with relatives, horse riding becomes her outlet.
Riding Queenie Ruby comes across a girl about her age dressed like she’s in a historical movie set and talking funny too. The girls discover they're from two different eras. They can time-travel to and from each other’s time. Ruby joins Kate, who turns out to be Ned Kelly’s sister, on daring adventures. But Ruby sees the pain Ned’s stealing and outlaw status brings to the whole family, who are living hand-to-mouth. Frightened, trapped in another time, Kate wants to go home.
Recommended for readers who enjoy adventure, time-travel and historical fiction all in one.
28 reviews1 follower
April 11, 2024
A fun time slip adventure, featuring the Kelly gang. Modern day Ruby meets Kate Kelly (Ned's sister) when they discover a time portal between 2022 and 1878. Sharing a love and talent with horses, the girls become friends and share many adventures.

A heartwarming story with well developed characters, Outlaw girls is a fun read!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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