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A Respectable Girl
It is 1859 in the raw township of New Plymouth where Hannah Carstairs walks between two worlds. She finds that both her worlds are changing. First there are the disturbing hints about her dead mother's past. Then, the tensions between the Maori tribes and the settlers boil over into war.
360 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Fleur Beale
46 books150 followersFleur Beale is the author of many award-winning books for children and young adults, best known for her novel I am not Esther which has been published worldwide.
Beale was one of six children of a dairy farmer Cedric Corney and of a teacher and author Estelle Corney (née Cook). She was born in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand, on the farm where her father was born. Beale grew up in the town before attending Victoria University, Wellington and Christchurch Teachers' Training College, where she met her husband. Since 1985 she has taught at Melville High School in Hamilton, Waikato and in Wellington. Beale's first stories were written for the children's radio programme Grandpa's Place. Her first book was a small reader and picture book for young children and she started to write for teenagers in 1993. Her stories often involve troubled adolescents engaged in outdoor activities.
Beale was a finalist in the Aim Children's Book Awards (junior fiction) and her 1998 novel I am not Esther was shortlisted for the senior fiction section of the 1999 New Zealand Post Children's Awards. In 1999 she was awarded the Children's Writing Fellowship at Dunedin College of Education and quit teaching to write full time. Her 2001 novel Ambushed was a finalist for the Junior Fiction section of the 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Her 2004 account of how an indigenous girl discovers how her education can save her tribal lands (My Story A New Song in the Land. The Writings of Atapo, Pahia, c.1840) received a Notable Book award in 2005 as did Walking Lightly.
Beale was one of six children of a dairy farmer Cedric Corney and of a teacher and author Estelle Corney (née Cook). She was born in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand, on the farm where her father was born. Beale grew up in the town before attending Victoria University, Wellington and Christchurch Teachers' Training College, where she met her husband. Since 1985 she has taught at Melville High School in Hamilton, Waikato and in Wellington. Beale's first stories were written for the children's radio programme Grandpa's Place. Her first book was a small reader and picture book for young children and she started to write for teenagers in 1993. Her stories often involve troubled adolescents engaged in outdoor activities.
Beale was a finalist in the Aim Children's Book Awards (junior fiction) and her 1998 novel I am not Esther was shortlisted for the senior fiction section of the 1999 New Zealand Post Children's Awards. In 1999 she was awarded the Children's Writing Fellowship at Dunedin College of Education and quit teaching to write full time. Her 2001 novel Ambushed was a finalist for the Junior Fiction section of the 2002 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Her 2004 account of how an indigenous girl discovers how her education can save her tribal lands (My Story A New Song in the Land. The Writings of Atapo, Pahia, c.1840) received a Notable Book award in 2005 as did Walking Lightly.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 26, 2017
Trigger warnings: racism, white people being all "WE HAVE MORE RIGHT TO THIS LAND THAN THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS BECAUSE WE HAVE COWS AND SHIT" (if there's a more technical term for that, LMK), childbirth.
3.5 stars.
For the most part, this is a pretty typical YA historical fiction book. Like, teenage girl is incredibly precocious and very feminist for the mid-19th century. Discovers a family secret and goes on an adventure that means she ends up rich. There's a fortune-hunting cad who tries to seduce her, an unexpected death due to a gross 19th century medical condition, and a marriage to some dude who's a disturbing number of years older than her, but we're meant to ship it.
The difference here is that probably just over half of the book takes place in New Zealand and Hannah's stepmother is Maori. Hannah and her stepmother are close, she and her brothers speak Maori, as small children (before their stepmother was on the scene), they ran to the nearby Maori village for protection when their father was drunk.
I can't speak to how accurate or respectful any of it was, and the internet is delivering me nothing. But it made for a pleasant change to see a historical fiction book where the main character a) acknowledges the existence of people of colour AT ALL, and b) is all "WTF, THEY WERE HERE FIRST STOP TRYING TO TAKE THEIR LAND, ASSHATS".
Basically, it was moderately predictable, and there were times when I wanted to be like "Hannah. Girl. STOP IT", particularly once she reaches England. But it wasn't terrible. So. There's that.
3.5 stars.
For the most part, this is a pretty typical YA historical fiction book. Like, teenage girl is incredibly precocious and very feminist for the mid-19th century. Discovers a family secret and goes on an adventure that means she ends up rich. There's a fortune-hunting cad who tries to seduce her, an unexpected death due to a gross 19th century medical condition, and a marriage to some dude who's a disturbing number of years older than her, but we're meant to ship it.
The difference here is that probably just over half of the book takes place in New Zealand and Hannah's stepmother is Maori. Hannah and her stepmother are close, she and her brothers speak Maori, as small children (before their stepmother was on the scene), they ran to the nearby Maori village for protection when their father was drunk.
I can't speak to how accurate or respectful any of it was, and the internet is delivering me nothing. But it made for a pleasant change to see a historical fiction book where the main character a) acknowledges the existence of people of colour AT ALL, and b) is all "WTF, THEY WERE HERE FIRST STOP TRYING TO TAKE THEIR LAND, ASSHATS".
Basically, it was moderately predictable, and there were times when I wanted to be like "Hannah. Girl. STOP IT", particularly once she reaches England. But it wasn't terrible. So. There's that.
January 22, 2017
La lucha de una joven por sobrevivir a las costumbres de su época, se convierte en un relato entretenido y ameno, que no da lugar a muchas sorpresas. La protagonista es capaz de conectar con el lector, no así algunos de los personajes que me han parecido un poco desdibujados, para la importancia final que acarrean. Me ha gustado mucho leerlo en inglés, ya que la historia es fácil de compr nuera y seguir. Le seguiré la pista a Fleur Beale.
January 11, 2010
A RESPECTABLE GIRL by Fleur Beale
Fleur Beale is a New Zealand author who mostly writes fiction for teenagers and young adults. This novel, though has universal appeal and is an excellent read for anyone after an historical novel. Set in the province of Taranaki in 1859, (which incidentally is the part of New Zealand where the author comes from) the story centres on Hannah Carstairs. Although only 15 years old, and still a girl to our way of thinking, she is on the brink of adulthood. The main town of New Plymouth is essentially a frontier town, raw, unplanned, unformed, dirty and often chaotic. Hannah lives with her twin brother Jamie, her English father, her Maori stepmother Rawinia and half brother Arama. Her mother died giving birth to the twins. An independent and spirited girl, Hannah is conflicted as to her eventual place in the world. She is smart enough to see how hard life is for the women in her community and consequently doesn't want a bar of marriage or babies. But she nows she cannot stay living with her parents forever, simply because there isn't enougth work or money to support everyone.
In New Plymouth and the province at large, war between the colonial settlers - the British - and the local landowners - the Maori - is looming over control of the land. Hannah finds her loyalties tested due to her peculiar family situation; at the same time she discovers interesting and alarming information concerning her parents and origins. Which in her forthright and independent fashion, with all the singlemindedness and passion of a teenage girl she sets about resolving.
Very well written, god plot and character development, with enough romance, intrigue and adventure to keep any young adult and not so young adults hooked. Nothing too complicated, just a jolly good read.
Fleur Beale is a New Zealand author who mostly writes fiction for teenagers and young adults. This novel, though has universal appeal and is an excellent read for anyone after an historical novel. Set in the province of Taranaki in 1859, (which incidentally is the part of New Zealand where the author comes from) the story centres on Hannah Carstairs. Although only 15 years old, and still a girl to our way of thinking, she is on the brink of adulthood. The main town of New Plymouth is essentially a frontier town, raw, unplanned, unformed, dirty and often chaotic. Hannah lives with her twin brother Jamie, her English father, her Maori stepmother Rawinia and half brother Arama. Her mother died giving birth to the twins. An independent and spirited girl, Hannah is conflicted as to her eventual place in the world. She is smart enough to see how hard life is for the women in her community and consequently doesn't want a bar of marriage or babies. But she nows she cannot stay living with her parents forever, simply because there isn't enougth work or money to support everyone.
In New Plymouth and the province at large, war between the colonial settlers - the British - and the local landowners - the Maori - is looming over control of the land. Hannah finds her loyalties tested due to her peculiar family situation; at the same time she discovers interesting and alarming information concerning her parents and origins. Which in her forthright and independent fashion, with all the singlemindedness and passion of a teenage girl she sets about resolving.
Very well written, god plot and character development, with enough romance, intrigue and adventure to keep any young adult and not so young adults hooked. Nothing too complicated, just a jolly good read.
February 20, 2019
This is a good YA book. Just didn't have enough action felt like it dragged a bit in the middle
October 4, 2012
I had to read this book for my english class as it was by a NZ author and it seemed like a good book. Plus, I could write a good review on it for my assessment as it inculeded some parts of NZ history. I never had a flair for history and I still don't. When I picked up this book, I thought it would never end. It kept dragging on and on and I was about to leave it but then I thought, I've already reached halfway why not just get it over with? I thought that I would hate this book but then I started to get engaged in it.
I found the characters quest for their identity riverting and real. I also enjoyed the old english language the book used. I liked the setting it was and things they did. It seemed very proper and sure although the main character was known for speaking her mind. It was surprisingly funny at times and I found myself enjoying it. Sometimes you do need something different to enhance your perpective and broden your knowledge. I wouldn't mind reading another of Fleur Beale's books.
I found the characters quest for their identity riverting and real. I also enjoyed the old english language the book used. I liked the setting it was and things they did. It seemed very proper and sure although the main character was known for speaking her mind. It was surprisingly funny at times and I found myself enjoying it. Sometimes you do need something different to enhance your perpective and broden your knowledge. I wouldn't mind reading another of Fleur Beale's books.
July 29, 2018
This was a confusing book. It almost feels like three - the beginning in NZ, the second half in England, and the last couple of chapters. But I definitely liked lots of it. However, I'm really not sure about the ending. I kinda saw it coming at the start, and then it still happened long after I'd decided I was wrong. It just seemed to go against everything Hannah had ever thought about!
September 4, 2021
A Respectable Girl was on a very fast track to have a five star rating as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in my country of New Zealand, I have stood in the places that were mentioned and had experience with the black sand (I've never personally seen a white sand beach which are always mentioned in books with beaches). Slow to start it only got interesting when Hannah and Jamie traveled to England around half way though. Hannah is a bright and quick whit female with advanced thoughts in her head for the time she lived in.
I loved the interactions with Hannah and those that surround her, especially with the women in the higher society and Lord Derringford. "Don't blame me when it curdles her brain and she lies screeching on the floor." This is said by Lord Derringford as women weren't capable of understanding legal matters, Hannah then, made a fool of the man as he then became the man screeching on the floor.
The ending chapters were flat and uninteresting. Hannah stated that she never wished to marry and what happened? She married. In other TV shows and books when a woman states that she doesn't want to marry or have children, it happens. What is wrong with a woman living how she intends/ states her life to be and be happy with her life's choices?
Because of this it almost gave me a Little Women (by Louisa May Alcott) vibes as books of the time, women needed to be married or have the promise of marriage.
I loved the interactions with Hannah and those that surround her, especially with the women in the higher society and Lord Derringford. "Don't blame me when it curdles her brain and she lies screeching on the floor." This is said by Lord Derringford as women weren't capable of understanding legal matters, Hannah then, made a fool of the man as he then became the man screeching on the floor.
The ending chapters were flat and uninteresting. Hannah stated that she never wished to marry and what happened? She married. In other TV shows and books when a woman states that she doesn't want to marry or have children, it happens. What is wrong with a woman living how she intends/ states her life to be and be happy with her life's choices?
Because of this it almost gave me a Little Women (by Louisa May Alcott) vibes as books of the time, women needed to be married or have the promise of marriage.
June 17, 2018
A 3.5 actually. The title, different setting attracted me and i wasnt disappointed. i would have liked if i had got to read more about the maori tribes -their history and traditions. The seasonal differences in New Zealand compared to other side of the world was good and i was left wanted to know more of it-like christmas celebrations in summer and how will b the autumn(if there is any) in the country.
The protagonist girl Hannah had wonderful character development. She is brutally honest, speaks from heart and has good(pretty quick) thinking head. The way she deals with people who try to intimidate her is truly wonderful. I loved her purpose and determination to make herself useful wherever she is, whatever the circumstances may be. Fiercely independent, yet attached to family and caring for frnz... I felt the childbirth and marriage need not be shown in a bad looming light but can understand its the circumstances in her life that forced Hannah to think so of it.
The protagonist girl Hannah had wonderful character development. She is brutally honest, speaks from heart and has good(pretty quick) thinking head. The way she deals with people who try to intimidate her is truly wonderful. I loved her purpose and determination to make herself useful wherever she is, whatever the circumstances may be. Fiercely independent, yet attached to family and caring for frnz... I felt the childbirth and marriage need not be shown in a bad looming light but can understand its the circumstances in her life that forced Hannah to think so of it.
February 10, 2022
A largely enjoyable read - Hannah is a great character, I love her forthrightness, humour and practicality.
The plot is solid, but the pacing suffers a little - I feel like it could have been tightened up a bit at the start, and allowed to breathe a little more at the end: parts of the ending felt rushed, and there were some plot threads left dangling. These are things that only bother me in retrospect though - while reading I was engrossed.
The plot is solid, but the pacing suffers a little - I feel like it could have been tightened up a bit at the start, and allowed to breathe a little more at the end: parts of the ending felt rushed, and there were some plot threads left dangling. These are things that only bother me in retrospect though - while reading I was engrossed.
February 12, 2018
Fleur Beale's work is always a delight.
February 7, 2018
Historical drama in early days of white settlement in NZ. Moari wars.
Read
June 13, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Racism
Childbirth
Racism
Childbirth
September 21, 2011
I thought it was a very gripping and humorous book. Hannah gave me a different perspective on NZ. In a way there are still conflicts between Maori and Caucasians like Hone harawira making accusations of rascism to Don Brash as they debate whether the Maori seats should be retain. But NZ still has that sense of freedom today as it was presumably in 1859. NZ offers a range of opportunities for the people that have financial problems and even offers homes for immigrants and refugees. I loved this book probably because I'm a teenager myself and I can relate in some areas :)I decided to do a reading log for this book but I must warn you readers that it may reveal some spoilers.
Theme: Loss of Innocence
Title: A Respectable Girl
Author: Fleur Beale
Text Type: Written
What does this text us about the theme of Loss of Innocence?
This text is set in both New Zealand and England during the 19th century. The plot is about a fifteen year old girl called Hannah Carstairs. She makes her way to England with her twin brother, Jamie, to escape the war between the settlers and the Maori tribes in New Zealand. Their mother, Angelina Cairstairs, had died giving birth to them. Hannah uncovers her mother’s past as she asks questions with perseverance which in turn rewards her with the name of her biological father, Lord Derringford. They find their dad in England who turns out to be a wealthy man but not entirely happy to discover that he has an elder son (Hannah’s twin brother), to whose mother he resents, that is entitled to all his wealth. She runs away with Ronald Carstairs, who was considered a disgrace and a drunk, to New Zealand and escapes her unhappy marriage. Angelina was married to Lord Derringford and was carrying his children, Hannah and Jamie, at the time. Ronald helped her fake her death, hence embarrassing her rich English husband who appears to still hold a grudge against her.
Hannah is a curious, strong-minded teenager who loses her innocence as she uncovers the truth about her mother’s past. Where Hannah discovers truth she also finds lies. She loses her innocence as she finds out that the man, Ronald Carstairs, who claimed to be her dad since infancy had been someone who wished to marry her father’s (Lord Derringford) sister and was refused. Ronald takes his revenge by convincing Angelina, Hannah’s mom, to travel with him to New Zealand and then marries her. Hannah takes this news to heart and becomes less trusting of others which made her feel as though she was the target of things. ‘Papa, Lord Derringford, Mr. Rathbone and my grandfather. Between them they had tried their best to ruin my life’.
Hannah also loses her innocence through betrayal. It took her a while to trust strangers but she began to develop feelings for a man, Mr. Rathbone, whom she thought of as a lover. She finds out at a dinner party that her best friend had died of typhus. She is taken advantage of in her vulnerable state by Mr. Rathbone. He tries to black-mail Hannah’s dad, Lord Derringford, by threatening to expose the fact that Hannah had lost her virginity to him and may be carrying his child which could caused a scandal. Mr. Rathbone tries to negotiate that he would keep quiet in exchange for ten thousand pounds. ‘He had courted me and ruined me all for money. I lift my head to find Mr. Rathbone watching me, a faint smile on the lips that kissed mine with such passion. He would not get away with this. If it killed me, I would thwart him.’
What is your personal response to the theme portrayed in the text?
When ignorance still took hold on Hannah’s earlier adolescence, she had a spark of curiosity and determination which reflected an innocence that allowed her imagination to run free. Like most children their role models are their parents, but when a divorce takes place children tend to shift the blame on themselves. So they envision their parents as perfect. The same concept holds true for Hannah. She has never met her mother and she blames herself because she died giving birth to her and her twin brother, therefore she compensates for this by believing her mother is perfect. She loses her innocence as her child-like thought of a perfect mother is shattered by the reality of her mother’s past. The passage where Hannah is in denial of her mother being spoilt when her Aunt tells her version of Angelina is an example of Hannah’s child-like innocence. She finds it hard to accept anything that may portray her mother as imperfect. ‘Spoiled? Spoiled? How dare you say such a thing of Mama? That is a cruel falsehood. Mama was not spoiled!’
Theme: Loss of Innocence
Title: A Respectable Girl
Author: Fleur Beale
Text Type: Written
What does this text us about the theme of Loss of Innocence?
This text is set in both New Zealand and England during the 19th century. The plot is about a fifteen year old girl called Hannah Carstairs. She makes her way to England with her twin brother, Jamie, to escape the war between the settlers and the Maori tribes in New Zealand. Their mother, Angelina Cairstairs, had died giving birth to them. Hannah uncovers her mother’s past as she asks questions with perseverance which in turn rewards her with the name of her biological father, Lord Derringford. They find their dad in England who turns out to be a wealthy man but not entirely happy to discover that he has an elder son (Hannah’s twin brother), to whose mother he resents, that is entitled to all his wealth. She runs away with Ronald Carstairs, who was considered a disgrace and a drunk, to New Zealand and escapes her unhappy marriage. Angelina was married to Lord Derringford and was carrying his children, Hannah and Jamie, at the time. Ronald helped her fake her death, hence embarrassing her rich English husband who appears to still hold a grudge against her.
Hannah is a curious, strong-minded teenager who loses her innocence as she uncovers the truth about her mother’s past. Where Hannah discovers truth she also finds lies. She loses her innocence as she finds out that the man, Ronald Carstairs, who claimed to be her dad since infancy had been someone who wished to marry her father’s (Lord Derringford) sister and was refused. Ronald takes his revenge by convincing Angelina, Hannah’s mom, to travel with him to New Zealand and then marries her. Hannah takes this news to heart and becomes less trusting of others which made her feel as though she was the target of things. ‘Papa, Lord Derringford, Mr. Rathbone and my grandfather. Between them they had tried their best to ruin my life’.
Hannah also loses her innocence through betrayal. It took her a while to trust strangers but she began to develop feelings for a man, Mr. Rathbone, whom she thought of as a lover. She finds out at a dinner party that her best friend had died of typhus. She is taken advantage of in her vulnerable state by Mr. Rathbone. He tries to black-mail Hannah’s dad, Lord Derringford, by threatening to expose the fact that Hannah had lost her virginity to him and may be carrying his child which could caused a scandal. Mr. Rathbone tries to negotiate that he would keep quiet in exchange for ten thousand pounds. ‘He had courted me and ruined me all for money. I lift my head to find Mr. Rathbone watching me, a faint smile on the lips that kissed mine with such passion. He would not get away with this. If it killed me, I would thwart him.’
What is your personal response to the theme portrayed in the text?
When ignorance still took hold on Hannah’s earlier adolescence, she had a spark of curiosity and determination which reflected an innocence that allowed her imagination to run free. Like most children their role models are their parents, but when a divorce takes place children tend to shift the blame on themselves. So they envision their parents as perfect. The same concept holds true for Hannah. She has never met her mother and she blames herself because she died giving birth to her and her twin brother, therefore she compensates for this by believing her mother is perfect. She loses her innocence as her child-like thought of a perfect mother is shattered by the reality of her mother’s past. The passage where Hannah is in denial of her mother being spoilt when her Aunt tells her version of Angelina is an example of Hannah’s child-like innocence. She finds it hard to accept anything that may portray her mother as imperfect. ‘Spoiled? Spoiled? How dare you say such a thing of Mama? That is a cruel falsehood. Mama was not spoiled!’
September 30, 2019
Found it a bit hard to get into to start with but once I did I enjoyed it!
February 2, 2013
I decided to read this book because Flear Beale is one of my favourite authors and the blurb looked interesting. I was slightly disappointed with the quality because I don't think the author did enough research to find out about society in the peroid of time she wrote about.
This book falls under the category of teaching me about another time in history. I was very interested to learn about the role and daily life of a young Pakeha lady. I knew that women were denied voting rights and had always been inequal to men until Kate Shepard, but I had no idea how unindependent they were! That is why Hannah Carstairs is my favourite character; she thought for herself and did what she wanted.
My favourite quote is, "I can earn my own living. I've done it before and I can do it again." This shows Hannah's independence and her will to not be a stereotypical and seemly young lady, which was expected of her in those times.
This book falls under the category of teaching me about another time in history. I was very interested to learn about the role and daily life of a young Pakeha lady. I knew that women were denied voting rights and had always been inequal to men until Kate Shepard, but I had no idea how unindependent they were! That is why Hannah Carstairs is my favourite character; she thought for herself and did what she wanted.
My favourite quote is, "I can earn my own living. I've done it before and I can do it again." This shows Hannah's independence and her will to not be a stereotypical and seemly young lady, which was expected of her in those times.
October 25, 2010
I expected to extremely enjoy this book, and for the first half I did. I found the characters convincing and the situations they ended up in believable. Unfortunately when Hannah (The main character) went to England I felt she ran away from half of the problem, and that feeling carried on for the rest of the book. I think the two parts (England and New Zealand) seemed to stand apart and not seemed to flow well together although each part is great by itself. I encourage others to read and find their own opinion because I did find it a good book even if this review doesn't portray that very well. I only had high hopes that weren't quite achieved.
March 13, 2011
This is one of those books that does not really fit well with my genre of choice but my friend lend me this so why not give it a try?
The story started well for me, it is actually interesting but later in the story it got well, mediocre. I practically forced myself to finish reading the book so I can return it right away. But if you are a fan of historical events then I am pretty sure you will like this.
The story started well for me, it is actually interesting but later in the story it got well, mediocre. I practically forced myself to finish reading the book so I can return it right away. But if you are a fan of historical events then I am pretty sure you will like this.
April 7, 2013
Love romance? You will RAVISH and FALL IN LOVE with this book.
Love history? You will LOVE and ADORE this book.
Love plot that keeps you reading right to the end? This one's for you.
Fleur Beale is a goddess, I swear. Her beautiful descriptions, vivid relationships and characters, and her art of keeping me guessing has attained deity-level perfection.
Love history? You will LOVE and ADORE this book.
Love plot that keeps you reading right to the end? This one's for you.
Fleur Beale is a goddess, I swear. Her beautiful descriptions, vivid relationships and characters, and her art of keeping me guessing has attained deity-level perfection.
January 14, 2015
I read this book as I think Fleur Beale is such a great author. There is a great storyline, a mystery about the main character's mother, and the tension of land rights between Maori and Pakeha. I enjoyed finding out a bit more about this period of NZ history. The ending of the book was a little weak, but I would still definitely recommend it.
June 4, 2016
I wanted to like this more than I did. I quite like Fleur Beale. She writes some tricky topics at the YA level and does a good job. This read like an improbable pulp romance with a runaway mother, a duke for a father, and to top it all off, a heroine who is independent, smart and feisty and determined never to marry, who falls in love and marries. Sigh.
January 20, 2023
I really really enjoyed the first half of this one, but once the setting changed, it was a bit more meh. Reading about New Zealand history and what life during the New Zealand Wars was like was so fascinating, but the second half just felt rather inauthentic and somewhat rushed. Still overall enjoyable, but I wish it had gone in a different direction.
November 17, 2013
i love the story and all the characters, but the end didn't provide me with much closure as there were a lot of character that where left behind such as her family in new zealand. this is really disappointing since i enjoyed the rest of the book so much
July 29, 2015
Overall I enjoyed this book. However, as another reviewer mentioned,the first half did seem to move very slowly. I found some of the later parts a bit far-fetched. Such as when Hannah and her brother met Lord Derringford.
I would still be keen to read other books by the same author.
I would still be keen to read other books by the same author.
October 14, 2010
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the main character Miss Hannah Castairs and her independant thinking from the women of that time. I really liked it. Was an enjoyable read :D.
August 25, 2015
A really beautiful and touching book that NZers can relate to. A strong and captivating heroine, I love this story
May 8, 2012
This book is a good way to know how it was for the indigienous people of new zealand.
December 6, 2013
I probably would have enjoyed this when I was 10-15, but now just couldn't get on with it.
April 13, 2015
really enjoyed this. great easy read. only took one day as it was rainy outside.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews