A Different Sort of Real: The Diary of Charlotte McKenzie, Melbourne 1918-1919

My Australian Story #5

by Kerry Greenwood

Charlotte McKenzie lives in Melbourne. It is the end of WW1 and as she assists the doctor next door, she finds herself experiencing close at hand the devastating effects of the influenza pandemic, that killed more people than in WW1 itself.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Australia

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Kerry Isabelle Greenwood was an Australian author and lawyer. She wrote many plays and books, most notably a string of historical detective novels centred on the character of Phryne Fisher, which was adapted as the popular television series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. She wrote mysteries, science-fiction, historical fiction, children's stories, and plays. Greenwood earned the Australian women's crime fiction Davitt Award in 2002 for her young adult novel The Three-Pronged Dagger.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is one of my Favourites
Very moving and sad shows how people had look after each other at all ages.

It is also an inpiration to us all when we carn't be bothered doing stuff for our families because this one girl looked after more than five people from her family and yet ddn't complain once even though they had influenza.But on top of that she also worked with the local doctor helping oter poor and sick families for free

[Sally906 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story set during the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918 - this book was originally published in 2001 under the title of A Different Sort of Real: The Diary of Charlotte McKenzie, Melbourne 1918-1919 which I read many years ago. Didn’t pick up that I had read it because of the change of title.

Now we all know by now that the Spanish Flu killed millions after WWI - and COVID-19 is doing its best to break that record. But COVID and the flu are two different viruses and can’t be compared. What CAN be compared is how people pull together to help each other out. When things get bad, people go above and beyond to help their neighbours.

I see this happening today.

[Molly]

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

[Jayne Downes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good historical fiction account of the Spanish Influenza set in Melbourne told in diary form by teenager Charlotte. She wants to be a nurse and gets to help a Doctor on his rounds tending to those afflicted by the pandemic. Charlotte's father who served in France during the war is suffering from shell shock which has made him very difficult to live with and a burden on the family. A worthy read for young adults told from a female perspective.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought this was a great book, it was really interesting talking about the outbreak of flu and how it was treated. it was good seeing from the girls point of view.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disease knows no barriers. No justice. No fairness. No mercy. It cannot be reasoned with. It must be fought. And I am going to fight it. — Charlotte McKenzie

Warnings: Character death

I really enjoyed this, reading it in two sittings over about 18 hours (including ugly hours of the am fu** insomnia). I liked the writing style and format, a diary was a perfect choice for talking about the 'Plague of the Spanish Lady' aka The Spanish Flu. There are some very clear flaws if you choose to think about the rules given to Charlotte McKenzie by Dr Banes but it is worth saying that the intended audience for Greenwood's book is much younger than me.

Charlotte is gorgeous, she is the kind of inspiring character that is needed in realistic style works for this demographic. She knows what she wants and is willing to fight for it. But she isn't perfect, her father suffers from shell shock (what we call PTSD) she is not able to cope with him, with the loss of her father, he is not the father she knew and it is draining her (a feeling I know well). As the oldest daughter (16 I think) in a mid-size family, she does a lot of housework and will not continue schooling beyond her current level. Her best friend, Florence, is the daughter of the local doctor, Florence sneaks Charlotte one of her father's textbooks to aid her in caring for her father. Charlotte is caught and impresses Dr Banes with her intelligence. This becomes useful when Dr Banes needs a new assistant and asks to take on Charlotte. This is her foray into medicine, becoming a nurse to those who need it during the pandemic. She meets and aids a variety of characters from the three gypsies to returned soldiers to essentially orphaned children. All of which help her develop. Her development over a fairly short space of time is remarkable.

Greenwood does a fairly good just of pulling the reader into the closing moments of WWI and the Spanish Flu pandemic. The expected experiences and class differences are explained well, in language that is readable. She doesn't use modern language where it can be avoided. Honestly the more you know about this time period the more you will appreciate this work as a youngling or an adult. This is not the first Kerry Greenwood book I have read, she is famed for her Phyrne Fisher novels, which I have read. The writing style has been correctly altered to fit the demographic while maintaining a strong female voice and that want to exceed societal limits. Charlotte has some similarities to Miss Fish, she feels like a younger version of Phyrne but poor. Maybe more like Miss Fish's friend Dr Elizabeth MacMillan, which feels very much like what Charlotte is aiming for. I can see Charlotte McKenzie becoming vehemently passionate about the care for people, especially women even if here it is the downtrodden.

Everyone on Curlow Street was asleep except for Curly, who was sitting on the front porch with a tall man.
'A sheila!' said the man, grabbing for my arm. I was affronted, and so was Curly. He swung his crutch around and stood up.
'She's not a shiela, you blank of a blank blank,' he snarled. 'She's a nurse, and if you don't let go of her I'll blanking break your arm.'
'Sorry, Miss,' stammered the man—one of our patients, I saw. 'Meant no offence, Miss.'
'None taken,' I said, one of Mum's phrases. — Patient, Curly and Charlotte (Curly is one of the soldiers met fairly in Charlotte's helping Dr Banes)

Read for POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2023. Filling prompt #34 "A historical fiction book"
This is set in 1918-19 as the Spanish Flu reaches Melbourne. It was quite popular in Australia, especially in school libraries during the covid pandemic. We had some of the longest lockdowns in the world, I think only some Chinese provinces had more time locked down than us.

A representative gif:

My apologies for this messy and probably useless review

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

While intended as a children's book, I found it readable and moving. The diary style and simple language make it accessible to children, but the themes of damage to people from the war and illness and death from the flu mean that children would need to be at the right emotional age to read it.
An easy introduction to that piece of history and always good to read a book set in Australia.
Highly recommended.

[Julie Kleehammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have just finished reading this book leaning on the kitchen bench. I should be washing the dishes. I really enjoy Kerry Greenwood's writing and recommend this book. It has piqued an interest in this time, just post WW1, absolutely shocking to imagine, a pandemic that wiped out more people than the war. An easy read, aimed at young adults, but interesting and enjoyable. I feel secure in the authors research and her easy way of telling me about history. Thanks Kerry Greenwood!

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting as it was based in a time I have not read much about before. Charlotte is a girl with a lot going for her and a strong will to be her best self and give back to society. She is a great role model for young girls.

[JusMe · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I started this book I was hooked and drawn into it. I absolutely loved it.

“Disease knows no barriers. No justice. No fairness. No mercy. It cannot be reasoned with. It must be fought.”

[Eleanor]

I thought it was very good. I liked how she described/ but no in detail about all the patients and medical procedures.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great kids read, teaches history whilst also tells a great story. Greenwood is a wonderful writer. Bring on Miss Fisher again!

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of my favourite 'My story' books. It's is heartfelt, well written and extremely relevant and fitting to the time. A favourite of mine, I say.

[Eliza Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing book. I loved how resilient Charlotte was.

[Joy Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to learn history and perhaps the only way that we hear about the influenza and that it did kill more people than the First World War. I enjoyed also how differently women were treated to men! The poverty lack of medical equipment and as for the mayor thank goodness he had a sensible wife knowing quite well that it may cost them their lives I loved it and will look for some more books by this author

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is wonderful. It's written as a diary over a year, but from events that spanned multiple years. It is well written and takes you on a journey back in our history, complete with clarification of historical facts at the end. Highly recommended reading of our Australian history and where we have come from, and what life was like for our elderly folk in their younger years or their parents.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this on my bookshelf in the middle f the 2020 pandemic and knew this was the time to read it as it gives an insight to life a century ago during the last great pandemic, the Spanish flu. Simply written as a young girl's diary it gives a good view into that time of the pandemic and families struggling with traumatised servicemen returned from the Great War.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to read of the past pandemic. Although it’s been 100 years, the ideas and emotions still ring true. I enjoyed reading it and I’m so glad that the onion soup has been replaced by better foods and medicines.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book while clearing out my books. I first read this book around 15+ years ago. Given what is currently going on in the world, I thought it would be a good read as its about Melbourne during the time of the Spanish Flu. Great read.

[Zoe Brittain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book in 2021 has me feeling many things lol

[Sarah Thornton]

Hits different in 2022

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, one of the best I've read. The story is based on true events so as well as a good stoey you learn some Australian history.

[Isla Wilkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Neri ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since reading this book in year 5 i've been obbssessed. I am really excited to re-read it again as I loved this book so much. This is a seriously underrated book.

[Mia Greatbatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was obsessed with this when I was younger!!! Such great way of telling this moment of history, and I have read it over and over again!

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It turned out that I'd already read this book (and owned it!). The publisher reprinted the book with a different cover and title (I hate when they do that). Previously, the book was called, "A Different Sort of Real". Thankfully, I'd read it ages ago so I didn't remember much of the plot and could enjoy it a second time. The story is in diary format (like all the "My Australian Story" books, which I've found really annoying) and tells of one girl's experiences during Australia's 1919 Spanish Flu epidemic. For learning a little about the time period, particularly in Australia, the book is quite good. There's also a short information section at the back of the book, however I felt it could have included more information abou the Spanish Flu itself. Interestingly enough, this reprint includes a very short information section about the current covid pandemic, comparing it to the Spanish Flu pandemic. Overall, a pretty good read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte lives in 1918/1919 Melbourne. Her father has returned from the war suffering from shell shock, so her mother has to work hard to look after Charlotte and her three younger siblings. Charlotte finishes the equivalent of Year 10 and takes a job with the local doctor to help make ends meet, and to further her ambition of one day being a nurse and ultimately a doctor. And then the Spanish flu strikes.

Reading this during a pandemic, and living just around the corner from the setting, this was a very relevant read. It's short, interesting and simple. Possibly too simple for an adult novel, having been written as the diary of a 14 or 15 year old girl, but I still enjoyed it.

3.5 stars rounded up.

[Read Me Another Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 📖

Charlotte is a young girl and it is 1918. She is the oldest of 4 children and her father has just come back from World War I.

In the middle of the aftermath of war, Charlotte becomes a doctor’s assistant and starts to see patients coming in with the same symptoms.

This is the Spanish Flu. A pandemic.

Summary 📖

As we are currently in a pandemic, I enjoyed reading this story as it was well written but extremely sad.

The last worldwide pandemic before COVID-19 was the Spanish Flu and it’s crazy to see what could happen.

Suggestion 📖

This is a young adult fiction book for teenagers. I enjoyed it and would recommend.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kerry Greenwood (author of the Phryne Fisher and Corrinna Chapman books) wrote this in 2001. Its been republished twice under different names, this year titled CONTAGION. Its a young adult book so it'san easy quick read, but enjoyable and eye opening. Set during the pandemic of 1919 in Melbourne, it's the diary of a young teen and her time helping the local doctor, her view of her fathers PTSD, and the community around them as they live through the pandemic. It gives insight into the previous pandemic, and historic times on post Ww1. Can recommend it for 10years old and upwards.

[Ari (Head in a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this back when I was 10 or 11, several times. As someone who always aspired to be in the medical field, I loved this. For a girl of the era the book was set in wanting to do something like that was so good to see. Also, I love when we get familiar with Australian backgrounds!
The book delivers an interesting look on what Melbourne was like back after WW1.