Ming and Flo Fight for the Future

The Girls Who Changed the World #1

by Jackie French

An empowering and exhilarating look at the girls who went before us, and the way they shaped the world.


Twelve-year-old Ming Qong is convinced that girls must have changed the world, even if they are rarely mentioned in history books.

So when Ming gets the chance to go back in time, she imagines herself changing destinies from a glittering palace or an explorer's ship. Instead, she ends up in Australia in 1898, living a tough life as Flo Watson on a drought-stricken farm.

Luckily, Ming is rescued by Flo's Aunt McTavish. Wealthy Aunt McTavish belongs to Louisa Lawson's Suffragist Society, who are desperately and courageously fighting for women's rights. And Ming is determined to get involved, to make a difference.

But change is never easy, so how can one girl change the world?

From one of Australia's favourite writers comes an inspiring new series for all the young people who will, one day, change the world.

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Historical, Australia, Audiobook, Childrens, Fantasy

288 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Jackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was 1898 Australia when twelve year old Ming Qong travelled from current day Sydney back to outback Australia and the harsh realities of life, drought, being poor with little food. Transformed into Flo Watson, a girl her own age, Ming was with her/Flo's mother on the drought-stricken farm, where her father was never there, off shearing, and when he returned he was abusive, demanding everything be done for him, after he'd drunk his wages away. The day Ma was bitten by a deadly brown snake, which was disposed of by the half dingo pup Ming had named Bob, was the day Flo's life changed. Writing to Aunt McTavish, Ma's sister, in Sydney, she was soon travelling back to Sydney in their horse and cart, with the servants and her aunt keeping her company.

Ming only had 42 days in 1898, due to the Time drops she'd taken with Herstory's help, and she needed to do something to help the women of those days, change the future. Aunt McTavish was part of the Suffragist Society, run by Louisa Lawson, Henry Lawson's mother, and Ming and a new friend joined to move the advancement of women forward. Women's rights were so important - they needed to be able to vote. But would Ming be able to do anything to help?

Ming and Flo Fight for the Future is the 1st in The Girls Who Changed the World series by Aussie author Jackie French and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read! Jackie French is an exceptional author, always doing lots of research, making her stories authentic, whether they be adults or children's stories. Although this is aimed at young teens, I still recommend it to all readers who enjoy historical fiction.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A magical and empowering story of Ming, a twelve-year-old who knows that girls have changed the world, and travels through time to 1898 to a drought-stricken Australian farm.

[Emily Dennehy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good story for kids about the impact women had on Australia's Federation and how important the suffragette movement was. Reminded a lot of the Matilda Saga and Miss Lily, just rewritten for a younger audience. It really encapsulated what Jackie French writes about (especially with the time travel element and the eras focused on). Really enjoyed it and I think kids will love this book. 4.5 stars

[Annaleise Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this middle grade time slip tale filled with all the wonderful little details of the past like Jackie French always excels at. Ming is a likeable character and the Australia of 1898 is a fascinating setting - the hardship of drought-stricken farm life, long carriage journeys and dust storms, the way women and girls were treated, the fight for federation and women's suffrage, etc. The novel cleverly ended with Ming being thrown back into the past again, so I'm looking forward to reading the sequel soon!

[Jodie Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle grade 3⭐️ Historical Fiction
I read this book with my 9 year old daughter and we both had different reading experiences.

Ming, a 12 year old who is fascinated by history is given the chance to travel back in time to experience a moment in history instead of simply read about it. She steps into the shoes of Flo, a Chinese Australian girl living in the harsh conditions of a farm during a drought. While in this new time, Ming has the opportunity to watch the Suffragist Society and invests in helping them as they try to change the experiences for women.

As an adult I really enjoyed learning about an aspect of our Australian history which I hadn’t come across before. Ming and Flo explored the experience of Chinese Australians in 1898 and the path of the women’s rights movement. It opened my eyes to the voices who have shaped our Australian history and those who have been silenced so we don’t hear of their experiences.

I thought it was a great way to introduce history in an interesting way to my daughter. Unfortunately, the story wasn’t engaging enough for my daughter who found it quite dry and despite the opportunities to discuss the book as we read she just wasn’t interested.

I think it’s a hard task to make history interesting to kids, who are usually immersed in trying to understand their current experiences and how they fit into them. Hopefully this book is enjoyed by others in the same way that I enjoyed it.

[Isabel Vanlint · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a fantastic middle grade book. Such an excellent way to include Australian history into a great story, which had me hooked

[pooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I really didn’t care much in the middle it was kind of boring and I also wasn’t very attached to the other characters. But at the end it was kinda good tbh.
:3

[Denise Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://denisenewtonwrites.com/?p=3505

One of the (many) things I love about Jackie French’s historical fiction is that she effortlessly shines a light on frequently overlooked people and events from history, without veering into tokenistic territory. Her characters represent people who really were there, but who are so often hidden from view in traditional histories and stories. Her new Girls Who Changed the World series for middle grade readers is a good example.

This series will be enjoyed by those who are interested in stories from Australian history told from the viewpoint of those who are usually forgotten.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read by Jackie French. The concept of the book is illuminating and sharing a side of history that isn’t always considered. Being set in Australia, the story aligns with many educational themes that are a perfect fit with the target audience of 10 year olds or older. As a reader you experience a time around the first referendum that was denied and then the beginning of the suffragette movement. I would love to see this book into school libraries and into classrooms as well. I’m looking forward to the next book.

[Sheree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I first fell in love with Jackie French's storytelling in Somewhere Around the Corner, where I gained much insight into the Great Depression. Ming And Flo Fight for the Future was sort of along the same lines. Ming wonders why the significant impact that women must have made is never talked about in the history books. Magical being called Herstory appears and sends Ming back in time as Flo to learn how hard people had it in Australia in the late 19th century, and to see how girls and women had changed the future.

It was a really interesting premise, but one that I think kids will struggle to connect with. Flo's mum dies pretty awfully at the beginning after reading about domestic abuse. While this is historically accurate, I'm not sure it's a topic all students will want to hear about and teachers will need to be careful with this one.

There's a cute animal companion which is always a tick for me, and Aunt McTavish is brusque but clever and caring. I liked the servants as well and Emily was an instant favourite.

Ming/Flo is given an arbitraty six weeks to experience life in NSW for a girl in this period, but the book moves so quickly and chunks of time are often written away, that I didn't really feel the passage of time other than what we were told had passed.

I did enjoy the girls petitioning and getting to feel like they made a difference, but then Herstory got cranky and said Ming's contribution had meant nothing which seemed to contradict the whole message of the book.

The ending before Ming returned to her own time made me think of Annie, and I did like reading that the characters left behind went on to live successful and full lives.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and would read it with an upper primary class after checking for triggers, and with lots of time for discussion, as there are so many aspects of this story that can be expanded in discussion and inquiry.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awsome story.Every choice changes the world,

[Geni Kuckhahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Ming Qong has noticed something alarming! According to the history books she's been reading in school, girls haven't really played a part in changing the future. But that can't be right; girls must have changed the world! Ming, like most of us, would like to know why there are so few accounts of the women throughout history who changed the world.
So, when Herstory appears and casts Ming back into 1898 rural NSW with the help of a few magical Time drops, Ming is in for a whirlwind adventure. She takes over the life and body of Flo Watson, a young girl living a tough life on a drought-ridden farm. When tragedy strikes, Flo is rescued by her wealthy Aunt McTavish and taken to live in Sydney. Ming learns a great deal about how young girls were treated and even more about how ethnic minorities were perceived. She also learns that early "Australia" was not as whitewashed as the history books would have us believe. Ming's journey back in time takes her to the heart of the movement to federate the Australian states and give women the vote. Ming is determined to get involved, to make a difference. But change is never easy. So, how can one girl change the world?
The Girls Who Changed the World #1: Ming and Flo Fight for the Future is an empowering and exhilarating look at the girls who went before us and the way they shaped the world.
From one of Australia's favourite writers - the magnificent Jackie French - comes an inspiring new series for all the young people who will, one day, change the world. With books such as Pennies for Hitler, A Waltz for Matilda and last year's Night Ride Into Danger, French once again reminds us why she is the queen of realistic historical fiction. She has an enviable knack for presenting the less savoury parts of history - such as poverty, oppression, and exploitation - in bite-sized pieces that younger readers can easily swallow.
French, through her protagonist, asks the critical questions that we should all be asking: Where are the women in the history books? Where are our First Nations people? Why is it that the wealthy white men get to dictate our history? Who is fighting for change? In her elegant, non-confrontational way, French is doing just that.
The historically accurate details, inclusive cast of characters and acknowledgement of our poorly recorded history make this the kind of book parents and teachers want their children to read, while the powerhouse protagonist and her gung-ho adventures make Ming's story a book children want to read. Luckily, the next book in the series, The Girls Who Changed the World #2, Ming and Marie and the Spies Who Fought for Freedom, is due for release in September 2022, so fans won't have long to wait for the next instalment.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. An absolutely beautiful read of a young Chinese-Vietnamese Australian girl, Ming, travelling back in time to Sydney in 1898 by some otherworldly god I guess, Herstory, where Ming is transported into another Chinese girl’s shoes where she has the responsibility of having to “change the world” for women during the colonisation of Australia. Ming being in Flo’s place proves to be a very tough and traumatising challenge for this literal child that at first I wondered why she had to have this big pressure on her, but then you also realise that that’s the pressure put onto every woman, especially that of non-British descent, during that time. Seeing an interpretation of Australia’s colonisation from the point of view of Ming and the unbelievably powerful and strong women she meets (chapter 14 was so good??) was so beautiful, because not many stories told from a woman’s perspective are recorded and taught about compared to that of men’s stories, one of the (few) points I agree with Herstory on.

And seeing Ming, who doesn’t have a mother in her life, got to experience having multiple motherly figures through Flo was heartbreaking and beautiful. All the women in this book are so incredibly admirable. They recognise the treatment of women during that time to be unfair, and truly fight for their rights and voices to be heard and not being what a man’s expectation of women is.

‘Well, you ain't a lady!' shouted the man Aunt McTavish had stuck with the hatpin, now trying to scrape muck from his clothes and whiskers. ‘You got shoulders like a navvy!'
‘Why shouldn't a woman have strong shoulders and good muscles?' Mrs Lawson called back. 'It is women who do the hardest work in the world, creating your homes and your children, then caring for them!'

Like? Wow. We really get taught that all women when they didn’t have rights just succumbed to men and their expectations, which yes, they had to do often to survive, but I really expect that they were fighting for themselves long before it was socially acceptable to do so just like in this book.

‘Ming stared at the woman before her. She had expected a slim graceful figure to accompany the name The Dawn. Mrs Lawson was taller than any of the men outside and her arms even more muscular.’

Fucking Queen shit.

[IvyZuzu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a flawless book that I personally enjoyed a lot. The description and setting that was introduced was very realistic considering it was 1898. When Ming meets Herstory, she is transported into the past into the body of Flo. Their father works as a shearsman and does not come home often. When he does, he is always drunk and shows violence towards Ming/Flo and her mother. When Ming/Flo’s mother dies from a snakebite, her auntie offers to look after them. Will Aunt McTavish make it in time before her father does?

My favourite part was when Ming quickly names her dog Bob, as she hadn’t really thought about naming him before. Bob is quite a cute and funny name and suits the dog perfectly.

I would strongly recommend this book to 10-15 year olds as the story is quite complex but the storyline is fun. My only thought would be to make the ending less brutal. Ming’s brother, Taun, dies unexpectedly by an explosion, given that he wasn’t a main character in this book, he should have stayed alive a little longer. Otherwise, this book was flawless.

[Caspette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic historical fiction for kids that highlights female historical figures from Australia’s past.

Ming wants to learn more about woman’s contribution to Australia’s past. She is given an opportunity to travel back and live Flo Watsons life in the 1890s on a remote farm in Australia’s outback. While I’m the past Ming gets to learn what life was like and meet the historical figure of Louisa Lawson who was a woman’s suffragist, founder of a feminist newspaper that employed only women, and generally someone who made men cry (literally and figuratively I would think).

Jackie French is really good at Australian Historical fiction that focuses on parts of our history that doesn’t get much attention and this series focuses on women.

Myself and the kids (12 and 9) really enjoyed the story and talked about the historical events and people that were mentioned.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about Australian History and liked historical fiction.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this Aussie timeslip novel about Ming, a young Chinese girl, who wants to know more about women in history and how they might have changed the world.

She gets what she wishes for when she meets HER-story, a rather intimidating character, who enables her to travel back to Australia in 1898 and experience life on a drought-stricken farm, living as young Flo Watson. Ming doesn't really understand how this will help her see how a woman might have changed history until she meets Flo's Aunt McTavish. Aunt McTavish is involved in the Suffragette movement and Ming is desperate to get involved.

This is a really lovely way of looking at history from a different perspective and there will be students in Year 6 and above who will love this. The ending leaves things open for a next in series.

[Hazel Jamieson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the book was really good and I like that it teaches feminist history to kids and shows that Australia has always been more diverse than the history books suggest. I also think that the book flattens the feminist movement a bit by tying it to the upper class and by getting too wrapped up in the lives of the upper class. It was not uncommon for feminists of the era to wear pants and I would have liked Aunt McTavish as someone who is different from other people of high class to be someone who somewhat rejected the societal norms of the day to a greater extent. I also wish she was a lesbian because a lot of early feminists were lesbians and it would have been good representation. Otherwise it's just a pretty good kids' book

[Emie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I’m an adult reading a children’s book, I found it very enjoyable and would recommend it to any person age 8+, especially young girls. It’s empowering and honest and educates readers about history, focusing on the suffrage movement in Australia in the early 20th century, but also drops quick historical facts about other matters too. It’s cute, fast paced and a quick read. It was my first Jackie French book and I am now eager to read her other books too, whether it be ones for children but especially the ones for adults, as I appreciate the versatility she has and well-researched writing she produces.

[Judy Wollin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ming sits bored in history class and wishes she could see what really happened. She asks the question, where were the women in history?
A vision appears, and Ming snatches time travel drops and finds herself in the late 1890s in rural drought-affected Australia. She’s Flo now, and her mother has just died of a snake bite. How does Flo/Ming survive? What does she discover about history?
I enjoyed the historical factors that Flo learned about and contributed to.
Recommended for Readers aged 8-14 years.

[Kerissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was such a light, fun read but also highlighted some important issues regarding the Suffragrist and Temperance movements in Australia. I felt grateful, empowered and inspired reading this book, and I can imagine many other people would feel the same when reading it. This book is aimed at 10 years plus and would make a great addition to the classroom. We can’t wait to the read the next book in the series!

[Amalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ming is sitting in history class, hearing all about how the acts of men changed the world. But surely there were women involved too? Why do we not hear their stories? Time pauses and Herstory appears to provide Ming the opportunity to observe the story of a girl who changes the world. When Ming takes too many time stones, she is hurled back in time, not to observe but to participate. Can she ensure that she changes the world enough that her life is the same when she returns?

This is a clever middle grade story which I found quite interesting. I do wish there was further information about the events of history and organisations that are mentioned or guidance on where to find that information. This book is such a great opportunity to educate on the incredible impact women have made across history and I would have loved to see it pointing readers in the right direction to find even more.

I highly recommend this to any middle grade readers of all ages. Occasionally I found the writing a little clunky, but I think that may have been due to being unfamiliar with the author’s particular writing style.

3.5/5

[Chenoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. Love Jackie French's way of combining history with fiction in a way that is genuinely enthralling for every age. Add in the emphasis on 'Herstory' and the contributions of women throughout history and my feminist soul is so happy. The little details really show how the world was different in the 1800s and allow us to appreciate not just how far we've come, but that we still have a way to go too.

[Emma McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cracking time-slip tale that transports our modern day protagonist to 1890s Australia and the local suffragette movement. Provides a fascinating insight into Australian women’s history (or ‘herstory’) and the fight for equal rights. Trigger warning for the death of a parent and implied domestic abuse early in the novel.

[Jennifer Ayre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book deserves to be in all schools, its fantastic! The idea is great, and I love how there are so many educational themes throughout. I think it will be really well received by the targeted age.
3.5*

[Meretini · Rating 4 out of 5]

First audiobook of Jackie Frenchs that my 10 year old and I listened to and she really liked the book and the story. It was such a great read for my daughter’s curiosity and gave a new perspective for what and how she sees heroism among women and girls alike.

[Zsofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Jackie French's children's fiction books. This series is so lovely and brings light to such an essential issue: the barely audible voice of women and girls throughout history. I highly recommend her to my fellow girls, women (and men!!) in Australia and around the world.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

this first book of the series did a marvellous job at getting me hooked. The themes of women's suffrage, Australian history and adapting to the pressures of travel were written from time (1890s) I didn't know a lot about.

[Siobhan Roulston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable time-slip book reminding us of the important role women played in the suffragette movement in Australia.

[Gemma Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous time travel book, showing the women's perspective of life in 1898ish. A great recommendation for young readers who are empowered by stories about women and girls.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Ming Qong questions her history teacher on the people they study, surely there are girls must have changed the world and contributed significantly to history. Her query is answered by a mysterious shadowy presence - "Herstory" - the sister of "History" who gives Ming the chance to go back in time. She imagines herself changing destinies from a glittering palace or an explorer’s ship but her new reality is much harsher as she ends up in Australia in 1898, living a very hard and downtrodden life as Flo Watson battling with her mother to survive on a drought-stricken farm, while her drunken and violent father is away trying to make money. When Flo's mother dies from snake bite Ming/Flo contact an estranged aunt in Sydney at a time of huge political upheaval and part of the movement to federate the Australian states and give women the vote.

French deftly weaves historical social and political issues into the highly engaging story as Ming learns a lot about how young girls lived in early New South Wales, poverty, the racist treatment of ethnic minorities and how girls and women contributed to the important work of nation building - important work that the history books do not reflect.

Ming and Flo Fight for the Future, the first in the series The Girls Who Changed the World champions the unknown and unrecognised females, the times they lived in and the way their actions shaped the world. A perfect fit for acclaimed author Jackie French who is brilliant at bringing our history to life, presenting protagonists with depth and credibility and is also a master of time slip fiction. An excellent read for young readers interested in Australian history. The audio performance is excellent , capturing different dialects, racial and class intonations and helps bring the time period and social intricacies to life.