Tilda

by Sue Whiting, Martina Heiduczek (Illustrator)

You have a big heart. And people blessed with a big heart have a choice to make. Do they fill that heart with light and love or do they fill it with darkness and hate? This is your choice to make, Matilda. Make it wisely.

Tilda Moss refuses to believe her papa has abandoned her and left her, alone and orphaned, in Brushwood Convent and Home for Girls, no matter what Sister Agatha says. A promise is a promise and Papa promised he would be back for her as soon as he returns from the war.

But Tilda is convinced the dreadful Sister Agatha is out to get her. Why is she so hateful all the time? She insists that Matilda declare to all at the convent that she is an orphan. She is not an orphan and she will never say it! Something is amiss and Tilda and her best friend Annie need to find out what before it is too late.

Genres: Historical Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2022

Reviews

[Lish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting this book to be the gem that it was, but it moved me greatly. Tilda is very strong and inspirational and I loved the role her inner voice/mother had. Annie passing made me actually cry, those two girls have my entire heart

[Kim Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this Australian historical fiction middlegrade book. It tells the story of Matilda Moss, left at an orphanage by her father who goes off to fight in the war. Matilda is terribly mistreated by the head nun and no one can understand why. Matilda and Annie become firm friends and Matilda assures Annie that one day they’ll be real sisters.
Unfortunately plans don’t always come to fruition and Tilda has to flee the orphanage in order to find and reunite with her father.
This was such a fantastic story, well written and researched by the author.

Highly recommend for ages 8-12

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely middle grade historical fiction set in Adelaide.

[Annaleise Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this gorgeous historical fiction novel about Matilda Moss - "Tilda" - a non-orphan living in an Adelaide orphanage in the early 1900s. Tilda is certain her papa will come to get her when he returns from the Boer War, but why does the cruel head nun at Brushwood Convent and Home for Girls keep insisting that Tilda's father has abandoned her? Although this story is very sad in parts, the heartwarming central friendship and thread of hope running through the book make it a great pick for mature middle grade readers who appreciate some emotional highs and lows in their reading choices!

[Wendy Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, warm-hearted historical fiction about grim times; this middle grade novel follows motherless Tilda and the mystery of why Sister Agatha is so determined to keep her in the orphanage even when Tilda is sure her father has returned from the war. Like Tilda, despite the grief and tribulations, the reader never quite loses hope...

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very gripping. There's a long stretch that's quite grim - to be expected given the topic is abuse in institutions. Grade 5 and up will get a lot out of this.

[Dianne Wolfer]

Beautiful.

[Dymocks Indooroopilly]

Based in Australia! Tilda is left at an orphanage by her father - she is a very strong girl who believes her father will return. Sister Agatha the nun opposes her. A good read! Ages 9-11.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an adult, this story had me enthralled from go to whoa, and I went through the whole gamut of emotions - joy, despair, love, hate, surprise, disbelief, hope and fear. An excellently written book.