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A Girl Like Me
Their lives couldn't be more different, but Emmie can't help liking Bertha Schippan. She's funny and knowing and wild, and she distracts Emmie from the monotony of farm life in their tiny, isolated community. But, as Emmie soon discovers, Bertha has secrets. Terrible secrets.
This heartbreaking story is based on a real crime that took place more than a century ago, capturing headlines all around Australia.
This heartbreaking story is based on a real crime that took place more than a century ago, capturing headlines all around Australia.
305 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 1, 2010
A Girl Like Me is about Emmie, a 16-year-old girl living on a farm in an isolated community near Adelaide in 1901. She's just finished school, and when she's not helping out on the farm, she's writing a novel - inspired by her favourite book, Wuthering Heights. Then, a German girl from a poor but hardworking family, Bertha, is hired by her parents to help at the farm. Emmie is at first shocked by Bertha's wildness, but she can't help liking her - she's funny, and wise for her age (three years Emmie's junior). But Bertha also has terrible secrets, which she confides in Emmie - secrets that, if revealed, will have unthinkable consequences.
Oh, wow. YA Historical fiction isn't usually to my tastes, but this was brilliant. I think it was the realism everything in this book had that really appealed to me - Emmie wasn't perfect, or particularly special, but the book was written in such a way that it felt as if she were really the one writing it. You know those great contemporary YA novels that seem like they're about real teenagers? Emmie felt like a real teenager. Just one living in 1902.
I think about the first third was slightly slow, as we warmed into the story, into the lives of Emmie and Betha and those around them. If you pick this up and find yourself a bit bored through these pages, I strongly encourage you to keep reading - Emmie really grew on me as I read, and the story picked up greatly midway through. By the time I finished reading I felt emotionally drained (which, for me, tells me that the author did a very good job). I did think the excerpts from Emmie's novel didn't add anything to the narrative, and I often found myself skipping over them (they made up very little of the entire book, however, so it didn't bother me as I read).
I don't want to say much more about the story or the characters, because I'm worried I'll spoil it for you (I think it'll be a whole lot better if you come to the book not knowing what's going to happen). All I'll add is - if you like YA historical fiction (especially that inspired by true crime, or set in Australia), I strongly recommend this book.
Oh, wow. YA Historical fiction isn't usually to my tastes, but this was brilliant. I think it was the realism everything in this book had that really appealed to me - Emmie wasn't perfect, or particularly special, but the book was written in such a way that it felt as if she were really the one writing it. You know those great contemporary YA novels that seem like they're about real teenagers? Emmie felt like a real teenager. Just one living in 1902.
I think about the first third was slightly slow, as we warmed into the story, into the lives of Emmie and Betha and those around them. If you pick this up and find yourself a bit bored through these pages, I strongly encourage you to keep reading - Emmie really grew on me as I read, and the story picked up greatly midway through. By the time I finished reading I felt emotionally drained (which, for me, tells me that the author did a very good job). I did think the excerpts from Emmie's novel didn't add anything to the narrative, and I often found myself skipping over them (they made up very little of the entire book, however, so it didn't bother me as I read).
I don't want to say much more about the story or the characters, because I'm worried I'll spoil it for you (I think it'll be a whole lot better if you come to the book not knowing what's going to happen). All I'll add is - if you like YA historical fiction (especially that inspired by true crime, or set in Australia), I strongly recommend this book.
July 28, 2012
Very good and gripping! Raced it through in one sitting. I was not expecting it to go in the direction it did, I thought it was just going to be a sort of domestic drama about Emmie's relationship with Bertha and her family. I suppose I didn't read the blurb very closely, but it came as such as shock to me when
The historical setting was extremely well done - I know it's difficult to get the right balance, I've read a lot of historical YA fiction that's dry and overly factual, and even more that's been modernized to make it more appealing to a modern audience, especially in terms of dialogue and people's thoughts and attitudes. If I read one more novel about a girl born hundreds of years ago with miraculously enlightened attitudes to women's rights, slavery, medicine, homosexuality, etc etc....! But on the other hand, I get why it's hard - how can you make your character likeable if she believes things that we now know are wrong, racist or unfair? Anyway, my point is, Emmie was believable as a 16 year old girl from 1902 but still very relatable and likeable, and the development of her relationship with Bertha was well done too.
The historical setting was extremely well done - I know it's difficult to get the right balance, I've read a lot of historical YA fiction that's dry and overly factual, and even more that's been modernized to make it more appealing to a modern audience, especially in terms of dialogue and people's thoughts and attitudes. If I read one more novel about a girl born hundreds of years ago with miraculously enlightened attitudes to women's rights, slavery, medicine, homosexuality, etc etc....! But on the other hand, I get why it's hard - how can you make your character likeable if she believes things that we now know are wrong, racist or unfair? Anyway, my point is, Emmie was believable as a 16 year old girl from 1902 but still very relatable and likeable, and the development of her relationship with Bertha was well done too.
July 3, 2016
Based on true events, this book is set at the turn of the twentieth century in a small, country town in South Australia. Sixteen year old Emmie wants to be a writer and is inspired by her favourite author, Emily Bronte. From a well-to-do family, Emmie is frustrated by the limitations placed on her until Bertha, a young, world-wise German girl, comes to work for Emmie's mother. Gradually, despite their vast differences, Emmie and Bertha become friends until a terrible tragedy occurs leaving the little township of Towitt reeling.
While the book is a bit slow in parts, it was still an enjoyable read. I particularly liked the literary quotes at the start of each chapter, especially those from 'What a Young Woman Ought to Know' by Mary Wood Allen. While there are some dark issues underlining this book including sexual abuse, mental illness and murder, the book is also tinged with humour. Emmie is a delightful character who, through Bertha, learns what it means to be a true friend.
While the book is a bit slow in parts, it was still an enjoyable read. I particularly liked the literary quotes at the start of each chapter, especially those from 'What a Young Woman Ought to Know' by Mary Wood Allen. While there are some dark issues underlining this book including sexual abuse, mental illness and murder, the book is also tinged with humour. Emmie is a delightful character who, through Bertha, learns what it means to be a true friend.
October 19, 2012
I really enjoyed this story, even though I already knew the outcome - ie. what happened to Bertha, and at whose hand. But it was still such a lovely read. The tone of the writing was so gentle and engaging, I loved Emmie's voice! She was a delightful narrator and I loved reading her efforts at writing a romance novel ;) The historical detail and setting were just gorgeous as well, you could really *see* the small town of Towitta and the harsh South Australian summer. The supporting characters were all so vividly described as well; I'd say this had the feel of a series that I was well-versed in and not just a stand-alone book. Just lovely.
August 16, 2017
This is my first foray into Young Adult historical fiction, and it's for study purposes, but - surprisingly - reading this book was akin to reading a good adult fiction book and I found myself completely absorbed by the story. I have vague memories of hearing of the "Schippan" case, as the newspapers referred to it, and the telling of the tale through the eyes of Emmie Booker, a bright aspiring writer and something of a "fish out of water" in her setting, gives it a fictional feel, despite its grounding in a true story. It is remarkably Australian; it paints the dry Murray flats as brutally hot and dry, arid and unforgiving. Descriptions of days when you can't hang the washing out because it would all be red-streaked, and the descriptions of wash-days in general (the mangle, the copper, the boiling of the water) are all evocative of rural life in the outback of Australia. I liked Emmie's "voice" - faintly old fashioned and courtly, always keenly observant of the social hierarchies and mores around her - and the world we see afresh through her eyes has much of interest, not least the attitude of Australians towards German settlers and their Lutheran religion. There were strict lines one did not cross, and Emmie's befriending of Bertha was one of them.
July 13, 2019
This is by far the best of Matthews books that I've read thus far. Based on the true crime known as the Towitta Tragedy, this book tells the story of what life was like on an Australian farm for a 16 year old girl at the turn of the century. Matthews has captured the era with regards to the propriety and expectations on young women
- it could easily have been a contemporary account. A great read for girls and adults alike.
- it could easily have been a contemporary account. A great read for girls and adults alike.
June 9, 2019
Unfortunately this story didn't capture me despite it being based on a true story. The storyline just seemed to plod along without really going anywhere. The murder occurred right at the end, however I knew who the killer was the moment it was stated how the murder was executed. This is definitely not a seat gripping mystery and a little bland for my liking, but an OK read none-the-less.
January 4, 2022
The blurb of A Girl Like Me made me want to read it. I wanted to know what shocking thing happened in Australia a century ago. I KNEW IT THOUGH, I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A FUCKING MURDER. This book was written in ‘old style’ so different vocabulary because of course in the 1900s everyone was expected to speak properly like a frickin Victorian 😂.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2022
Interesting.
Read
February 12, 2024I read this a long time ago. I might even have a review somewhere that I wrote back then
June 10, 2014
It feels kinda weird to live in Australia as a woman now and think about life of women a century ago right here, as described in this book. The story told was not only about 6 months in Emily's teenager life, or about Bertha, or about Emily's novel, but also about the intrinsic Australian farm life in the early 20th century under the eyes of a soon-to-be woman: never-ending household chores, pervasive stench of smoke, sheep and cheese,constant pressure to behave with dignity and no hope for further education.
As the story unfolds, readers are taken to different extremities of feelings and reactions. We can smile at Emily's awkward attempt to pin handkerchief under her arms to cope with perspiration, frown upon Bertha's obsession with her secret crush Gustave, laugh along with the girls as they run down the road cheering for escaping from the mundane housework, grow upset with these women's unfair fate of getting stuck in this little town their whole life, doing nothing but household chores and attending to their husbands... At last we become shocked, appalled at Bertha's death, while still being left with tons of unanswered questions, "What is in the end justice?", "Who is to be blamed for?", "Are women's nature that fragile yet insidious?", "Is romance to be created or to be waited for?"...
The book was good, especially for soon-to-be adults, though not really extraordinary. That's why I've rated it 3/5.
As the story unfolds, readers are taken to different extremities of feelings and reactions. We can smile at Emily's awkward attempt to pin handkerchief under her arms to cope with perspiration, frown upon Bertha's obsession with her secret crush Gustave, laugh along with the girls as they run down the road cheering for escaping from the mundane housework, grow upset with these women's unfair fate of getting stuck in this little town their whole life, doing nothing but household chores and attending to their husbands... At last we become shocked, appalled at Bertha's death, while still being left with tons of unanswered questions, "What is in the end justice?", "Who is to be blamed for?", "Are women's nature that fragile yet insidious?", "Is romance to be created or to be waited for?"...
The book was good, especially for soon-to-be adults, though not really extraordinary. That's why I've rated it 3/5.
October 11, 2013
pretty good book, reminded me of A Waltz for Matilda which I enjoyed quiet a lot.
im usually not a massive fan of historical fiction, but something about reading story's set in Australia's pass just sits really well with me, I think it also helps that the characters don't speak in that annoying 'old english' and the females don't act like complete imbeciles which makes me grit my teeth.
I also really liked the mystery behind 'a girl like me'. plus its always great when you get to see the characters grow thought-out the book.
the end was super anti-climatic which was annoying as hell, specially cause there was such a big build up then.... nothing.
*sigh* oh well.
im usually not a massive fan of historical fiction, but something about reading story's set in Australia's pass just sits really well with me, I think it also helps that the characters don't speak in that annoying 'old english' and the females don't act like complete imbeciles which makes me grit my teeth.
I also really liked the mystery behind 'a girl like me'. plus its always great when you get to see the characters grow thought-out the book.
the end was super anti-climatic which was annoying as hell, specially cause there was such a big build up then.... nothing.
*sigh* oh well.
August 11, 2012
The plot is based on real life, and the event itself didn't happen until late in the book. It was page turning and character driven. Very well written, giving me a real sense of being a teenage girl living in Towitta at the turn of the century. Ony took two days to read (reading just at night and meal times) and I feel richer for the experience. Only downside was that I felt the subplot was a little weak. But definately worth a read if you're into Austraian historical fiction.
February 26, 2011
I'll make this short, because I don't have too much time these days:
T'was alright. Not great, but alright :)
T'was alright. Not great, but alright :)
January 16, 2012
REALLY good. The title is misleading, but this novel was great and intriguing. Hard to put down! Highly recommended!
October 14, 2012
For some reason this one just didn't grab me, even though it is based loosely around real events.
April 20, 2014
A thoughtful fictionalisation of a real event that took place over 100 years ago in South Australia.
March 13, 2015
And an extra half star 4.5
June 28, 2010
It was more like 2.5 but it can be difficult to write about a real life event.
May 23, 2015
**4.5 stars**
June 7, 2013
Just loved this from start to finish - highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews