A story of bravery and survival.

As I come out of the house, something flutters down next to me. It’s white and soft looking like snow. Then I notice other things fluttering around too. ‘What – ’ Then I suddenly realise. Bits of ash. From the fires. Jackson must see them too. He stops, looking up at the sky, mouth slightly open.

‘Graaaan,’ I call as she climbs out of the car, dropping the bag and water bottle as fear rushes through me.

But Gran isn’t looking at me. She seems to looking over my head, her mouth open in shock.

Amy is staying in Marysville with her grandmother, and helping in the garden and clean out her gutters. It is, after all, bushfire season. As summer arrives, so do the fires, and Dad is busy helping control the flames in bushfires that have started burning in Victoria. But it is early February 2009, and the Black Saturday bushfire is about to encircle Amy and her family, and teach Amy first-hand about tragedy and survival.

Available now from good bookstores and online from stores including Booktopia. You can find teaching notes here.

ISBN: 9781742994307
Imprint: Scholastic Australia
Distributor: Scholastic Australia
Release Date: February 1, 2019
Australian RRP: $16.99

Reviews

Megan Daley (Children’s Books Daily) : ‘Sally Murphy is one of my all time favourite Australian authors…Sally does family relationships beautifully…Perfectly pitched’  You can listen to Megan’s review here 

Lamont Standing Orders:  ‘This is a very timely read for your senior primary students and highlights just how precious life is.’ You can read the full review here.

This amazing display is by students at Clyde Primary, Victoria, and their awesome teacher. You can read about it here