A historical fiction novel for middle grade readers (ages 8 to 12). Published 1 July 2024 (National Library of Australia Publishing).
Read the press release from the NLA here.
Marion’s life is anything but ordinary. The daughter of the principal, Captain Neitenstein, she is the only girl aboard a magnificent floating boys’ school, anchored permanently in Sydney Harbour in the late 1800s. Her best friend has boarded a steamship to France and now it’s just her and this ship full of ragtag schoolboys.
One night, Marion discovers that a new student, Alexander Walker, is escaping the ship to meet up with his vicious gang, the Forty Thieves. Marion bravely follows Walker into the frightening Rocks neighbourhood to investigate … What are the Forty Thieves up to and will Marion be able to stop them before it’s too late?
Discover what life was like for kids on the mean streets of Sydney’s Rocks area in this rollicking adventure, featuring real people and places from Australian history.
Classroom Resources for Teachers
Stage 3/Stage 4 NESA Teaching Program
‘Twelve Curly Questions’ Interview for the Kids’ Book Review
The Floating Boarding School on the Parramatta River (NLA Blog)
Reviews for Marion and the Forty Thieves
Review by The Book Muse (July 2024)
Sarah Luke’s book is based on fact, telling the story of Bragg and his gang, and a young girl who encounters them amidst a world of slum life versus the middle class, the nautical life that some people led, and key figures in the history of Sydney … Sarah Luke has recreated this world of wharves and gangs, neglect and thievery from old gaol records, photographs and portraits, and exhaustive research about the nautical schools of these times. She puts it into an exciting narrative form to explore what happened during Marion’s experience with Bragg and the Forty Thieves, bringing it to life in an action-packed book for middle grade readers. It is filled with adventure and friendship as Marion learns how to get along with the boys during her time alone, waiting to attend a new school. She’s able to connect with them through offers of help, sharing knowledge and doing her best to understand where these boys have come from. It examines the stark differences in their experiences and what they knew and understood from life…
This is a great book to read for fun, but it’s filled with familiar places like Argyle Street and Circular Quay – places we all know today and that have been part of Sydney as we have known it for centuries. It gives readers an insight into what these streets filled with old buildings would have been like 150 years ago, patches of which you can still see if you explore The Rocks – history is written throughout it in many ways.
Marion and the Forty Thieves is a fascinating book that will be an exciting addition to a good history shelf.
Read the complete review here.
Review by Lamont Books (July 2024)
… this is a terrific tale that provides real insight into the circumstances and situations that people faced in their lives in the late 1800’s. It is full of adventure and heavily steeped in thoroughly researched early Australian life, this is a terrific read for Australian students. It was recommended to us as a book that would best suit the Year 6 curriculum and there would be no problem with students that age reading it, but I feel that the content is also a good fit for general lower secondary students so have included it in our lower secondary package.
Read the full review here.
Goodreads Reviews (July and August 2024)
A great read (so much so that I read it in one sitting!) Despite this being a children’s book, I thoroughly enjoyed delving into 19th century Sydney, following Marion’s adventures in the city and on the Sobraon. Luke is highly skilled in crafting vivid settings and engaging characters (both those based on real historical figures and those of her own invention). I may have even teared up at two points! An excellent debut fiction novel.
A combination of history and adventure, this book is a real page turner! … Fast-paced and full of intrigue, this book will appeal to a range of readers.
Read other Goodreads reviews here.
Review by Middle Grade Mavens (August 2024)
I started it yesterday and finished it today … Marion and the Forty Thieves is a new historical novel … I really enjoyed this … This one was particularly fun to read because it’s set in Sydney Harbour, around The Rocks … you just feel history when you go there. The historical details in the book were really well researched and there is a great sense of adventure and danger. It had slight flavours of Nicki Greenberg’s The Detective’s Guide to Ocean Travel series … and also hints of Jackie French … and has a beautiful hard cover which was illustrated by Martina Heiduczek … This would make a really good addition to I think Grade 5/6 classrooms.
Listen to the podcast (episode 115) here.
Review by Paul Ashton, Professional Historians Association (August 2024)
Few historians in Australia engage in the world of creative non-fiction … Even fewer have written creative non-fiction for children … Luke’s book is an exemplar of what historians can do to reach diverse audiences, to make history accessible and allow readers to look to history for inspiration.
Read the full review here.
Review by the Kids’ Book Review (August 2024)
This is a wonderful work of historical fiction (or ‘faction’ if you prefer) that features real people and places from Australia’s history.
It also serves up nasty and compelling characters to marvel at and dodge!
… I won’t spoil the actual story which I urge everyone to read – but suffice to say that it’s a page-turner and incredibly entertaining rendering of this historical period.
We care about the characters, we’re invested in the outcomes and if you’re anything like me, we experience the book viscerally. I could smell the streets of Sydney and all the gloomy, dank and threatening criminal spaces…
Highly recommended.
Read the full review here.
Review by Just So Stories (September 2024)
Sarah Luke takes real historical figures and events, and skilfully weaves them into a very plausible fictional account that has as its main character the young daughter of the principal of the Sobraon training ship, Captain Neitenstein. One can only imagine how it must be to be the carefully guarded daughter, only child, of parents who have the responsibility and care of a shipload of recalcitrant and, often, rebellious boys, moored in Sydney Harbour.
… It is history, adventure and mystery all wrapped up one package. And a lovely package it is too with its attractive hardback binding and neat size. This is an absolute corker and for those kiddos who are doing their HASS units on early Sydney, a real boon to ‘read about your topic’. It would make a terrific serial read as well and with teaching notes to support it, you can’t go wrong.
I enjoyed both the book and the subsequent delving into history and I have every confidence that your kiddos from Year 4 up to Yea 7/8 would also. A very enthusiastic 5 ⚓⚓⚓⚓⚓ rating.
Read the full review here.
Review by Story Links (October 2024)
There is much historical detail embedded in this readable and accessible story and expanded on in the back matter which includes a glossary, the history of the nautical school ships, and more, plus several fascinating photographs.
Read the full review here.
Review by Reading Time, The Children’s Book Council of Australia (December 2024)
There are many fascinating historical details throughout the novel. Marion is a fearless and brave heroine, and thanks to her many questions about what the forty Thieves are up to are finally answered. As a bonus there are photos of the actual ship, the Sobraon, street scenes from Sydney’s Rocks area at this time, and a portrait of the famous Quong Tart who became rich by running a chain of cafes in Sydney. Quong [Tart] held charity events for the many poor and neglected children in the streets of Sydney.
The National Library of Australia has produced a high quality affordable book that is a pleasure to read. This is an outstanding example of one way to bring the treasures of the library to the notice of general readers. Teaching notes are available at the publisher’s website.
Read the full review here.
Sarah Luke 