A Different Sort of Real: The Diary of Charlotte McKenzie, Melbourne, 1919
by Kerry Greenwood
My Australian Story (1919), My Story
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Description
As the horrors of the First World War are drawing to a close, a danger has arisen that will kill more people around the world that the Great War did - an influenza pandemic. Charlotte McKenzie, assisting the doctor next door, find herself experiencing at close hand the effects of this devastating disease - and when if finally attacks her own family, how can Charlotte cope?Tags
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Member Reviews
This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.
A great historcial novel set in early Melbourne, about a girl whose shell-shocked father returns from the first world war. At this time there is also a flu epidemic in Melbourne. A tear-jerker. Excellent read for early teen to adults.
Transferring the books on my spreadsheet to Goodreads
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Learning history through first-person, young adult, historical fiction one
188 works; 4 members
Author Information
75+ Works 19,196 Members
Awards and Honors
Awards
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- A Different Sort of Real: The Diary of Charlotte McKenzie, Melbourne, 1919
- Alternate titles
- The Deadly Flu; Contagion
- Original publication date
- 2001
- Important places
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Important events
- World War I; Influenza pandemic (1918)
- Epigraph
- . . . how can delight
renew in these chains of darkness
Where bones of beasts are strown
On the bleak and snowy mountains
Where bones from the birth are buried
Before they see the light?
... (show all)
~ William Blake, The Book of Ahania, Chapter V - Dedication
- This book is for Jean Greenwood
who taught me to love history.
This book is dedicated to David Lewis John Greagg
mine lyking, my dear one, my sweeting - First words
- Charlotte McKenzie is my name / Australia is my nation / Writing is my favourite game / And God is my salvation.
It's my birthday, and I'm writing with my very best nib and Mum's superfine ink in the blank book that Uncle Donald sent me from France.
She brought down the rough stone hard onto the head of the man, shrieking aloud in an unknown language. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Mr Lee said I would be what I want to be, and I shall.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"The Curse is gone," said Mary Gordon. "The Childstones cycle, at last, is complete."
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Statistics
- Members
- 95
- Popularity
- 338,494
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.30)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 2
