By Pamela Rushby

With illustrations by Fiona McDonald

ISBN: 9780648815426

RRP: $17.99

Published by Eagle Books, October 2021

About the book:

Nine-year-old city newspaper seller Roddy becomes involved in the infamous Battle of Brisbane in 1942: when American and Australian servicemen fought against each other, rioting in the streets of the city for two days.

When Roddy helps an American serviceman who’s been involved in the fighting, he never expects that the battle will become covered up – a wartime secret. Never to be reported in the newspapers he sells. Or that his actions will result in a new life for him after the war – all the way to the USA.

A fast-moving historical novel for middle-grade readers by multi-award-winning author Pamela Rushby.

LONGLISTED FOR 2022 ARA HISTORICAL NOVEL PRIZE, CYA CATEGORY

LONGLISTED FOR 2022 BOOKLINKS AWARDS FOR CHILDREN’S HISTORICAL FICTION

About the author:

Pamela Rushby is the author of over 200 books for children and young adults, as well as children’s TV scripts, documentaries, short stories and freelance journalism. Pam has been an advertising copywriter, pre-school teacher, and producer of educational television, audio and multimedia. She has won several awards, including the NSW Premier’s Ethel Turner Prize, five CBCA Notable Books – and a bag of gold coins at a film festival in Iran! Pam believes the strangest, most riveting, heart-breaking, laugh-out-loud stories aren’t fiction. They’re real. They come from history. And she loves tripping over unusual incidents from history – and then writing about them. Her website is www.pamelarushby.com

About the illustrator

Fiona McDonald is an illustrator, author and doll-maker with over 12 books published, including acclaimed picture books, a graphic novel, and non-fiction books. She is also half of the duo who write under the name of Phoebe McArthur, whose first book, the illustrated chapterbook Lucy Newton, Little Witch(published by Christmas Press)  was shortlisted for the 2019 Speech Pathology Awards.

Selected reviews:

Pamela Rushby’s previous historical fiction novels have included The Ratcatcher’s Daughter (2014) and The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle (2020).  In each, her love of history shines through and this also true of her latest publication The Secret Battle, which focuses on Pamela’s home town of Brisbane from 1941 until 1945. The novel provides a snapshot of life as it was for many with  a great influx of American soldiers, led by General Macarthur,  bringing with them a new sophistication and sense of glamour. Roddy is 9 years old when we first meet him. He gets an after school job as a paper-seller, and sells his copies of The Telegraph outside Mama Luigi’s, a real-life culinary trend-setter whose huge bowls of pasta are the stuff of legend in Brisbane. Various events in Roddy’s life are related but the main focus is a two-day street brawl which occurred between the Australian and American soldiers. Guns were fired, causing a death and many injuries. The authorities covered it up so as not to inflame the populace and to this day there exists only a very watered down account of the startling events. Pamela Rushby presents many day-to-day realities of war-time Brisbane in this simply told tale, including women  working in munitions factories, rationing, air raid shelters and war-brides who emigrated to America to follow the soldiers they had met in Brisbane. Some rumours are scotched, including the notorious tale of the Brisbane line, which claimed that the Australian Government was willing to cede the area north of Brisbane in the event of an invasion by the Japanese. It is clear that the facts have been well researched, and notes at the back of the book provide information for young readers. (Margaret McKay-Lowndes, StoryLinks)

Fantastic. Pamela Rushby’s historical novels are top-quality — they take lesser-known events, mostly in Australia but also across the globe, and create an intriguing story of flavour, heart, excitement, and adventure. Rushby puts a human face to terrible events in history and personalises the story with believeable and rich characters. These qualities are all evident in the fantastic, heartfelt, vivid, and exciting novel for young readers ‘The Secret Battle’ set in Brisbane during World War 2.
I loved it. (Brenton Cullen, Goodreads)

One of the book’s strongest qualities is its accessibility. At 124 pages, it is tightly written and approachable, making it particularly suitable for younger readers or those new to historical fiction. The wartime setting is presented in a way that balances emotional impact with clarity, avoiding overwhelming detail while still conveying the tension and uncertainty of the period. The theme of secrecy and suppressed history is central to the narrative. The idea that certain wartime events were intentionally downplayed or hidden adds depth to the story and encourages reflection on how history is recorded and remembered. Roddy’s personal journey also reinforces themes of responsibility, moral awareness, and the loss of childhood innocence in times of conflict. Overall, this is a focused and educational historical fiction work that introduces an important but often overlooked event in World War II history through a compelling and age-appropriate narrative lens. (Graeme Williams, Goodreads)