The Secret Library of Hummingbird House​
Hattie Maxwell is trying to make sense of her life since the Big Split. It used to be the four of them – Mum, Dad, Ivy and Hattie – against the universe. But lately it feels like she’s a lone star in a big galaxy. Her one escape is Hummingbird House, an old mansion with a giant mulberry tree just perfect for climbing to hide from the world.
So when Hattie learns that the house is going to be demolished, she is determined to save it. A midnight visit becomes a step back in time, and Hummingbird House reveals its secrets: a hidden library, a mysterious new friend, and a lost treasure that could help stop the development.
Can the past help Hattie to fix her present?
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A brilliant time-slip novel with a contemporary twist, The Secret Library of Hummingbird House celebrates standing up, speaking out and letting go of the past.
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reviews
"The Secret Library of Hummingbird House takes readers on a journey that involves a hidden library, lost treasure and an unexpected ally. It celebrates standing up for what you believe in and the power of new friendship, with a dramatic climax that will take many by surprise."
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Karys McEwen is the library manager at Prahran and Richmond High School and the president of the CBCA VIC Branch
Author Julianne Negri has crafted a compelling story with multiple storylines linking present day with both the 1970’s and the gold rush era. There is a theme woven into this story about immigration, assimilation and the sense of never quite belonging in one place or the other.
"This is a wonderful timeslip novel that is beautifully told and full of contemporary issues."
Set in the streets of Brunswick, there is also a mysterious yarn bomber leaving knitted signs around town and an eccentric younger sister. Reminiscent of Playing Beatie Bow, this is a charming novel that will be enjoyed by readers aged 10+.
Yarn bombed tree by Ute Lennartz-Lembeck in the German town of Velbert.