11 Ruby Road: 1925
The second book in the 11 Ruby Road series set in the roaring 1920s - perfect period fiction for middle-grade readers and for fans of the Our Australian Girl series.
It is 1925 and Bert Mueller and his German-Australian family have moved from Ipswich to their new house at 11 Ruby Road. Bert’s father has been deported to Germany after the Great War, and with Dad still absent, Bert is unsure about moving away. But the city means opportunity and jobs for his mother and older siblings. And for the grown-ups , it also means fun - dressing up, going out, and all that jazz. Bert loves jazz too, but he’s too young for the clubs, and instead his time is spent at his new school where the kids play cricket, not music.
But with the help of a Gramophone, Bert has a solution. He will start his own jazz club, and 11 Ruby Road has the perfect spot to host it. But as prejudice about Bert and his German family start to affect their new life, Bert has to find a way to save his jazz club and his family.
Resources
Creators
Charlotte Barkla is a Brisbane-based author and teacher. Her books include the 11 Ruby Road historical fiction series, Let's Try Again Another Day, Robo-teacher, All Bodies Are Good Bodies, the Edie’s Experiments series and From My Head to My Toes, I Say What Goes.
Charlotte’s books have been translated into multiple languages and short-listed for awards, including the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards and the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature. In 2023, All Bodies Are Good Bodies was adapted into a song by the children's band The Quokkas.
As well as writing for children, Charlotte is a creative writing tutor for the Australian Writers' Centre, and has written feature articles for publications including AEU News, Create Digital, Beanz Magazine and Double Helix. She regularly visits schools, libraries and festivals for creative writing workshops, sharing her passion for creativity and stories with children of all ages.
Reviews
An interesting and well written dip into Australian history, 11 Ruby Road 1925 shines on the resilience, ability to adapt, and courage and perseverance that people draw on when needed.
Kids Book Review
11 Ruby Road showcases the diversity of Australia throughout the years and brings together everyone that has helped create or contribute to the multicultural nation of Australia over the years…Another great book from Charlotte Barkla.
The Book Muse
For the classroom, this novel could provide many useful springboards for discussion of modern attitudes and lifestyles compared with those of yesteryear.
Story Links
