Tearaway Coach by Neridah McMullin and Andrew McLean

Title: Tearaway Coach

Author: Neridah McMullin and Andrew McLean

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Walker Books

Published: 3^rd April 2024

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $26.99

Synopsis: When Fenton and his father catch the coach to Geelong, they have no idea that their driver of the team of powerful horses is the famous Edward Devine – ‘Cabbage tree Ned’-or of the incredible adventure that lies ahead.

A breathless story of bushrangers, danger, daring and escape as Fen finds himself holding the reins of the tearaway coach.

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Fenton and his father are on their way to Geelong to meet mama at his grandparents’ house – she’s about to have a baby! So Fenton and his father are catching a Cobb and Co Coach to get there in time. Their driver is the famous driver, Edward Devine, known as Cabbage tree Ned. And they’re completely unaware of what lies ahead – Fenton learning to drive and threats that might mean they can’t get to mama in time!

Neridah has written a breathless, action-packed story filled with bushrangers, danger and escape – all whilst Fenton has the reins in his hands.

This new book from Neridah McMullin, exploring the thrills and terror of riding on a coach in the nineteenth century and the dangers that come with it. The story, shown through Fenton’s eyes and experiences, is high stakes and exciting, taking readers aged four and over on an epic journey in a mode of transport that many readers will never have seen or heard of before, and in doing so, Neridah has brought history to life again.

Her historical fiction stories focus on the little moments, the everyday people throughout history caught up in things that are scary, and would likely never happen today. This history shows how things have changed but also act as a time capsule for the people in her stories. It shows how some people lived and what they experienced, giving voice to some of the stories that people would have told during the nineteenth century, and the lives that people lived. She tells the stories of women and children, giving them a voice and us as readers an insight into their worlds.

Her stories also explore anxieties. Anxiety about travel and family are centred in this story, exploring one boy’s experiences of these whilst also showing what his life was like. A book like this can be read to entertain or educate, or to show students what life during history was like if they are studying this period in history. It feels like the kind of book that could be part of a discussion about historical travel as well, inviting readers to imagine travelling as Fenton and his father do. Another fun book from Neridah McMullin!