11 Ruby Road: 1950

The third installment in the 11 Ruby Road series, set in the post-war 1950s - perfect period fiction for middle-grade readers and for fans of the Our Australian Girl series.

Since Patsy's baby sister was born, things at home have felt different. So when her mother goes to spend some time in countryside, Patsy stays with her uncle and aunt, at Number 11 Ruby Road. There are so many new people to meet, especially when she begins to help out in Uncle Alex's bright and busy milk bar.

Patsy and her new friend Jolanta soon bond over their shared love for sketching. Jolanta's family are 'new Australians' from Poland, but Patsy discovers that not everyone is as welcoming to the people who came all the way from Europe after the war.

Inspired by the stories of the old Jazz, Cricket and Pastry Club that used to take part in 11 Ruby Road's under croft, Patsy has an idea to bring together all the wonderful inhabitants of Ruby Road ... wherever they come from!

About the Author

Charlotte Barkla is a Brisbane-based writer who worked as a civil engineer and physics teacher before rediscovering her love for children’s literature. As well as writing for children, Charlotte writes feature articles for publications including the CSIRO’s Double Helix, Beanz magazine and Kookie magazine. She regularly visits schools for creative writing workshops, sharing her passion for science, creativity and stories with children of all ages. Charlotte’s books include All Bodies are Good Bodies (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, 2020), the Edie’s Experiments series (Penguin Random House, 2020) and From My Head to My Toes, What I Say Goes (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, 2022).

Charlotte’s books have been translated in multiple languages and short-listed for awards, and she has been the recipient of grants and mentorships for her fiction writing.