Marion and the Forty Thieves

By Sarah Luke

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Sarah is a historian and writer who writes non-fiction histories for adults and historical fiction for children. Marion and the Forty Thieves is her first middle grade novel and introduces the reader to life on board the Sobraon, a ship converted into a school for delinquent boys during the time when Captain Neitenstein was in charge, 1978 – 1896.

After a slow start the story picks up action which centres on his daughter Marion, who lived on the ship with her parents, the only girl on board. She is lonely after her best friend Agnes goes to France and she tries to make friends with some of the boys. This has mixed results. She finds out that there is a plot by the vicious head of a criminal gang or ‘push’ in The Rocks to get back some of his boys who have been sent to the ship. There is also a subplot of a long lost boy, presumed  kidnapped, who may be on the ship.

Sarah has invented some characters but Marion and her family, Joseph Braggs, Quong Tart, some police and ship’s crew are all real people. There is much interesting detail about Sydney life duriing this time which is what gives this somewhat improbable story its charm. Braggs is a Fagin like villain, full of threat and malice. Marion herself starts off as a conventional young lady but becomes daring and intrepid when the ship is threatened.

 There is much historical detail embedded in this  readable and accessible story and expanded on in the back matter which includes a glossary, the history of the nautical school ships, and more, plus several fascinating photographs. This book is aimed at supporting schools studying this period of Australian history and the website includes extensive teacher’s notes.

A recommended companion novel to this story is Playing Beattie Bow, 1982, by Ruth Park, winner of Australian Children’s Book of the Year Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award (USA).

National Library of Australia 2024

Sarah Luke