A parent might reach for this book when their family is facing a significant upheaval, like a big move or financial strain, and they want to share a story of resilience. Based on a true story from 1860s New Zealand, it follows a mother and her six children who secretly flee their cruel, tyrannical husband to build a new life from scratch in the wilderness. It's a powerful tale of courage, family love, and the incredible competence of children facing hardship. This historical adventure is ideal for ages 8 to 12. It offers a gripping survival story that also serves as a model for how a family can pull together, overcome fear, and create their own safety and happiness. It's an inspiring choice that opens conversations about what makes a home and the strength found in family bonds.
Set in 1860s New Zealand; some historical attitudes and settler perspectives may require context.
Sensitive Topics
The core sensitive topic is domestic abuse, which serves as the catalyst for the plot. The father is described as cruel and tyrannical, and the family lives in fear of him. This is handled implicitly, without graphic detail, consistent with the era and the target audience. The approach is secular, and the resolution is entirely hopeful, as the family successfully creates a new, safe, and independent life for themselves. There are also realistic depictions of pioneer hardship, including hunger and peril from natural disasters.
Ideal Reader
A child aged 9 to 12 who enjoys historical fiction, adventure, and survival stories. It's perfect for a reader who appreciates competent, resourceful child characters. It would particularly resonate with a child feeling a lack of control in their own life or facing a scary family change, offering a powerful vicarious experience of agency and success against the odds.
Parent Prep
A parent should be prepared to discuss why the family had to leave in secret. This may lead to a conversation about domestic abuse, and the historical context of women's limited rights in the 19th century. Discussing the realities of pioneer life (no stores, no electricity) beforehand could also enhance understanding. The book can be read cold, but the themes are richer with a little context. A parent has noticed their child feeling helpless or anxious about a major family change (a difficult move, financial stress, parental conflict). The child might be expressing a desire to run away or be more independent, or they might simply need a story that shows children as powerful and capable in the face of adult problems.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will likely focus on the adventure: building a house in the woods, the excitement of the flood, and the practical challenges of survival. An older reader (10-12) will better grasp the emotional depth: the mother's bravery, the injustice of their situation, the psychological weight of their fear, and the profound meaning of their hard-won independence.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many American pioneer stories (e.g., Little House) that feature a traditional nuclear family, this book is about a family unit redefined by a mother and children escaping a male patriarch. It centers female courage and resourcefulness. Its basis in a true New Zealand story also provides a fresh cultural and geographical perspective on the colonial pioneer experience.
Read plot summary
In the 1860s, Mary Elizabeth Small and her six children escape their abusive husband in England and secretly emigrate to New Zealand. With very little money, they carve out a life in the Canterbury bush, building their own small house (a whare), clearing land, and learning to survive. The story follows their struggles against the elements, including a massive flood and a fire, and their constant, underlying fear that their violent father will find them. It is a story of pioneering, self-reliance, and the strength of a family unit led by a courageous mother and her capable children.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Mrs. Small made a very brave and dangerous decision to take her children and run away. Why do you think she felt it was her only choice? What might be different for a family in that situation today?
2
The children had to take on many adult responsibilities, from building their whare to farming the land. Which of their jobs seemed the most difficult to you? Which one do you think you would have been best at?
3
The family lived with the constant fear that Mr. Small would find them. How did this affect their daily lives? How did they keep their spirits up and support each other when they were scared?
4
At the end of the story, the family has built a successful new life. What do you think 'home' means to the Small family? Is it just the place they built, or something more?
