Mavis Thorpe Clark Quotes

Many from poor families who do not value education. The school is vandalized by local children including Sylvie’s brother Reg.

The goods train snaked across the vast southern desert of Australia. Sylvie stood waiting for it to bring the weekly provisions to the tiny settlement.

But this Saturday she had a feeling of terrible apprehension. Sylvie’s brother, Reg and his gang had just wrecked Mr Scott’s school - only he didn’t know it yet - and smashed Sylvie’s hopes for her future.

Now everything looked so bleak - the siding with its ramshackle buildings, the flat, empty desert and Sylvie’s own dreams - until she saw, dancing towards her, a small, swaying light.

A min-min! All Sylvie’s hopes were symbolized by the min-min, that elusive light which beckoned her and retreated, then beckoned again... Perhaps things could be worked out after all, even though it meant running away.

Twelve-year-old Sylvie, lives on the railway siding in outback South Australia with her parents and younger brother and sisters. It’s a tough and isolated life.

Sylvie has never enjoyed school much until the current teacher, Clive Scott, came to town. He’s caught her interest and she loves learning. This one room school caters for all the local children.

A captivating tale which beautifully describes outback South Australia and life in a railway siding. Even the places that they hate (the siding for Sylvie) are places you want to see.

But better even than the love of the land is the obvious support of family and friends. The complicated and sometimes resentful relationship of Sylvie to her family members is always underscored by her love for them.

“The reds and yellows and greens of the fresh fruits and vegetables were as gaudy as the packets of sweets, biscuits, cigarettes, and some tinned foods on the opposite shelves, all brilliant in contrast to the outside blackness.”