Be Counted: the diary of Amy Phelps, Dunedin 1893 by Janine McVeagh

13 year old Amy Phelps travels from Central Otago to Dunedin to attend secondary school courtesy of her wealthy aunt and uncle. Aunt Delia is very much involved in the campaign to get women the vote, and Amy herself wants to be an artist like her heroine Frances Hodgkins. There is plenty in this story to inform the young reader about social conditions of the time – from Amy’s own family situation, to the plight of the less privileged in wealthy Dunedin of the 1890’s.

Be Counted is one of the “My Story” series – novels by New Zealand authors in a diary format about events and places in New Zealand history. Other novels in the series cover such calamities as the eruption of Mt Tarawera and the 1931 Napier earthquake; and unique environments such as the Homer Tunnel construction camp, the Dalmatian community in Dargaville during the ‘20’s and the situation in New Zealand during the 1981 Springbok tour.

All the “My Story” novels are both interesting and useful. Having them in the classroom/home is a wonderful way for children to become interested in history, to enliven general knowledge about New Zealand and they are useful as examples of diary-writing.

I have seen children become immersed in the whole series from year 5 (10 years) and older.

Published by Scholastic

Reviewed by Beth