The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan

by Felice Arena
Published by Penguin Random House
ISBN 9781761044366

Another exciting story from the author of the Specky Magee series and the gripping Fearless Frederic, is a thrilling second world war adventure.

What looks like a humpback whale, turns out to be submarine, Maggie looks up and sees what she's sure is a Japanese plane and she tries to warn her family who don't quite believe her. She is sure its like one of the planes that bombed Darwin, surely she can't be the only person in Melbourne who saw it? Can she?

The war seems a long way off to Maggie Flanagan and while her brother is somewhere "over there" protecting England from the Germans and Italians, she is really far more interested in playing footie. A girl play footie, can she? Plus she's also a keen supporter of St Kilda - loved the conversation with the priest in the confession box!

In this entertaining and funny story set against the backdrop of the Second World War in Australia, and the women's movement as well as the little known history of women's football.

The story has all the ingredients to keep 8 - 12 year olds heartily entertained. Felice Arena has a wonderful style of writing that keeps you smiling and keen to read on.

Once again we noticed the good use of language to expand readers vocabulary, to be expected by one of our most acclaimed children's book authors.

This would make an ideal gift.