The Rebels of Journey's End

Author: Diana Frances Bell Illustrator: Douglas Hall

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National Library of NZ Entry

From the inside front flap: "Diana Frances Bell was only 13 when she wrote 'The Rebels of Journey's End'. It tells, in a most competent style, how three animals and a little girl come together in a deserted house to fight the leader of the mouse underworld, Joe Fingers, known as The Boss. Rikiki, the cat, Rufus, the mouse, Oscar, the chipmunk and Donna, the girl, are enchanting characters, and for so young an author, Miss Bell has brought them remarkably to life."

Diana Frances Bell was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia when she was still a young girl. It was there, in Australia, that she wrote Rebels of Journey’s End; astonishingly, at the age of just thirteen. Today, she lives in Australia under the name Diana Bell Brooks, continues to write and publish poetry, and maintains her own author website.

The book already enjoys a string of enthusiastic reviews on Goodreads; they’re well worth a look if you’re curious for more opinions.

At its heart is a delightfully clever, briskly paced adventure starring a mild-mannered yet remarkably intelligent mouse who sets out to topple “evil” in the shape of a ruthless, tyrannical gang boss who has the district in his grip.

Naturally, our hero doesn’t tackle the job single-pawed. He’s part of a secret resistance movement: complete with a hidden underground base, sworn members, solemn ceremonies, daring undercover missions, coded language, a perfectly ordinary grocery shop that serves as their front, and even a closely guarded rebel recipe passed down among the members.

The pages are peppered with charming black-and-white illustrations that capture the mood beautifully and give the whole thing a timeless, storybook feel.

What you get is a nicely spaced plot that never drags, a cast of genuinely endearing characters you can’t help rooting for, and a conclusion that ties everything up with a warm, satisfying glow.

It’s not a modern “living book” in the Charlotte Mason sense, but it is absolutely a high-quality, wholesome, confidence-building read that parents can hand to their children without a moment’s hesitation.

A remarkable little gem from a teenage author, thoroughly recommended.

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