‘There is madness in it.’
‘Yes. But magic too.’
Following the death of their parents, Jessie and her older sister Kay move to their grandmother’s abandoned house. One night they discover The History of Mischief hidden beneath the floor: it is like no book they have ever seen.
From Ancient Greece to war-torn China, from the Ethiopian Empire to Victorian England, the pages reveal a world of mischief and mystery, adventure and adversity – stolen bones and fiery dragons, feisty philosophers and tempestuous tyrants, shape-shifting trees and scorched scrolls.
But not everything is as it seems, in the book or in her life, and Jessie is determined to find the truth. The History has a history of its own. Unravelling its secrets might be the biggest mischief of all.
Read some 5 Star reviews from our Preview readers here:
The History of Mischief by Rebecca Higgie is an enchanting novel that weaves the story of 9 year old Jessie and her sister with the stories bound in a mysterious book found under the floorboards of the family home. Dealing with the grief of losing their parents both girls bond over the tales of historical richness and adventure set around the world over a vast time period. Jessie is moved to investigate and report on her findings… are the stories “true”or simply constructs of mischief? I was just as intrigued and may follow the trails as she did, teasing out the threads of not only the historical fact but also the links to her own family tragedy. A reread will be in order I think. The characters are believable and the settings are vivid. The story involves loss, grief and tragedy but also friendship, kindness and hope. An emotional roller coaster but definitely one worth taking! Thank you to Better Reading Australia for a free Advance Reader Copy in exchange for the honest review above. – Lesley, QLD, 5 Stars
The History of Mischief is a book pitched at young adults however it is a story that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. There are some very distinct themes that shine through in this really well put together novel. It weaves the story telling magic of the mischief making adventures of ordinary people throughout history, with the starkly contrasted reality of raw and almost inescapable grief that is felt by Jessie and Kay following the loss of their parents. Throughout the book you ride the wave of Jessie’s struggle to connect with those around her and to come to terms with the tragedy of her parents. And just when you think you have settled into the rhythm of the story and enjoying The History with Jessie full of mischief and adventure- one final, unpredictable heart wrenching twist is revealed in the final chapters that makes this novel all the more special. The History of Mischief is equal parts honest, endearing, heartaching and captivating and I would recommend to young and old. – Nat, VIC, 5 Stars
What an absolute delight to read! This story takes many turns and creates so many moments of surprise and awe. Rebecca Higgie has created a piece of art that will be loved by many ages and genres. Nine year old Jessie has been through so much, and yet her curiosity begins to heal her. With the support of Jessie’s older sister, Kay, the reader is taken on a magical journey, spanning 2,000+ years and travelling to fascinating corners of the globe. A enchanting book filled with history, intrigue, friendship and love. I would recommend for anyone looking for a bit of escapism with heart. – Kate, VIC, 5 Stars
The History of Mischief which is at the heart of this unusual story is said to be like no book sisters Jessie and Kay have ever seen and equally this book is unlike any I have read before. The beautiful cover art captured my imagination from the moment I saw it and the story it held. I enjoyed the way the story weaved its way throughout history before arriving at a modern day twist that I didn’t see coming. As a book lover I also loved the way libraries and books featured in the story. If you are looking for a unique and beautifully imagined story I’d definitely recommend adding this one to your reading list. – Tamarin, QLD, 5 Stars
Thank you to Better Reading and Fremantle Press for an advance reading copy of this debut novel by local Perth author, Rebecca Higgie. The novel won the inaugural Fogarty Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript, in 2019. I very much enjoyed this story which was set in Guildford, WA – an area well known to me. I really liked the way that 9 year old orphan Jessie’s chapters are interspersed with the chapters from the mysterious book that Jessie and her older sister, Kay, found hidden beneath the floorboards of their grandmother’s old house in Guildford. It was a book of magical stories that revealed a world of mischief and mystery (hence the title) and inspired Jessie to conduct random acts of mischief herself. The book was a mixture of Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery and Magic and covered themes of love and loss, grief and friendship. The author had researched the historical aspects of the book well and I found this made for fascinating reading. The book has been marketed as a Young Adult book, but I think it will be enjoyed by both young and old. I couldn’t put the book down and read it in a couple of sittings. I found myself still thinking about it after I’d finished it. – Ruth, WA, 5 Stars
Nine year old Jessie and her older sister Kay live in their Grandmother’s old house. One day they find a hidden manuscript, The History of Mischief. This manuscript outlines how mischief-makers, tricksters, have decided points in history. Spanning from Ancient Greece to Victorian England, Ethiopia, Poland and France, the tales entrance Jessie and she sets out to prove them right. Along the way Jessie conducts her own little mischiefs, makes friends with other misfits, and begins to uncover the truth behind the stories, and the truths in her family too. I loved The History of Mischief. Stories set within stories and the constant intrigue of trying to unwind fact from fiction. Jessie was a complex child, showing glimpses of trauma, but still adamant about finding out. I’m with her on that. Though it is not always easy to find. – Daniella, QLD, 5 Stars
What a fabulously different book. After surviving a car accident that killed both her parents, 9 year old Jessie is struggling to find her place in the world. She and her older sister Kay move into their Grandma’s old place where they find a strange book hidden under the floorboards. The book is a history of “Mischief”, its pages traversing time from Diogenes to the late 1800’s. As Jessie begins to investigate the stories she finds discrepancies in the time frames of her research and the book, but which is correct? And who was the last A Mischief? And is she meant to be the next? Meanwhile there’s a old lady who lives across the road, with a cat named Cornelius, who vacuums her front driveway at four o’clock in the morning, and a strange boy at school, Theodore, whose mum is sick and he’s trying to make 1000 origami cranes to make her better. And why has someone broken into their house, but taken nothing, and how does Grandma in the nursing home fit into all of this? This book will keep you entranced, from the beginning to the unexpected twist at the end. – Marcia, SA, 5 Stars
An amazing read that is written in an extremely clever way to capture the reader’s interest from start to end. This book evokes a clear picture of life’s most memorable moments from sadness and despair to courage, hope, love and the power of loyalty, friendship and above all, those magical moments that life throws our way. These themes are expressed in an expanse variety of settings and eras. It is a vivid reminder that there is magic all around us for those who truly choose to believe and that life can mysteriously put the missing pieces together. – Melinda, VIC, 5 Stars
What can I say about this amazing book it has everything, magic, mystery and mischief, all told through the eyes of a 9 year old girl. How her love of books grew after finding the History of Mischief. How she discovered libraries and grew to love them and the books she discovered in them. It has wonderful characters Jessie and her friend Theodore and Kay her older sister who took on the responsibility of bringing up Jessie. I am not sure which age group it is written for, young adults perhaps but I loved it and have been reading books for almost 70 years. I have found the story stayed with me long after I closed the last page and I haven’t even mentioned the wonderful cover which can only enhance the story. – Eileen, NSW, 5 Stars
I loved this book. Such absorbing storytelling. The characters, with all their flaws and emotions are so real and relatable. It’s engrossing and imaginative and sad and inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable. I looked forward to every chance I got to pick it up and read on, and was never disappointed. Even when I finished, I was sad it was over, but satisfied with how it ended. I hope she’s busy writing her next novel. – Em, NSW, 5 Stars
I am very impressed with Rebecca Higgie’s delightful debut novel The History of Mischief. It’s an enjoyable, even intriguing read. Set in Western Australia, if revolves around the lives of two young sisters who are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their parents from a car accident. The storyline had me hooked from the first chapter, and the background stories were full of interesting historical information. I liked the juxtaposition of the sister’s story with the ‘magical’ stories tucked in and around their lives. It’s a clever book. Enjoyable and entertaining but not completely realised until the surprise final pages. – Liesl, NSW, 5 Stars
The History of Mischief by Rebecca Higgie is quite simply magic! Jessie, although only 9 years old, has such an authentic and strong narrative voice. Each other character within Jessie’s world are wonderfully developed and represent interesting facets of Australian life. The Histories told throughout the main story are immensely intriguing and invite the reader into multiple fascinating worlds with great characters. I initially thought I would be rushing through Jessie’s narration to read The Histories, but both elements of the novel complement each other effortlessly and stand as equals in the end. There was a brief moment in the last third of the novel where the plot took an unexpected twist which took some time for me to appreciate, however, I quickly reconciled my doubts and fell in love with it all over again. There are strong themes of family, memory, history, and storytelling throughout and significant value is placed upon the humble library. Overall, The History of Mischief stands out as one of my favourite Contemporary Australian novels. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to donate a copy to my school library for my students and colleagues to read. – Kirstin, NSW, 5 Stars
I couldn’t put it down… Rebecca Higgie has written a top read for 2020! From the first sentence (so iconic), and following the journeys of each character, to the huge twist at the end. You can tell a lot of research and passion (and visits to the library!) have gone into this astonishing novel. I enjoyed Mrs Moran and Theodore’s haunting stories. Not everything is as it seems, no secret is left untouched. But love and connection over rules. – Preeya, QLD, 5 Stars
Wow what a novel. Two sisters Jessie and Kay bonding even closer after finding the book of The history of mischief. The story comes to life, with twists and turns that make you gasp, as the stories unfold. I love how much research the author Rebecca Higgie has gone through to make the History of Mischief realistic. Using the town of Guildford WA as the town where Jessie and Kay live, the reaserch of Diogenes/Alexander (Ancient Greece), China, and the Victorian Era of England to name a few. After reading each chapter, I literally had to put the book down to research places and people that were listed in the book. It was also an emotional book full of laughs and tears, won’t give away much but I had to laugh when there was an old lady vacuuming her driveway, I could relate to that, as it’s quite possibly something I would do when I’m an elderly lady. My other favourite part would be when Jessie admits that the story can’t end and how upset she was about it. This was exactly how I was feeling towards the end of the book. I didn’t want the story to end, or rather the mischief to end. So much so I restarted the book again. If your looking for mischief, magic and madness I highly recommend this book. – Cassandra, NSW, 5 Stars
What a unique and cleverly written novel! It was both educational and interesting and quite humorous in parts. The way in which Higgie was able to create such an imaginative story that helped a grieving girl, Jessie, and her equally grieving sister, Kay, to navigate through their new life after losing their parents. The alternating chapters between the “History” and Jessie, helped to maintain the progression of the story and the various interactions with other characters. The novel was very captivating with its twists and turns, that I highly recommend for someone wishing to read something a bit whimsical. It is very obvious why Rebecca Higgie received the Fogarty Literary award. – Veronica, NSW, 5 Stars
Not my usual type of book and I probably wouldn’t have read it if I didn’t receive the ARC from Better Reading. Thankfully, I did and what an amazing story. Full of history and family dynamics. Such an enjoyable but tearful read. Thank you Better Reading!! – Donna, VIC, 5 Stars
Rebecca Higgie’s The History of Mischief is a wondrous story set in Western Australia. It introduces nine year-old Jessie, a child grieving for the recent loss of her parents. She is under the care of her sister Kay, who is also trying her best to cope. The story plots Jesse’s journey, who copes by undertaking a quest to solve the mystery of the book the sisters discovered hidden. Each chapter transports them on an amazing adventure to places such as Ancient Greece and Egypt, Ancient China, or to fifteenth century Poland, Paris in 1870 and to Addis Ababa sometime later. Jessie becomes obsessed with researching each chapter at the library to discover if what she is reading is real history. (Very impressive extensive research for a nine year old!) The chapters alternate between the ‘history’ and Jessie’s story. How are they connected? I wondered ‘what is the target audience?’ I enjoyed it immensely as did our sensitive 11 year old boy, but as a Teacher-librarian, I know I could not put this book in our primary school library, because there would be parent objections to the use of the ‘f’ word. – Mara, NSW, 5 Stars
When my copy of Rebecca Higgie’s The History of Mischief arrived I was expecting a non fiction book. Yes, I didn’t really read the blurb properly and I’m not much of a fiction reader. Still, book in hand, it looked like a good fantasy romp and I had enjoyed the Harry Potter series. What a shock I was in for. Firstly, the progtaganists are girls! Secondly, and this was not revealed until the very end of the book, I’d been hook-winked! I’m not giving anything away but I do want to say, grab a copy and read it. It is not a difficult book to reads but it is highly entertaining. I loved it. I think readers of all ages over about 12, will too. – Danielle, NSW, 5 Stars
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