‘There is madness in it.’
‘Yes. But magic too.’
The History of Mischief is an award-winning novel full of magic, mischief, madness and mystery. Set in the town of Guildford, Western Australia, it follows Jessie and Kay as they delve into a mysterious book called The History of Mischief. Found hidden beneath the floorboards of their grandmother’s abandoned home, the book spans over two thousand years, chronicling a mysterious magical power called mischief.
The mystery of the book, and where it came from, lingers with Jessie as she tries to navigate life after the death of her parents. Ultimately, The History of Mischief is about grief and the many things we try to do to escape it. It is about the stories we tell in order to protect ourselves and those we love. It is a magical literary historical fiction suitable for teens and adults alike.
The book took Rebecca over 12 years to write, as she researched and wrote between working, getting a PhD, and starting a family. From hunting books printed on a frozen River Thames, to sneakily visiting a lighthouse at night to see exactly how the light worked, Rebecca conducted plenty of research in creating this multi-layered tome. The book won the 2019 Fogarty Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript.
Available in all good bookstores and online from September 2020.
Publisher’s Blurb
‘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.
Praise for The History of Mischief
"A heartfelt homage to libraries and librarians and a celebration of the utter joy of research and accumulating knowledge, this book is at its heart a rumination on grief, the corrosive nature of secrets and the redemptive power of love...An impressive debut and a worthy inaugural winner of the Fogarty Literary Award."
Jan Nicholls, President, Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) - WA Branch
“This is a marvellous debut, a unique novel from an emerging writer of huge ambition and astonishing intellect, that will satisfy adults as much as the younger audience it is aimed at.”
Emma Young, The Sydney Morning Herald
“She has crafted a superlative novel full of adventure, history, magic and myth, as fluid and gentle as flowing water. The explosive ending shocks with its absolute perfection, for it reveals how far people go, what they will sacrifice, to shield those they love.“
Anastasia Gonis, Kids’ Book Review
“I underestimated this story initially and that was a mistake. The History of Mischief is evocative, ambitious, and a genius demonstration of plot.”
Dylan Dartnell, Underground Writers
"It took me less than a day to devour this gem of a novel...The only word to best describe this novel is epic; the story spans centuries, continents and characters galore. Higgie weaves a gripping and often heartbreaking story of Jessie and Kay, and binds their narrative together with the 'histories' in the book. It may be a YA title but there's nothing juvenile about it. The histories are thrilling, the story of the sisters is compelling and there are some truly unexpected twists that will have you gasping out loud."
Jen Bowden, writer and freelance journalist
“The History of Mischief is a fascinating ‘book within a book’ embodying the adage that truth is often indeed stranger than fiction. The stunning, intricately detailed cover hints at the many secrets within as it invites the reader to embark on an ambitious journey interweaving more than 2000 years of history with a family story illuminating the far-reaching effects of grief, the destructive power of long-held secrets, and the redemptive power of love.…Containing many classic ingredients of a great read – magic, madness, mystery and adventure – this tale will reward multiple readings as it gradually reveals its secrets.“
“The History of Mischief won the 2019 Fogarty Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript and is an impressive debut novel. While marketed by publisher Fremantle Press in the Young Adult category, this clever novel will be enjoyed by readers of all ages and would be especially suitable for multi-generational book clubs.”
writingWA
“The skill, complexity and magic of the interwoven storylines is absorbing and enjoyable but not fully appreciated until the final pages.”
Joy Lawn, PaperbarkWords
“It is a wonderful ambassador for the value of using libraries in the thrill of research about real events and characters, which should be embraced by parents, teachers and students of many ages.”
Magpies
“The History of Mischief is a tale of magic, family, and adventure that can be enjoyed by everyone. Higgie writes with incredible grace and sensitivity and imbues the novel with an almost nostalgic feeling that will take you back to your childhood reading experiences. Fans of The Night Circus and The Little Prince will fall in love with this book…Everything about this book captures that childlike wonder that we often don’t see in modern fiction. A breath of fresh air to say the least.”
Better Reading
“And how should the book be classified? Would it fall under that ubiquitous heading ‘Young Adult’? As a reader – decidedly not young – I know I baulk when recommended something in that category. But, rest assured, the journey upon which we are taken is one that can be enjoyed by fiction lovers of all ages. I could imagine it in the hands of a teenager and I can imagine a great-grandma deriving equal pleasure…[Rebecca] takes us into the realms of learning and discovery, where libraries are repositories of wealth and need to be valued as such. All in all, a journey I enjoyed immensely.”
Bruce Menzies, Fremantle Shipping News
Teaching notes
You can find the teaching notes for The History of Mischief here.