Cirrus@Austlit

A newspaper report on the novel's commendation at the Children's Book Council Book of the Year awards described it as 'a tale of schoolgirl twins on an outback station, with a romance between their brother and a squatter's daughter thrown in.'

Source:

'Prizewinner for Children', Sunday Herald, 5 August 1951, p.11.

'Hope, a country girl manages her father's sheep property. Fran is her house guest and, being newry engaged, is inclined to live in a romantic vacuum. Rory is a typical schoolboy with outstanding talent in the game of harassing adults.

'The adventure come to a climax when three cattle thieves are captured.'

Source:

'Literary Nook', Cairns Post, 27 September 1952, p.8.

''Carcoola Holiday' has all the sparkling humor of Miss Handford's previous books for girls. As a counter to the feminine activities of Hope, and the twins Ann-Anne and Dimity, the two boys Rory and Jonesy, familiar figures to readers of the Carcoola books, provide their own quota of nuisance-creating. This time they decide to write a radio serial. The result may easily be imagined.

'A new and welcome addition to the Carcoola characters is a New Australian girl, Zelie. The gradual acceptance of the Australian way of life by this Czech girl is described by the authoress with sympathy and sincerity.

'For young readers who crave excitement, there plenty of that type of action to be expected on an Australian sheep station.'

Source:

'Book Review: "Carcoola Holiday",' Newcastle Sun, 22 October 1953, p.21.

'The story of group of young people who love the theatre, this is a book of the stage, with the familiar background and character of Carcoola Downs–and a young flying doctor.'

Source:

Advertisement, Canberra Times, 4 January 1957, p.4.