Books like I Can Jump Puddles

I first read Alan Marshall's autobiography of his childhood - I Can Jump Puddles (1955) as part of the school curriculum in early high school. I loved the bighearted story of overcoming adversity then, but wasn't sure what to expect when I reread it as part of the Popsugar 2016 book challenge (a book your read in high school). I loved it. Marshall's clear, crisp, descriptive style is almost contemporary in its use of point of view (young Alan's), it's construction of scenes with action, setting, dialogue and, often, humour. Marshall bring his childhood in rural Victoria ('Turalla') in the early 20th century - with its colourful characters in a time before cars and electricity - to vivid life. Born in 1902, Marshall contracted Polio at the age of six which resulted in a long hospital stay and permanent paralysis of his legs (complete in one, partial in the other). Young Alan, encouraged by his father, refused to see himself as a cripple and became even more determined to achieve physical prowess, competing with the other kids without fear or favour despite his dependence of crutches - and when adults hesitated to teach him skills, he taught himself. The story is also about family and friendship. Alan's dad shines through as a thoughtful and generous man. The charm of this book is in bringing to life a past era - perhaps with a romanticised tinge - of horse drawn vehicles, bullock teams, and rugged outdoor men. While the women (Alan's sisters, mother, Mrs Caruthers, his friend's Joe's mother, the poster's wife) are portrayed more in passing, their presence if felt – and Alan's Dad puts great store by Miles Franklin's Brilliant Career. It is clear that both men and women are tough, resilient and resourceful people - maybe with some values and approaches to life that may be confronting to us today (e.g. approaches to violence and bullying) but also with much to admire. I wondered about the virtual absence of local aboriginal people in the story. Yet, despite these lacuna - I Can Jump Puddles was an engaging read made more special by my old 1955 edition with its simple but delightful illustrations by Alan Forbes.A wonderful recreation of a bygone era that evoked some faint echoes of my own childhood in outback Queensland over a half-century later.