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The Family Conspiracy

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The Family Conspiracy
First edition
AuthorJoan Phipson
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's fiction
PublisherAngus and Robertson (Aus)
Constable (UK)
Publication date
1962
Publication placeAustralia
Media typePrint
Pages188pp
Preceded byThe Boundary Riders 
Followed byThreat to the Barkers 

The Family Conspiracy (1962) is a novel for children by Australian author Joan Phipson; it was illustrated by Margaret Horder. It won the Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers in 1963.[1]

Story outline

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The Barker family run a sheep farm in the Central West of New South Wales. When Mrs Barker is diagnosed with a medical condition that requires hospitalisation the family children create a "conspiracy" to raise the money required for her treatment.

Critical reception

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Writing in The Canberra Times a reviewer was impressed by the characterisation of the children: "These are no juvenile prodigies, outsmarting adults at every turn; they are very real people, combining childish strength and faults, and their actions are entirely credible. There is a great deal more that could be said in praise of this book; of its unassuming but faithful picture of the Australian country, and of the people who help give it character; of its patches of breathless adventure; and of the competent way in which characters and plot are welded together."[2]

Awards

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See also

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References

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