A movement on the other side of the oval suddenly caught her attention. Two figures wearing baseball caps and sunglasses were struggling with something wrapped in a rug or carpet. Whatever it was, it looked long and heavy. The suspicious looking pair glanced around furtively before disappearing into the greenery. Grabbing Billie’s arm and squeezing it hard, she pointed across the oval to a clearing in the trees. “I just saw two people carrying something. They were heading down the path to the back of the school … it looked like … like a body! 

For Billie and Minty, breaking school rules is easy – but solving a centuries old mystery is the real challenge! 

In debut author Rosie Schonell’s nail-biting middle-grade mystery, we’re introduced to two strong willed protagonists who set out on an intriguing adventure, in the grounds of their school, Mirrabooka Girls College. 

Faced with an old school legend and a missing treasure, the sleuths are compelled to solve the cryptic clues and unlock past secrets. 

Mum told me about this place. It’s supposed to be haunted by the ghost of a girl called Cordelia, who fell out of the tower window. Apparently, she’d sit on the window ledge at night staring into the bush. They think something scared her and caused her to fall. 

Ghosts, ancient keys, grisly dogs, riddles, paper maps, spooky cemeteries, and blood sucking leeches, the girls face it all as they try to uncover the Abercrombie family curse in the haunted house Ravenswatch. 

Rosie Schonell says, ‘Every schoolgirl wants to be a detective at some point … at that age, everything is exciting, and the idea of solving a mystery is especially appealing. There’s something about the curiosity and determination of kids that makes them the perfect detectives.’ 

The middle-grade author subtly weaves relevant themes into Breaking School Rules is Easy, including the threat of climate change and bushfires, the importance of wearing sunscreen, and schoolgirls being able to wear shorts instead of skirts as part of the school uniform, the importance of friendship and that school grades are not the only measure of who you are.

Even though she is an English teacher, she says, getting into the mind of a middle grader isn’t easy. 

'It did take effort to see the world through their eyes again. Having raised my own children helps! They reminded me of what's funny, what’s scary, and what’s important at that age.’ 

Passionate about engaging young readers, Rosie Schonell says she was drawn to middle-grade fiction because of its potential for adventure. 

'You need to create enough suspense to keep readers guessing while making sure the clues are woven in seamlessly. And, of course, the characters need to be relatable and fun.’ 

Rosie also hopes readers will take away the powerful message that by facing your fears you become empowered to take on further challenges.