It’s 1916 and May Tarrant has married Wally Webby and is living on a bush farm. They’ve had two children, Phil and Estelle, before Wally is sent to army camp in 1918 in preparation to joining the troops. Luckily he doesn’t have to go to war, but he does fall victim to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic which sweeps through the country. In true pioneer spirit, May copes with nursing Wally, while looking after their young children. They later buy a dairy farm in the Waikato, but tough times see them forced to sell and go sharemilking. The family grows to nine children (including the author) and two of the eldest boys must serve during World War II. May was a plucky girl and is an even more courageous woman. She lived any interesting life and, after following her life in the first four books in the May series, I enjoyed finding out how her adult life was. Author Phyllis Johnston is patron of Bookrapt, the Bay of Plenty Children’s Literature Association, and has written a fine body of work. It’s lovely to see this book finally in print and beautifully illustrated by the very talented Debbie Tipuna. The series as a whole is a treasure, and gives a great insight into the life of our pioneering ancestors. ( )