Move the Mountains by Emily Conolan

The Freedom Fighters series. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760294946.
(Age: 9-13) Recommended. This novel is the third in the series and combines the 'Choose your own adventure' style of writing with historical fiction. The main character discovers ways to find freedom and escape life threatening situations, they are 'Freedom Finders', hence the name of the series. The reader becomes the main character and makes the decisions that can lead to success or death.
It is 1943 during WW2 in Italy and an Australian airman has crashed into the German occupied Italian mountains. 'You' and your cousin hide the airman who befriends you both, teaching you maths and providing an insight into life in Australia.
Impetuously, you take a family lucky charm and give it Charlie the airman to help him escape and from then on only bad luck ensues for your mother and siblings.
Will the airman manage to return to Australia unhurt? Will you be able to join him? Can you ever return the lucky charm and improve the family's fortune?
Can you deal with corruption, sexism and injury?
These and many other questions will confront you and you make decisions that will drastically affect your life.
This novel provides an insight into the famous Australian Snowy Mountains Scheme and the problems that are faced by women in the 1950's who want to step out of the 'acceptable' role of wife and mother.
I have read and reviewed the 2 other novels in this series, Break Your Chains and Touch the Sun and all books follow the same format with extra information in the back of the book to help the reader understand the historical background of the story.
Primary school students enjoy the interactive choices of 'Choose your own' books and I recommend these books for students aged 9 to 13 years.
Jane Moore