Sixteen-year-old Sybylla Melvyn tells the story of her life in the Australian outback of the 1890s and her refusal to conform to what is expected of a mere woman. Miles Franklin wrote the novel when she was only sixteen and it's full of life and energy. (There's a sequel My Brilliant Career goes Bung for those who get hooked.)
Links:
[1] http://savfikn.booksforkeeps.co.uk/childrens-books/my-brilliant-career
[2] http://savfikn.booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/11
[3] http://savfikn.booksforkeeps.co.uk/member/pat-triggs