Book Review: Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia edited by Anita Heiss
Indigenous Literature Week 2021 at ANZ Litlovers
Cultural warning: Indigenous Australians are advised that some references in this blog include images or names of people now deceased.
For information about ILW 2021, click here.
Reviews
Thanks to everyone who is participating in 2021 Indigenous Literature Week – I hope that hosting this celebration helps to make more people aware of indigenous writing!
You are welcome to add your review/s early (or late). I will be monitoring this page until the end of July.
When you are ready to share your reviews, please use comments below:
Include
- your name & the name of your blog (if you have one) and the URL where your review is posted (your blog, or your GoodReads or Library Thing account). If you know the name of the Indigenous nation or language group of your author please include that too.
(Please do not add Amazon consumer reviews because they generate intrusive Amazon ads and I don’t care to support Amazon advertising).
- If you don’t have a blog or a GoodReads/Library Thing account, then please share what you thought about the book you read in the comments section at the bottom of this post.
- Or, if you’d like to write a review of greater length, contact me at anzlitloversATbigpondDOTcom about writing a guest review to be hosted on the ANZ LitLovers blog.
I will gather these links to generate a list which will be added under the headings below on this page. I will also add any new titles that crop up to the permanent Indigenous Reading List.
PS If you haven’t signed up to participate yet, or want to know more about ILW, click on the link at the top of this page.
2021 Reviews (in alphabetical order by author)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors
Evelyn Aruluen, a Goorie-Koori woman from Wurundjeri Country in New South Wales
- Drop Bear (2021)
- see Meredith’s (MsWriter3) review at Down the Wombat Hole
Larissa Behrendt* of the Eualeyai/Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay people whose lands extended from New South Wales to southern Queensland.
- After Story
Aunty Patsy Cameron, a descendant of the Pairebeenne Trawlwoolway clan in North East Tasmania, and Lisa Kennedy a descendant of the coastal Pairebeenne/Trawlwoolway clan.
- Sea Country (children’s book)
Gregg Dreise, a Kamilaroi and Euahlayi author and illustrator from northwest NSW
- Common Wealth: A Slam Poetry Persuasive | A picture book for older readers. Contains some confronting imagery
Stan Grant, a “self-identified Indigenous Australian who counts himself among the Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi, Dharrawal and Irish.”
- Australia Day
- On Thomas Keneally
Anita Heiss, a Wiradjuri woman from NSW
- Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams)
- Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia (editor)
Robert Isaacs, an Aboriginal Elder from the Whadjuk-Bibilmum Wardandi Noongar language group, with Tanaz Byrami (2021)
- Two Cultures, One Story
Ambelin Kwaymullina, from the Palyku people of the Pilbara in Western Australia
- Living on Stolen Land (2020)
- See Meredith’s (MsWriter3) review at Down the Wombat Hole
Gay’wu Group of Women, consisting of Yolŋu women from north-east Arnhem Land in Australia’s far north, and non-Aboriginal women
- Songspirals: Sharing women’s wisdom of Country through songlines
Kerry Reed-Gilbert, a Wiradjuri woman from NSW
- The Cherry-Picker’s Daughter
Ambelina Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina, from the Palyku people of the Pilbara in Western Australia
- Catching Teller Crow,
Thomas Mayor, a Torres Strait Islander born on Larrakia Country in Darwin.
- Finding the Heart of the Nation
- See Meredith’s (MsWriter3) review at Down the Wombat Hole
- see Lisa’s review at ANZLitLovers
Kunyi June Anne McInerney whose family’s language group is Yankunytjatjara.
- Kunyi (children’s book)
Marie Munkara descended from the Tiwi, Chinese & Rembarranga people whose lands are southeast of Katherine in the Northern territory.
- A Most Peculiar Act
Bruce Pascoe, a Yuin, Bunurong and Tasmanian man
- Dark Emu
- Loving Country, with Vicky Shukuruglou
Leah Purcell, a Goa, Gunggari, Wakka Wakka Murri woman from Queensland.
- The Drover’s Wife, the legend of Molly Johnson (2019, novel)
Kim Scott of the Noongar people of the southern coast of Western Australia
- Benang,
Elfie Shiosaki, a Noongar and Yawuru writer from WA.
- Homecoming
- See Lisa’s review at ANZ LitLovers
Nardi Simpson, a Yuwaalaray woman from the North West NSW freshwater plains
- Song of the Crocodile
Cindy Solonec is a Nigena (Nyikina) woman from the West Kimberley.
- Debesa, the story of Frank and Katie Rodriguez
Miranda Tapsell, a Larrakia woman from the Northern Territory
- Top End Girl (autobiography)
Adam Thompson, a pakana (Aboriginal) writer from Launceston, Tasmania
- Born into This (2021)
Margaret Tucker, born in NSW of Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta descent.
- If Everyone Cared, the autobiography of Margaret Tucker
Ben Tyler, from the Bininj/Mungguy peoples and cultures of Kakadu, writing collaboratively with Diane Lucas and Emma Long
- Walking in Gagudji Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest (children’s book)
Ellen Van Neerven, a writer of Mununjali and Dutch heritage who identifies with the Yugambeh people of the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim in Queensland
- Homeland Calling
- Throat
Karen Wyld, of Martu descent, from people of the Pilbara region in Western Australia
- Where the Fruit Falls
Maori and Pacific Authors
Tina Makerti, of Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto descent.
- The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke
Pauline Vaeluaga Smith, Samoan, Tuvaluan, Scottish and Irish descent
And from elsewhere…
Niviaq Korneliussen, an Inuit writer from Greenland
- Crimson