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The Girl from the Great Sandy Desert (Jukuna Mona Chuguna & Pat Lowe, illus by Mervyn Street, Magabala)

This chapter book is a charming collection of stories by Jukuna Mona Chuguna, a storyteller from the great Sandy Desert. They have been interpreted and re-told by her friend and co-author, Pat Lowe. Lowe clearly has great respect for, and understanding of, the Indigenous culture and language of the Walmajarri people of the Kimberley region, and this book is a great way for young people to gain a similar understanding. The stories are fairly simplistic, but readers will need to refer repeatedly to the glossary of terms at the back of the book as it can be a little hard to keep track of their meanings. Yet this is one of the most important aspects of this book, as the language, as well as customs and beliefs, are seamlessly incorporated into the narrative. Informative cultural boxes are provided at the end of each chapter to explain some of the elements of the stories. This is a good book for dipping into, assessing and discussing, rather than for reading cover-to-cover. There is a lot to learn here, and it’s probably best suited to the mature upper-primary school reader. Some of the stories are funny, sad and scary. All are fascinating and provide insights into a part of Australian culture that is often overlooked or misrepresented. 

Hannah Cartmel is an editor, former bookseller and co-founder of The Rag & Bone Man Press

 

Category: Reviews