Becoming Kirrali Lewis by Jane Harrison

$19.99 NZD

$24.99 (20% off)

Category: Messiness | Series: Aboriginal teenager

Set within the explosive cultural shifts of the 1960s and 1980s, Becoming Kirrali Lewis chronicles the journeyof a young First Nations Australian teenager as she leaves her home town in rural Victoria to take on a law degree in the city of Melbourne in 1985. Adopted at birth by a white family, Kirrali d Set within the explosive cultural shifts of the 1960s and 1980s, Becoming Kirrali Lewis chronicles the journeyof a young First Nations Australian teenager as she leaves her home town in rural Victoria to take on a law degree in the city of Melbourne in 1985. Adopted at birth by a white family, Kirrali doesn't question her cultural roots until a series of life-changing events force her to face up to her true identity. Her decision to search for her biological parents sparks off a political awakening that no one sees coming, least of all Kirrali herself as she discovers her mother is white and her father is a radical black activist. Narrative flashbacks to the 1960s, where Kirrali's biological mother, Cherie, is rebelling against her parent's strict conservatism sees her fall into a clandestine relationship with a black man. Unmarried and pregnant, Cherie's traumatic story of an unforgiving Australian society give meaning to Kirrali's own rites of passage nearly twenty years later. The generational threads of human experience are the very things that will complete her. If only she can let go. ...Show more

Kookoo Kookaburra by Gregg Dreise

$24.95 NZD

Category: Messiness

Kindness is like a boomerang - if you throw it often, it comes back often. Kookoo the Kookaburra is the second heartwarming morality tale - set within the cultural context of the Dreamtime - by Queensland teacher Gregg Dreise. In the same vein as his first book Silly Birds (Magabala Books 2014) Dreise t Kindness is like a boomerang - if you throw it often, it comes back often. Kookoo the Kookaburra is the second heartwarming morality tale - set within the cultural context of the Dreamtime - by Queensland teacher Gregg Dreise. In the same vein as his first book Silly Birds (Magabala Books 2014) Dreise tells the story of Kookoo, a kind and well-loved kookaburra who is famous for entertaining the other bush creatures with his funny stories. Everyone knows Kookoo has a special gift because he can tell funny stories about the other animals without hurting their feelings. However, when Kookoo runs out of kind stories he turns to teasing and making fun of his friends' differences. Refusing to listen to the sage advice of his uncle, Kookoo gradually alienates all his friends until he finds himself alone and ignored by the other animals. When he finally listens to the sounds of his own laughter echoing around the bush and realises it has become an unhappy sound, Kookoo is forced to remember his uncle's words and change his ways - kindness is like a boomerang - if you throw it often, it comes back often. ...Show more

Grace Beside Me by Sue McPherson

$19.95 NZD

Category: Messiness

Written from teenager girl Fuzzy Mac's perspective, Grace Beside Me is a quirky, warmly rendered story of home and family life in a small town. The black&write! judges remarked on the authentic feel of the Indigenous home life of Fuzzy Mac and her grandparents -- her guardians since the death of her Written from teenager girl Fuzzy Mac's perspective, Grace Beside Me is a quirky, warmly rendered story of home and family life in a small town. The black&write! judges remarked on the authentic feel of the Indigenous home life of Fuzzy Mac and her grandparents -- her guardians since the death of her mother. Awkward episodes of teen rivalry and romance sit happily alongside the mystery of Gran's visions and an encounter with a ghost. The story sits against a backdrop of amazing characters including the holocaust survivor who went to school with Einstein; the sleazy, once-good-looking Mayor; the little priest always rushing off to bury someone before the heat gets to them; the wife basher up the road; Lola's Forest, dedicated to Lola, a traditional Aboriginal woman who met Ned Kelly -- and Nan and Pop. Grace Beside Me interweaves the mundane with the profound and the spiritual -- it is full of wisdom and good advice (Fuzzy call's Nan 'the queen of all knowing') on everything from how to to 'sit a while' in the bush and connect with country to how to properly hang out the washing. ...Show more

Once There Was A Boy by Dub Leffler

$24.95 NZD

Category: Messiness

The disarmingly sweet, simple language in this whimsical children s picture book belies an emotional depth that allows the author to reach out to both the young, and the young at heart. This stunning picture book is transformed into a gently touching grown-up story by the use of sophisticated allegorica The disarmingly sweet, simple language in this whimsical children s picture book belies an emotional depth that allows the author to reach out to both the young, and the young at heart. This stunning picture book is transformed into a gently touching grown-up story by the use of sophisticated allegorical elements, such as the heart as love or friendship and the sapotes as forbidden fruit." ...Show more