Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen

A very short but incredibly powerful novel about slavery in the Southern States of America before the Civil War. Nighjohn comes onto the property and teaches Sarny, a twelve-year old girl, how to read. The cruelty of the era is out there for you to read about. It is incredible to believe that such suffering was inflicted on one group of human beings, simply because of the colour of their skin.

Nightjohn knows that the only way that things will change is if the slaves can read and learn. The sequel Sarny is even more interesting.

Headgames by Casey Lever

Ever played Truth or Dare? Five teens decide (some more eagerly than others) to have a go at this game. Not many dares get taken up but lots of truth gets told, things that have never been told to others – on very “touchy” subjects.

You have the nerd, the big guy, the tough guy, the school Miss Popular and the Goth. But these stereotypical labels hide a lot of hurt and it’s fascinating wondering what is going to be let out of the bag next.

Lever really writes a page turner – shades of psychological thrillers.

Little Paradise by Gabrielle Wang

Mirabel loves designing dresses and is nearly finished school. But it’s 1943 in Melbourne and there are soldiers everywhere to attract young girls. Mirabel falls for a Chinese soldier and the consequences of this love have life-changing consequences.

This is based on a true story. Her bravery following her man to Shanghai and even into dangerous parts of China during wartime show her true qualities. this is a great read – lots of excitement and interest watching her family try to come to terms with the events in her life.

Riding the black cockatoo by John Danalis

Riding the Black Cockatoo

Sometimes sick days can be rewarding – it meant I could lie in bed and just read the whole of this well-written and totally engrossing book. John’s story follows him on his journey as he goes from a family man learning to become  a teacher, to a sincere supporter of reconciliation.

John makes a casual comment one day (in a class about Indigenous Writing)  about how his family had an Aboriginal skull on their mantelpiece for over 40 years. This is the start of his amazing journey to the return this skull to its rightful resting place. Along the way, he goes through attitudinal and mental changes.  I do wonder what his wife and kids thought of all the goings-on, but I suppose it was his story rather than theirs.

His recall of attitudes towards Aboriginal People in Australia over the last four decades reminded me of how far many of us have come (not far enough and not enough of us, however).