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
- With the Falling of the Dusk
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
Further reading
This post was written on the traditional land of the Ngaruk-Willam clan, one of the six clans of the Bunerong (Boonwurrung or Boon wurrung) saltwater people of the Kulin nation.
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
[…] Bookmark the page for Reviews from Indigenous Literature Week at ANZ LitLovers 2020 so that you can use the comments box there either […]
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By: Announcing 2021 Indigenous Literature Week at ANZ LitLovers | ANZ LitLovers LitBlog on June 1, 2021
at 9:10 am
[…] Lisa’s Indigenous Literature Week from 4-11 July 2021 […]
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By: Stories & Shout Outs #40 – Brona's Books on June 14, 2021
at 5:10 pm
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Tasmanian@Bibliophile at Large (https://tasmanianbibliophileatlarge.wordpress.com/)
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By: Jennifer on June 19, 2021
at 5:09 pm
Thanks, Jennifer!
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By: Lisa Hill on June 19, 2021
at 6:01 pm
Hi Lisa, I just reviewed Adam Thompson’s short story collection ‘Born Into This’: https://readingmattersblog.com/2021/06/26/born-into-this-by-adam-thompson/ and very good it was, too.
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By: kimbofo on June 26, 2021
at 4:05 pm
Thanks, Kim, I will add it above ASAP. You’re a gem!
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By: Lisa Hill on June 28, 2021
at 12:18 am
Hi Lisa,
Thought I would start with the books I’ve so far this year.
Born into This (short stories) https://bronasbooks.com/2021/03/06/born-into-this-adam-thompson-shortstories/
Homeland Calling (poetry) https://bronasbooks.com/2021/03/27/homeland-calling-edited-by-ellen-van-neervan-poetry/
Throat (poetry) https://bronasbooks.com/2021/02/08/throat-ellen-van-neervan-poetry/
Hopefully I will get Benang finished and reviewed in the next week.
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By: Brona's Books on June 28, 2021
at 8:41 am
This is great, Brona, I’m only just back on deck after my weekend away but I will get cracking adding these to the reading list. Thank you!
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By: Lisa Hill on June 28, 2021
at 11:29 am
[…] Today is the beginning of Indigenous Literature Week with Lisa @AnzLitLovers. […]
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By: Benang: From the Heart | Kim Scott #AUSfiction – Brona's Books on July 4, 2021
at 5:46 pm
Some thoughts on Benang by Kim Scott – https://bronasbooks.com/2021/07/04/benang-from-the-heart-kim-scott-ausfiction/
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By: Brona's Books on July 4, 2021
at 5:46 pm
Thank you Brona, that’s a beautiful review:)
I’ve added it above and to the Indigenous Reading List.
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By: Lisa Hill on July 4, 2021
at 6:43 pm
[…] was the start of Lisa’s (ANZLitLovers) 2021 Indigenous Literature Week which coincides of course with NAIDOC Week, and, again, I’ve decided to contribute this […]
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By: Monday musings on Australian literature: Recovering Australia’s Indigenous languages (2) | Whispering Gums on July 5, 2021
at 11:01 pm
As always I have devoted my Monday Musings of this week to ILW and NAIDOC. Here it is: https://whisperinggums.com/2021/07/05/monday-musings-on-australian-literature-recovering-australias-indigenous-languages-2/
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By: whisperinggums on July 5, 2021
at 11:25 pm
Thank you Sue, I will add this above, and also in the ‘Further Reading’ section of the Reading List, where all your MMs on Indigenous issues are listed!
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By: Lisa Hill on July 6, 2021
at 10:20 am
[…] @ANZLitLovers hosts an Indigenous Literature Week to coincide with NAIDOC week. Lisa is careful to acknowledge that as ‘a non-Indigenous Australian, I am mindful that I do […]
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By: Naidoc Week & Indigenous Picture Books – Brona's Books on July 7, 2021
at 6:38 pm
My annual Indigenous picture book post :-)
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By: Brona's Books on July 7, 2021
at 6:39 pm
Wonderful, thank you Brona! I’ll add these to the Reviews page and to the Reading List.
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By: Lisa Hill on July 7, 2021
at 10:44 pm
Hi Lisa, thanks for picking up on my review of The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke. I’ve also just written a review of Crimson by Niviaq Korneliussen, an Inuit writer from Greenland: https://andrewblackman.net/2021/07/crimson-by-niviaq-korneliussen/
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By: Andrew Blackman on July 9, 2021
at 6:21 am
Thanks Andrew, I’m back on deck after a bad day with a headache and will add this to the reviews page and the reading list.
It’s great to have your contributions!
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By: Lisa Hill on July 9, 2021
at 9:04 am
PS I couldn’t comment on your blog, but what you wrote about Greenlander identity resonated with me… I recently watched a Danish series called When the Dust Settles (about the aftermath of a terrorist attack) and one of the characters is a Greenlander living in Denmark. He feels survivor guilt because he is spared by the terrorists, and he thinks it’s because he doesn’t look Danish…
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By: Lisa Hill on July 9, 2021
at 9:29 am
[…] author Adam Thompson’s Born into this earlier this year, I told him I’d save it for Lisa’s ILW 2021, which I did – and which means I can now thank him properly for a yet another well-chosen […]
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By: Adam Thompson, Born to this (#BookReview) | Whispering Gums on July 9, 2021
at 11:45 pm
Hi Lisa, here finally is my review of Born into this: https://whisperinggums.com/2021/07/09/adam-thompson-born-to-this-bookreview/ I hope to do one more on the weekend. and Nardi Simpson at the end of July.
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By: whisperinggums on July 9, 2021
at 11:50 pm
Hey Lisa, you may not be able to fix this right now, but the link to Kim’s review for Born into this breaks.
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By: whisperinggums on July 10, 2021
at 11:34 am
[…] took me several weeks to read Benang in preparation for Indigenous Literature Week. It was intense, demanding and confronting. I’m very grateful to have finally read it. It is […]
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By: After Story | Larissa Behrendt #AWW – Brona's Books on July 10, 2021
at 5:12 pm
One last one!
After Story by Larissa Behrendt. Thanks for hosting this week again Lisa. It’s the prompt I need to focus on the Indigenous authors in my TBR pile.
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By: Brona's Books on July 10, 2021
at 5:16 pm
In commemoration of Indigenous literature week, I read the novel Dawn Raid by new author, Pauline Vaeluaga Smith. This historical novel for young readers takes place in New Zealand (1976). Written in the form of diary entries, the story is centered on 13 year old protagonist name Sofia Christina Savea who gives insight on the impact of the dawn raids on Pasifika people. In several book reviews and video interviews with Smith, she is commended for capturing the adolescent voice and perspective of Sofia as well as the social and political events and activist groups, pop cultural references, and Maori and Samoan customs. The sketch-like illustrations by Mat Hunkin compliment the narrative is a dynamic way. Hunkin captures the physicality of the characters, sites, and facets of everyday life. In addition to the narrative, Smith provides a historical note with photographs and glossary of New Zealand English, Samoan, and Maori words. I appreciate the care that Smith and Hunkin took to create such an enriched and timely novel.
Dawn Raid is geared towards upper primary and lower secondary grade readers. I highly recommend this novel for young and adult readers alike to read and glean a nuanced understanding of the dawn raids and how a young girl, her family, and community advocate for social justice.
Recommended Resources:
Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers Interview with Ms. Smith
Dawn raids exhibition remembering New Zealand’s dark history (March 2021)
1 News Story “Victim of dawn raids says it was like what happened to Jewish people in Holocaust” (June 14, 2021)
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By: smaxine27 on July 11, 2021
at 1:09 pm
Thanks for this Sonia, I will add it to my #ILW post and pages when I’m back on deck.
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By: Lisa Hill on July 11, 2021
at 2:29 pm
Thanks for this, it’s great to have a contribution from NZ.
However I’m uneasy about the comparison to the Holocaust. Whatever happened in these dawn raids was nothing like being forced into a cattle car with either slave labour or death camps as destination.
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By: Lisa Hill on July 12, 2021
at 10:33 am
I understand your perspective on the speaker’s point. When I first heard it, it raised an eyebrow.
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By: smaxine27 on July 12, 2021
at 10:36 am
Yes. I understand the anger but people ought to be very careful with allusions like this. It’s usually ignorance, best rectified by reading some Holocaust literature.
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By: Lisa Hill on July 12, 2021
at 10:49 am
Hi Lisa. That list is already hugely impressive. I’ve just scraped into the week with my blog post about <Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, edited by Anita Heiss, on my bog Me Fail? I Fly! at https://shawjonathan.com/2021/07/11/growing-up-aboriginal-in-australia/
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By: shawjonathan on July 11, 2021
at 5:22 pm
Wonderful, thanks Jonathan, I will add it to the #ILW post and pages as soon as I can.
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By: Lisa Hill on July 11, 2021
at 6:01 pm
[…] (My third post for Lisa’s 2021 ILW Week.) […]
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By: Stan Grant, On Thomas Keneally (Writers on writers) (#BookReview) | Whispering Gums on July 11, 2021
at 11:45 pm
My second review, and third post: Stan Grant’s On Thomas Keneally https://whisperinggums.com/2021/07/11/stan-grant-on-thomas-keneally-writers-on-writers-bookreview/
And, of course, Nardi Simpson will be coming at the end of the month.
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By: whisperinggums on July 11, 2021
at 11:55 pm
[…] 2018, when I bought it at Red Kangaroo Books in Alice Springs. I decided to read it for Lisa’s Indigenous Literature Week organised from July 5th to July 11th. Given my timeline, we’re still on July 11th when I write […]
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By: A Most Peculiar Act by Marie Munkara – the appalling Aboriginal Ordinances Act of 1918 | Book Around the Corner on July 12, 2021
at 6:18 am
OK, I think I’ve harvested all the contributions added to comments here and included them both in this post and the reading list page/s, and I’ve fixed the broken link for Kim’s review of Born Into This. Please let me know if I’ve omitted anything!
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By: Lisa Hill on July 13, 2021
at 9:33 am
Well done Lisa and thanks … a real labour of love that is so appreciated. This is becoming an excellent resource.
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By: whisperinggums on July 13, 2021
at 4:14 pm
Thanks Sue!
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By: Lisa Hill on July 13, 2021
at 5:01 pm
[…] For Lisa’s Indigenous Literature Week, I read Benang by Kim Scott, After Story by Larissa Behrendt as well as putting together my annual Indigenous Picture Book post. To see all the reviews for this week, visit Lisa’s Review Page. […]
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By: Stories & Shout Outs #41 – Brona's Books on July 25, 2021
at 4:51 pm
Hi Lisa … I read Nardi Simpson’s Song of the crocodile for reading group: https://whisperinggums.com/2021/07/30/nardi-simpson-song-of-the-crocodile-bookreview/
I linked it to your Indigenous Literature Reading List page so that readers can find all the reviews to date for it.
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By: whisperinggums on July 31, 2021
at 11:02 am
Thanks, Sue, I’ll add it in:)
What a a wonderful book it is!
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By: Lisa Hill on July 31, 2021
at 1:01 pm
[…] to write a review if you want to take part. Or you can participate by reading and commenting on other people’s reviews for Indigenous Literature […]
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By: The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke by Tina Makereti - Book Review on August 22, 2021
at 12:24 am
[…] also took part in Lisa’s (ANZLitLovers) Indigenous Literature week, Bill’s (The Australian Legend) AWW Gen 3 Week Part 2, and Nonfiction November. More […]
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By: Blogging highlights for 2021 | Whispering Gums on January 2, 2022
at 10:00 pm