For some, Australia Day is a day of celebration, for others one of mourning, and for others still, something in between. One of the most powerful ways to engage with that complexity is through stories. These book recommendations invite readers to learn and reflect, broadening their understanding of Australia's past, present and future.
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Recommended by Anna Burkey, head of Australia Reads:
Tenderfoot by Toni Jordan: Reading like a memoir, Tenderfoot is a poignant portrayal of Andie, a young girl coming of age in 1970s Queensland. Her world is small - mapped out exclusively between her home, school and the dog track, which is her happy place. We follow Andie as she grows up in Australia, using her wits to survive a world of secrets, addictions and crime.
Monkey Grip by Helen Garner: A classic that's always worth revisiting, Helen Garner paints a vivid picture of the bohemian life and loves of young Fitzroy mother Nora and her daughter, as they navigate through a precarious world.
Recommended by Tim Jarvis and team at Fullers Bookshop in Tasmania:
Nock Loose by Patrick Marlborough: A rollicking, violent, hilarious ride through a fictional WA town, where the yearly medieval festival is a no-holds-barred celebration of depravity and corruption, and one resident who attempts to bring some justice to this lawless rabble. Biting satire with a surprising amount of heart from a bright new literary fiction star.
Translations by Jumaana Abdu: Aliyah, a single mother, moves to a small rural town with her daughter. Seemingly they're moving for a fresh start, hoping to fulfill her father's dream of a permaculture farm, but the choice of town is far from random. Aliyah hires Shep, the region's local imam who challenges and infuriates her, and as much as she tries to avoid becoming part of the local community, friendship and faith draw her in, leading to dramatic confrontations. A deeply moving and beautifully written, largely untold, Australian story.
Recommended by Jaclyn Crupi, author and events programmer, Brunswick Bound:
Not Quite White in the Head by Melissa Lucashenko: An incredible and confronting essay collection. This is truth telling by one of the nation's great writers that every Australian needs to read.
The Rot by Evelyn Araluen: An unflinching poetry collection that reads like a love letter to girlhood as we face the horrors of the world. There is so much compassion in these pages.
Apron-Sorrow/Sovereign-Tea by Natalie Harkin: A powerful reckoning with the archive as it seeks to erase Aboriginal women's domestic labour and servitude. This book brings the experiences and voices of Aboriginal women to life.
Recommended by Erin Wamala, teacher-librarian and The Kids Bookshop owner:
Here Come the Cousins by Maggie Hutchings and Sarah Zweck: So beautifully captures an Australian summer and the excitement of spending lazy days with the extended family. So many families will recognise the beach shack, board games, family stories, and reconnecting with cousins.
The Cockatoo Crew: Elif's Itchy Palm & Sambu Won't Grow by Lora Inak and Kruti Desai: Set in an English language school, it follows children who are new to Australia and all the worries that young children face. There are two in the series so far, perfect for newly independent readers. It's great to see this perspective in an engaging series for younger readers.
Run by Sarah Armstrong: A highly compelling mystery/survival story about a boy who runs away and finds himself lost in the Australian bush. With lots of suspense and adventure, this one is great for readers aged 11 and up.
Recommended by Aunty Munya Andrews, co-director Evolve Communities and Aboriginal Elder:
Loving Country by Bruce Pascoe and Vicky Shukuroglou: A guide to sacred Australia that helps the reader to understand Country and what it means for First Nations people; the strong ties and feelings that we have about Country.
Journey Into Dreamtime by Aunty Munya Andrews: A book of mine; it's a small book but it's written for the general public to understand Aboriginal spirituality, explaining some basic concepts like Country and protocols around Country. It gives people a deeper understanding they may not have got otherwise, in an easily digestible way.
Recommended by Carla Rogers, co-director Evolve Communities:
Talking To My Country by Stan Grant: A really powerful reflection on grief, belonging and the national story which encourages listening rather than defensiveness, which is our approach at Evolve.
My Place by Sally Morgan: A classic from 1987 that had a profound impact at the time and still does. It tells the story of her getting to know her identity and that of her grandmother's.
