Harmony Week in the Library
To celebrate Harmony Week, Shore’s Senior Library is this week focusing on books featuring different cultures. Here is a selection of these books.
Thai-riffic! was Oliver Phommavanh’s first book, published in 2010. Oliver is of Thai origin and, in his own words, this book is “for anyone trying to make sense of their own family heritage. Anyone caught between two cultures. Anyone wanting to fit in and be treated for who you really are.” It is an uplifting and refreshing story. (Fiction – Humour).
Songs of a War Boy is by NSW Australian of the Year 2017, Deng Thiak Adut. Deng was taken from his mother as a young child and conscripted into the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, where he was given an AK-47 and sent into battle. The book is ultimately an uplifting story of him being rescued and smuggled into a Kenyan refugee camp by his brother, supported by the UN and resettled in Australia, where he is now a lawyer and a refugee advocate. (Non-Fiction Stories 325.21 ADU).
Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky by Rebecca Lin tells the story of a brother and sister in Southern China during the period of Mau Zedong’s Great Leap Forward Campaign in the 1950s. After tragedy strikes, they set out to find their father, who left for Australia a decade ago. They encounter obstacles like grief, famine, poverty, racism and danger on the high seas along the way, but nothing can crush their spirits. It is a beautiful story of family, resilience and the Asian-Australian experience. (Fiction – Relationships and Coming of Age)
Daring to Drive by Manal Al-Sharif is a coming-of-age tale of a brave woman in Saudi Arabia who fought for women’s rights, most famously for women’s right to drive. The book is also a celebration of resilience and the power of education. (Non-Fiction Stories 306.0953 SHA).
A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: A Palestine Story by Nathan Thrall is a portrait of daily life in Israel and the West Bank. It has been referred to as the “best book to understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”. It is an illumination of the reality of life in this contested area as it tells stories of Jewish and Palestinian characters whose lives and pasts unexpectedly converge. (Non-Fiction Stories 306.0956 THR).
In the Sea there are Crocodiles by Fabio Geda tells the story of a ten-year-old Afghan boy who finds himself alone on the Afghan-Pakistan border, trying to find a place of safety. Based on a true story, we follow Enaiatollah Akbari on his five-year-long journey that eventually takes him to a new life in Italy. It is a universal tale of courage and hope in the face of fear. (Fiction – Relationships and Coming of Age).
Growing Up Asian in Australia is a collection of stories by Asian Australians about what it is really like to grow up Asian and Australian. The book is edited by Alice Pung and features stories from across Australia by well-known authors and others who invite us to get a glimpse of their experiences. (Non-Fiction Stories 305.895 GRO).
The Happiest Refugee by Anh Do was first published 14 years ago but is still a favourite with Shore boys. It tells Anh’s life story from fleeing Vietnam by boat as a 2-year-old, arriving as a refugee and growing up in Australia, which involved crowded rooms, donated clothes and ruthless landlords. Despite the hardships, there was a loving extended family and Anh’s mother’s sacrifice, and hard work was an inspiration for him to work hard, graduate high school and go to university. (Non-Fiction Stories 792.7028 DOA).
Mrs E White
Head of Library & Information Services