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mat_tobin's review
5.0
A fascinating illustrated text, presented in portrait format with aboriginal-stylised paintings and patterns, Stradbroke Dreamtime is a book of two halves. Penned by Oodgeroo, a name given to her by the Nukukul tribe, the first half is autobiographical and sees the author (then known as Kath Walker) reflect on her time on the island under the guidance and tutelage of her aboriginal father who shows her the cultures and customs of their heritage. The second is a retelling of the myths that Oodgeroo has inherited.
I enjoyed both halves equally. Her childhood stories did much to highlight the oppression and devastation that colonialism brought with it but there are moments of humour and warmth here too. Stradbroke island itself is alive, in memory, with the flora and fauna of the land. The myths themselves were written well - you could hear them being told rather than read aloud which I felt was far more in the spirit of what all traditional tales should set out to achieve.
I'm not sure why it's considered a children's book save for the fact that these are memories of her childhood and although there is much here that a young reader will enjoy (all of it, in fact) it felt like its audience was rather nebulous.
I enjoyed both halves equally. Her childhood stories did much to highlight the oppression and devastation that colonialism brought with it but there are moments of humour and warmth here too. Stradbroke island itself is alive, in memory, with the flora and fauna of the land. The myths themselves were written well - you could hear them being told rather than read aloud which I felt was far more in the spirit of what all traditional tales should set out to achieve.
I'm not sure why it's considered a children's book save for the fact that these are memories of her childhood and although there is much here that a young reader will enjoy (all of it, in fact) it felt like its audience was rather nebulous.
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