NAIDOC Week 2022: 5 Fantastic Stories for Older Readers

Celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. There are many NAIDOC events held around the country.

We’ve put together a reading list focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures for you to share with your older readers. This list is just the tip of the iceberg – there is a vast array of literature and research available that can help you and your children understand more, and to help us all move towards a genuine understanding of reconciliation. Here are a few titles to start with:

Young Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe

Bruce Pascoe has collected a swathe of literary awards for Dark Emu and now he has brought together the research and compelling first-person accounts in a book for younger readers. Using the accounts of early European explorers, colonists and farmers, Bruce Pascoe compellingly argues for a reconsideration of the hunter-gatherer label for pre-colonial Aboriginal Australians.

Ages 11+

Buy a copy of Young Dark Emu here.

The First Scientists by Corey Tutt, illustrated by Blak Douglas

The First Scientists is the highly anticipated, illustrated science book from Corey Tutt of DeadlyScience. With kids aged 7 to 12 years in mind, this book will nourish readers’ love of science and develop their respect for Indigenous knowledge at the same time.

Ages 7+

Buy a copy of The First Scientists here.

Wylah: The Koorie Warrior by Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard

Meet Wylah: warrior, hero and friend. Her adventures have been 40,000 years in the making! Introducing an unforgettable cast of characters, Wylah: The Koorie Warrior is a heart-stopping and imaginative adventure, inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture.

Ages 8+

Buy a copy of Wylah: The Koorie Warrior here.

Tell Me Why by Archie Roach

In his inspirational, highly acclaimed memoir – and including reflections from First Nations Elders and young people – Archie Roach tells the story of his life and his music. Only two when he was forcibly removed from his family, and brought up by a series of foster parents until his early teens, Archie’s world imploded when he received a letter that spoke of a life he had no memory of. It took him almost a lifetime to find out who he really was.

Ages 12+

Buy a copy of Tell Me Why here.

The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough

A funny and heartwarming queer Indigenous YA novel, set in a rural Australian community, about seventeen-year-old Jackson finding the courage to explore who he is, even if it scares him.

Ages 14+

Buy a copy of The Boy from the Mish here.