Scenes of bullying, reprisal and reprimands feature in ‘Dirrarn’ as Mia experiences a culture vastly different to her own. At thirteen, Mia leaves her homeland on Jaru Country in the Kimberley and goes to boarding school in Perth, Western Australia. Now she is thousands of kilometres from home, family, and the culture she knows and loves. Everything is vastly different. Life in a boarding school has unfamiliar rules and different ways of teaching and learning, all adding to Mia feeling that she is the outsider.
Mia previously appeared in these authors’ book, ‘Black Cockatoo.’ There Mia experienced family love, home, and culture—familiar and satisfying. Now at boarding school, Mia’s salvation is her friendship with Naya and the strength she draws from her totem, Dirrarn, the Black Cockatoo. Mia’s totem helps her stay connected with her family, friends, and Country. Dub Leffler’s soft black line illustrations capture the emotional and contemplative feel of the story and provide thoughtful moments for reflection.
Mia, her grandmother, and her brother are common characters across the two books. When Mia returns home for the school holidays, she has conversations with them that leave the reader wondering whether she will return to school or remain on Country. The text, containing Aboriginal language throughout, is short with beautiful figurative language throughout. There is a glossary at the back of the book containing Jaru, Kriol, Aboriginal English (AE) and Noongar words.
Carl Merrison is a Jaru and Kija educator, author and football coach born and raised in the Kimberley, Western Australia. Hakea Hustler, co-author, and non-Indigenous collaborator is a high school English teacher who has taught in rural and remote schools around Australia. Hakea is committed to Indigenous education with a particular focus on school engagement, English language and story as learning and empowerment. Dub Leffler is descended from the Bigambul people of South-West Queensland.
Sequel to ‘Black Cockatoo’ by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
