meganbroadway's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so important to Australia. I really appreciated the honesty and even how heartbroken it made me. I could not recommend this book more to any Australian and I believe it even transcends Australia’s bounds. Please read this. You will be better for it.
alliem's review against another edition
4.0
A heartbreaking and beautiful memoir from one of Australia’s best.
danaetkiss's review against another edition
5.0
the general english books hit so much more than the literature books this year
caoilinreads's review against another edition
5.0
Essential reading. Her experiences are shocking and heartbreaking and deserve to be heard. Despite it all, Maxime Clarke's strength, beauty, and humour shine through.
starness's review against another edition
3.0
I feel really bad only giving this book 3 stars. For the purpose of highlighting racism in Australia and the harrowing effects this book does it’s job. For whatever reason the rest of the book didn’t click for me.
Being almost the exact same age as Maxine growing up in Australia going to public school during the 80’s and 90’s I can attest that the playground was a minefield, I was never personally affected by direct racism (well not to my knowledge) even though I was an extremely shy migrant kid in a sea of predominantly white Anglo faces. I do admit to witnessing some objectionable behaviours towards others, maybe I was able to blend in and therefore was never in the direct firing line but I do remember staying quiet and avoiding the spotlight being a strategic tactic in aiding my invisibility. I give props to Maxine in not backing down in rising up despite the horrific abuse at the hands of her hostile attackers, it never detracted her from following her academic pursuits, if anything it probably fueled her even more. I believe the love and support from a loving family helped in doing so. Being of Afro-Caribbean descent she wasn’t able to “just blend in” making her a target. The only thing making her a standout, the difference in the colour of her skin. My heart ached every time an insult or derogatory comment was hurled her way. This is a very personal account and it’s shameful that Australia at that time was so unabashedly and openly racist and I feel gutted that she had to endure this kind of treatment. The fact that the teachers were virtually powerless in stopping the abuse would have felt all the more soul destroying. As much as this book does a brilliant job of uncovering the ugly side of racism, I felt the book ended too abruptly and I wanted to see more of her journey outside of her childhood and high school days.
Being almost the exact same age as Maxine growing up in Australia going to public school during the 80’s and 90’s I can attest that the playground was a minefield, I was never personally affected by direct racism (well not to my knowledge) even though I was an extremely shy migrant kid in a sea of predominantly white Anglo faces. I do admit to witnessing some objectionable behaviours towards others, maybe I was able to blend in and therefore was never in the direct firing line but I do remember staying quiet and avoiding the spotlight being a strategic tactic in aiding my invisibility. I give props to Maxine in not backing down in rising up despite the horrific abuse at the hands of her hostile attackers, it never detracted her from following her academic pursuits, if anything it probably fueled her even more. I believe the love and support from a loving family helped in doing so. Being of Afro-Caribbean descent she wasn’t able to “just blend in” making her a target. The only thing making her a standout, the difference in the colour of her skin. My heart ached every time an insult or derogatory comment was hurled her way. This is a very personal account and it’s shameful that Australia at that time was so unabashedly and openly racist and I feel gutted that she had to endure this kind of treatment. The fact that the teachers were virtually powerless in stopping the abuse would have felt all the more soul destroying. As much as this book does a brilliant job of uncovering the ugly side of racism, I felt the book ended too abruptly and I wanted to see more of her journey outside of her childhood and high school days.
flynn1234's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Eye-opening insight into racism within Australia. Beautifully written filled with enthralling anecdotes.
ashtronomic's review against another edition
4.0
Insightful, important and often uncomfortable. Maxine Beneba Clarke's descriptions of going to school in Australia is so relatable and at the same time, it's not at all. Her writing magnificently encapsulates mutual experiences of the Australian School system and it is so easy to visualise my own childhood through her words. However, whilst we share many parallel experiences, the differences are much more poignant - all because I grew up white and Maxine grew up black.
There is no filler in this novel, it is a relentless exposure racism and the numerous different forms it comes in. Intentional, unintentional, subconscious, casual; Clarke does a great job of expressing the impact it all has on a young girl growing up. I think this is an important book for everyone to read, but especially young Australians.
There is no filler in this novel, it is a relentless exposure racism and the numerous different forms it comes in. Intentional, unintentional, subconscious, casual; Clarke does a great job of expressing the impact it all has on a young girl growing up. I think this is an important book for everyone to read, but especially young Australians.
rojaed's review
4.0
A moving story about racist bullying in the Hills district of Sydney. What is worse than the bullying is the lack of action by the teachers and other school authorities. The story is compelling, the style, not so much