LM_NET: Library Media Networking
>Our middle school 7th graders read Walkabout by ?James Walker? It is
excellent. Two children are lost in the Australian outback and spend time
searching for a way out. They encounter an Aborigine child their age who
helps them. There is alot of information about not only Australia but
wildlife and the natives. One word of caution, there was a movie based on
the book released in the late 60's or early 70's. I bought the movie
thinking it would be a great teaching tool. The movie is not even close to
the storyline of the book and has graphic scenes with nudity. The book is
great!!! I am sorry about the author, I'm at home and not exactly sure but
you should be able to find it on Amazon, etc.<
I would be very concerned that anyone would be reading this book by James
Vance Marshall and having students think that it represents either modern
Australia or the Aboriginal people. It was first published in 1963, before
Aborigines were even granted full citizenship status let alone another 40
years of recognition and reconciliation. Despite the headline-grabbing
reports in Time magazine and other publications, and the TV footage that a
few activists will get during the Olympics, the issue is not 'tearing this
nation apart' . On the whole, we live in harmony together without racial
tension no matter what bored reporters looking fir a new angle might like
to take out of context.
I did not answer your initial request because there is so much that is
brilliant (many of the titles listed in your hit are quite old and portray
Australian teenagers within the context of the period they were written
which is not necessarily the casein the Year 2000) but if you could be more
specific about your purpose for having the students read an Australian
novel, I will be able to help you.
Cheers
Barbara
Barbara Braxton
Teacher Librarian
Palmerston District Primary School
PALMERSTON ACT 2913
AUSTRALIA
T. 02 6205 6162
F. 02 6205 7242
E. barbara@dynamite.com.au
W. http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au
"Together, we learn from each other."
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