Book of the Month: Born into this

Eye-opening, razor-sharp and entertaining, these short stories present a powerful indictment of colonialism and racism.

In Born into this, Pakuna man Adam Thompson offers a glimpse into worlds shaped by distinctive cultural practices and perspectives. The stories move from Indigenous rangers working to build pride in disaffected urban teens on Tasmania’s rugged islands, to individuals living on the fringes of white society, forced into fraught and often compromised choices.

What makes this collection compelling is Thompson’s ability to weave humour, poignancy, and the occasional sly twist into narratives that tackle racism, awkward funerals, classroom tensions, and, looming over everything, the unsettling reality of environmental decline. It’s a book that speaks to the complexities of identity, belonging, and the fragile natural world we all share.

A compelling new voice, tough yet tender, from the heart of Aboriginal Tasmania.

Melissa Lucashenko

You can read Born into this, available as an eBook, through the Charles Sturt Library.

Get in touch with us if you have any trouble accessing this title, and check out our eBook guide for more information on using Library eBooks.

Happy reading!