Nona and Me by Clare Atkins

Nona and Me
Written by Clare Atkins
Contemporary, Australian
Published September 24th 2014
304 Pages
Won. Thanks to Black Inc. Books 
Add to Goodreads 
★★★★★
Rosie and Nona are sisters. Yapas.

They are also best friends. It doesn’t matter that Rosie is white and Nona is Aboriginal, their family connections tie them together for life.

Born just five days apart in a remote corner of the Northern Territory, the girls are inseperable, until Nona moves away at the age of nine. By the time she returns, they're in Year Ten and things have changed. Rosie has lost interest in the community, preferring to hang out in the nearby mining town, where she goes to school with the glamorous Selena, and Selena’s gorgeous older brother Nick.

When a political announcement highlights divisions between the Aboriginal community and the mining town, Rosie is put in a difficult position. Will she be forced to choose between her first love and her oldest friend?
Rosie lives in the remote mining community of Yirrkala, on the wrong side of the tracks according to her peers. Her single mother making ends meet on one wage and takes pride in stitching Rosie's outfits, often from the most unlikely of materials. They may not have a disposable income like her peers at school, but they live within a loving community where Rosie spent her childhood camping and playing with Nona. Born days apart, the two families became inseparable with Rosie and Nona becoming Yapas, or sisters.

It's been years since Nona moved away, but now she's back and Rosie has moved on with her life. She is no longer a part of the Indigenous community, and as Nona attempts to return to school, Rosie feels little more inconvenience towards the girl who she once shared a sisterly bond with. But Rosie is on the cusp of her first love, a boy she's only dreamed about. Nick is as popular as he is attractive and Rosie will do anything to keep him interested, including pretending Nona is simply another face in the crowd and renouncing her ties to the tight knit Indigenous community. But Nick isn't as he seems. In a town where so many fear what they don't understand, Rosie starts to see the blatant racism towards the community that she's, although reluctantly, apart of. But what side of the tracks do her loyalties lie?

Kelly's Thoughts

Nona and Me was an incredibly deep and emotional story of two childhood friends who reconnect again as almost adults. Uniquely Australian, I loved being transported to the small community where the saying 'it takes a village to raise a child', no truer words have been spoken. Rosie's parents are separated, but keep in contact. Both are strong in their beliefs of supporting their local communities and have raised Rosie to be accepting, respectful and treat others with dignity. But once Nona, her childhood friend moved away, Rosie lost her way and became another small minded girl who just wanted to fit in with the crowd. Old habits die hard and when Nona returns, Rosie goes as far as to hide her association with her, for fear of being the center of gossip among her friends and losing the keen eye of Nick. My heart broke for Nona, Rosie cared far more about others impressions of her than wanting to reconnect with her sister.

Nona was a lovely character, free spirited and as beautiful as she was quick witted. I would have loved to have seen her point of view and learnt more about where she'd been and how her life was growing up away from Yirrkala. The storyline is set in an era where an 'intervention' was introduced into the Northern Territory, restricting the choices of Native Australians and all based on the misinformation of the government in power at the time. Nona and Me addresses the issues within the community, the lack of job opportunities within the fictional town, leading to depression and suicide. It was incredibly raw and moving, and highlighted the injustice and many forms of racism that run rampant within the fictional town and the wider society as a whole.

Nick's character is one example of a boy who has formed his own opinions from that of his parents, his wealthy father seeing the Indigenous community as second class, not worth his time or patience and passing the same bigoted beliefs onto his son. It isn't long until Nick shows his true, misguided opinions, seeking his father's approval at the expense of others. Sadly, Rosie stood idly by and excused his behavior. In one particular chapter, where Nick was introduced to Rosie's father, where like the government at the time, Nick's opinions were based on misinformation and preconceived notions of the community. Rosie's father is a phenomenal character. Sensitive, educated and opinionated.
We're all fundamentally human. We all feel, bleed, hurt, love.
I loved it. It was moving, emotional and gave me a sense of righteousness that Rosie was able to make her own independent decisions, while learning a tough life lesson. Beautifully bittersweet.

35 comments

  1. Aw, I love books like this one. Emotional, yes, but ultimately it's got the humanitarian stamp on it! A book that reminds me of this is Far From Home by Naima B. Robert who looks at her own roots and comes up with a story very close to her heart.

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    1. Exactly. There aren't too many out there with such deep humanitarian and ultimately political storylines that are realistic. The storyline was just so engaging, absolutely loved it. I'll have to check that one out Mawa, thanks for the tip.

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  2. Man the Aussie authors are rocking it for you this year Kels! This book sounds beautiful yet heart breaking. I'm definitely not a huge fan of contemporaries because a lot of them just make me so sad all the time. But I also adore them for their messages of friendship, hope and love at the same time. I definitely need to get myself into the right mood to read this book. Lovely review <3<3

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    1. They really are. For me Aussie authors are just more relatable really, the language and even slang are so uniquely us. This is poignant, but also a celebration of friendship and making your own life choices. A real insight into communities outside of our own. I think every fan of Aussie young adult needs to read this one.

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  3. I have seen this book around a few Aussie blogs but never checked the book or their reviews out. I'm definitely wanting to read this book now. Sounds a like a wonderful book dealing with an issue that we hear about a lot but never see written about in YA

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    1. It truly is Tash. I can't recall having read any other young adult that dealt with racism actually, they must be so few and far in between. I'd be interested in finding more reads that feature diversity, and the impact it has on characters in the face of racism.

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  4. Awww man, Rosie's behaviour sounds like it's another unfortunate incidence of worrying too much what others think. It's sad that people have to behave that way. This sounds like a great emotional book about familial relationships. Wonderful review Kelly!

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    1. She really did, but being a teen who desperately wants to fit in, I could see why she was torn. But with two strong and opinionated parents, I thought she would have come to her senses a lot earlier too. Thanks Jeann, you should grab a copy, this is something every Aussie should read.

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  5. I don't know if my comment went through or not. Anyway, lovely review. This sounds uniquely Australian in some ways, which is great, but it also seems like an emotional, lovely read.

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    1. It really is Lauren. It's uniquely Australian, but with racism something communities battle worldwide, it's a poignant read that I think everyone can gain a better insight and also a sense of social responsibility from.

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  6. Wow, this book sounds like it has layers and layers of depth! Very complex that doesn't just look into the mind of certain individuals, but the society and culture they live in. I love stories like that because it makes you think and it makes you feel for their plight more. What a beautiful review, Kelly !! :)

    Faye at The Social Potato

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    1. Thanks Faye. It was far more complex than I'd originally thought it would be, and really loved the political and social undertones as well. What really made this read was Rosie's parents. More often than not, parents are usually absent in young adult, but they were both so strong willed and incredible, I was surprised that it took Rosie so long to find her own way, and she didn't inherit their strength.

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  7. Great review. :D I actually borrowed this from the library a little while ago, but I had to take it back. Now I am really considering re-borrowing it; I love the way you've described it as "uniquely Australian".

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    1. Thanks Kara. You definitely should take it out again, it's a quick read and really showcases what Aussie authors are all about. It's really something that Aussies will really understand and be able to relate to, no matter what your background is.

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  8. This one sounds like it will take you on an emotional roller coaster! I'm actually not familiar with Australia's history and this sounds like a great book to learn more, Nona sounds likea great character and I'm glad that in the end, Rosie has found her own voice. Lovely review Kelly! This sounds like a great coming of age story in an era so different from our own!

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    1. Thanks Amir. Actually, I suspect this type of racism is probably still prominent in many small towns across Australia sadly, which makes this read all that more important. A new generation of readers to understand the plight of the Indigenous community and how we all need to work to change our attitudes. It's such a wonderful read, I hope this will be made available worldwide.

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  9. Great review. Intriguing description. Although, I'm not sure I could handle that much sadness! I'm such a wimp when it comes to reading emotional books. Molly McAdams is the master at writing emotional reads. I'm glad you liked the book!

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    1. It's emotional, but not terribly sad Andrea, so it's safe to read without tears. I've read a few Molly McAdams books back before I begun my new adult loathing. I remember being reduced to tears with one, she can certainly tug at those heart strings can't she.

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  10. Ahhh this one wasn't on my radar but i'm dying to read a really emotional and impacting book and THIS ONE MAY BE IT! Glad you enjoyed this one so much and i'm looking forward to meeting Nona and Rosie :)Lovely review :)

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    1. Thanks Lily and I can't WAIT for you to meet them. It's so incredibly lovely, poignant but ultimately a story of hope and friendship. Just a beautiful coming of age story.

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  11. I've already brought myself a copy of this one and am looking forward to reading it :-)

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    1. That's awesome Sarah. I can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  12. I seriously have to read this!! I won a copy from Cait and I still haven't picked it up. And there are nowhere NEAR enough books with Aboriginal characters.

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    1. I won mine on Goodreads and left it on my shelf for quite a while. But it was calling to me and I'm so glad I picked it up. The only other indigenous character I can think of is Ashala Wolf and completely agree, we need more in our Aussie young adult books, not to mention more diversity. We're so multicultural and it's about time our literature reflected that.

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  13. I likes the sound of this book, Kelly! Although for some reason, I am reminded of Star Girl, which just makes me even more curious.

    I love the sound of Rosie's parents and I love that she was raised by people who could put aside their own differences to raise their daughter!

    I am a little annoyed by Nick (even though I don't know him) and hopefully Rosie didn't put up with him for too long :P

    Lovely review, hon <3

    Rashika @ The Social Potato

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    1. I've never heard of Star Girl, will have to check it out on Goodreads. Nick was irritating, he really was the result of his father's close minded and bigoted attitude. The saying, the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree is really prominent here. But Rosie's parents were incredible, opinionated, free spirited and I wish she had of paid more attention to them leading by example, but in the end she found her own way.

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  14. Oh, beautiful review, Kelly- this was really well done, captivating and thoughtful.
    I don’t think Nona and Me, while certainly sounding interesting and with strength and good messages, would be for me; I can imagine Rosie’s character would frustrate me a lot; I’ll definitely be keeping it in mind, for a future read, though- it sounds like it could be something I might grow into and be able to enjoy more.
    Fantastic review, again! (And lovely blog design! I love watercolours and this is just lovely.)

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    1. Thanks Romi, and I can't certainly understand that it won't be everyone's cup of tea. I really wish we had of seen Nona's point of view as well, I think that would have made for an even more emotional read.

      Thanks again Romi, me too. My last two designs have both been watercolours, but I think I like this one a little more with a bit of darkness in there. Easier to see too.

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  15. Why are Australian authors so awesome?! Seriously, what are you eating down there?

    I don't usually search for emotional books like this. I tend to gravitate to the light, fun stuff but once in a while, I enjoy crying and going all deep. I'm marking this one in case I ever get in one of those moods. Awesome review, Kelly!

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    1. Must be all the Vegemite, surely it must be.

      Lately I've been in that mood Joy, where I want to read the deep and poignant contemporaries, important issues that tug at your heartstrings. I'm trying to navigate away from them slowly though, or I'll end up an extremely emotionally unstable woman if I'm not careful.

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  16. I swear Australian books are always so moving and poignant. IT'S SO AMAZING.

    I love books that are so character focused as this. It just makes the read so much more special because you connect with everyone on such a deep and emotional level!

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    1. They really are aren't they. Overall, they just seem more raw and uncomplicated, which engages you even more, not having to wade through that pointless drama. This year, I've been all about the contemporaries and there's so many incredible titles coming out as well, another big year for Aussie authors.

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  17. Wow this sounds like an emotional, moving novel, I'm really happy to hear you enjoyed this one - I haven't actually heard of it before, but seeing how much you loved it - I might check it out now :) Lovely review! xBenish | Feminist Reflections

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    1. It's one of those uniquely Australian books Benish, but I the underlying message of family and acceptation really is an important lesson I think we can all learn from. It was simply beautiful though, I wish more young adult authors would tackle such sensitive issues.

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  18. I hadn't heard of this but love that this kind of YA novel exists here in Oz!

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