The Bone Sparrow

The Bone Sparrow
Written by Zana Fraillon
Middle Grade, Australia, Realistic Fiction
234 Pages
Published June 28th 2016
Thank you to Hachette Australia
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★★★★★
Subhi is a refugee. Born in an Australian permanent detention centre after his mother fled the violence of a distant homeland, life behind the fences is all he has ever known. But as he grows, his imagination gets bigger too, until it is bursting at the limits of his world. The night sea brings him gifts, the faraway whales sing to him, and the birds tell their stories.

The most vivid story of all, however, is the one that arrives one night in the form of Jimmie, a scruffy, impatient girl who appears from the other side of the wires, and brings a notebook written by the mother she lost. Unable to read it, she relies on Subhi to unravel her own family's love songs and tragedies.

Subhi and Jimmie might both find a way to freedom, as their tales unfold. But not until each of them has been braver than ever before.
Eight year old Subhi survives behind within the wire compound of the detention centre, overcrowded bodies neglected under the parched Australian sun. Subhi is one child of thousands of men, women and children escaping their homeland and applying for asylum in Australia. Born within the compound, his family surviving the harrowing journey from Burma where his father is under political incarceration. Persecuted and malnourished, families are placed within the compound and abandoned by the Australian government, segregated from their family members while abused and tormented by confinement.

Subhi is a remarkable young man, Intelligent and compassionate. The narrative is incredibly confronting, the lack of empathy towards those who seek asylum, the impoverished conditions and atrocious deficiency of humanity. Subhi imagines a freedom for his ailing mother and sister Queeny, a resilient young woman who has become Subhi's guardian. 

Nine year old Jimmie lives within the remote community, occupied by exploring since her mother passed away. While her father is a single parent living below the poverty threshold, all that remains of Jimmie's late mother is her treasured book of stories and her Bone Sparrow necklace. An insufficient education and inadequate parenting, Jimmie is illiterate and continues to grieve for her mother's stories.

Although Subhi is a fictional character, he represents the thousands of children and families denied refuge and placed within detention centres and incarcerated, his narrative instigating important conversations about human rights and the Australian refugee legislation. The conditions within the refugee compound are appalling. Inadequate basic necessities, dehumanised and often brutalised by government employed wardens. Their meagre possessions confiscated upon arrival. Mental and physical health deteriorate as families are segregated. Their voices left unheard.
Jimmie looks at me and nods. 'I know,' she says. 'I hear you.'
The Bone Sparrow is a conscientious and impassioned narrative of the abhorrent treatment and conditions asylum seekers face in Australia. Captivating and confronting.

How you can make a difference

Author Zana Fraillon is raising funds for #authorsforasylum on behalf of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre supporting the #letthemstay campaign. Bid or donate now. Follow the ASRC or Zana Fraillon for more information. Online auction ends at 11:00pm AEST on September 7th 2017.

14 comments

  1. I don't read MG novels anymore, but this one sounds like a must-read for EVERYONE. It tackles such a hard topic, and it sounds like it's done brilliantly. I already know I'm going to need to keep the tissues nearby when I read Subhi's story. But also these sorts of books are so important, especially with how much hatred there seems to be around the world at the moment.

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    1. It truly is Nick. With so much of the world in dire need, we need to exercise compassion more than ever. The Australian government is atrocious when it comes to human rights.

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  2. I hadn't heard of this one. I got chills just reading the first two sentences in the synopsis.
    I stopped and thought "Yes", yes this is a story that needs to be told.
    This sounds like it will be a heartbreaker, but a must read.

    The last two few pages of Mem Fox’s I’m Australian Too always make me tear up when I read them to my son. She talks about refuges, and us all coming together from countries around the world to live in peace beneath the Southern Star. It makes me cry, because it’s bullshit. What peace. There is no peace in a detention centre. We don’t all come together. We turn them away.
    I think Mem wrote the works as what she hopes for the future.

    Hopefully books like The Bone Sparrow will raise awareness and help shape the evolving minds of today’s kids and then hopefully Mem’s words will ring true.

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    1. It was incredibly confronting Sarah but such an important narrative. We all want a peaceful world but when we're jailing those who seek assistance from horrific, war torn countries. we've lost our compassion. Remember to check out the #authorsforasylum hashtag on Twitter as well. Amazing auctions.

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  3. I must admit, I read the first two sentences of the synopsis, closed my eyes and went 'no' :/

    I hate this country and the amount of time it takes to process people. I understand that detention centres are needed (I don't think they should house children though), but there is zero justification for the years and years that people spend there, waiting. For what? To still hang in limbo after they're allowed into the community, but aren't allowed to work. Grrr!

    Oops that was a mini rant. Anyway. I'm not sure if I will read this, but I'm going to add it to my TBR.

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    1. Through the eyes of a child born into the detention system is a confronting read but such an important narration, especially for middle grade and early teen readers. I would suggest with parental guidance though. Some seeking refuge spend years surviving in limbo and it's deplorable. I really hope you pick up a copy, Subhi is a remarkable character.

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  4. Goodness, this book. I can see that it's worthy of all the prizes it's been winning, that's for sure. What a tender, heartbreaking story this is.

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    1. It's one that I urge everyone to read. Not just Australian's but especially white America.

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  5. It's a no from me too... as much sympathy I have for asylum seekers, a lot of people seem to forget about the ones who are already in Australia. Schools are full, there's no jobs here (at least in SA, of course Sydney and Melbourne has heaps) and Centrelink is bleeding money.
    Unless we fix the internal problem, I believe "personally" that adding more people who need help is just doing to sink the already sinking ship.
    Look at our politicians they are a joke, maybe we should make them live in Nauru, and see how quickly things change.

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    1. The amount of money the government waste on processing could be used for infrastructure to settle asylum seekers, especially all the money they're spending for the same sex marriage plebiscite. A law that should have been passed long before now. Payments and public housing are being cut for those seeking asylum, so if they cannot find work, most will be returned to Nauru, Manus Island or sent home. Australia seems to waste money on frivolous expenditure that could be spent on infrastructure. I'm a firm believer of charity beginning at home but like most of our families that migrated to Australia, mine included, the government needs to treat refugees with compassion. I couldn't agree more, they should walk a mile in their shoes.

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  6. This isn't my usual read but this one sounds really good. I'm glad you enjoyed this one :)

    xx
    Vanessa @ Blushing Geek

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    1. It's wonderful Vanessa and a book I urge everyone to read.

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  7. It makes me want to cry just reading your review. I hate that anyone has to go through that. Yeah, this is fiction, but at the same time all too real. :(

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    1. It's representative of the plight of refugees in Australia unfortunately Christy and the abhorrent conditions and basic human needs not being met. We've become a country of such heartless assholes and books like The Bone Sparrow I believe are giving teens perspective, compassion and insight for when their generation will lead our country.

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