Every year I present a list of books that have been sidelined or maybe underappreciated in the mad scrum of publication; this year I’ve decided to do things a bit differently. Every title is by a PoC author – a subset of literary contribution that’s been historically marginalised in Australia after all.
Dirt Poor Islanders, Winnie Dunn (Hachette)
Dirt Poor Islanders is about growing up in a big, chaotic family. It’s a rarity in the book scene: an autographical fiction (auto-fiction) that explores the complicated push and pull of being Australian-Tongan. Winnie Dunn does a wonderful job of describing the web of familial and community interactions in Mount Druitt, NSW. The book is a joy to read: tender, honest and funny. Read ArtsHub‘s review.
