Black Cockatoo Novella Reviews

Read some of these deadly reviews on Black Cockatoo (Magabala 2018)! 

• https://blog.boomerangbooks.com.au/black-cockatoo-blakwork/2018/12
• http://underground-writers.org/2186-2/
• https://losangzopa.wordpress.com/2018/10/07/black-cockatoo-carl-merrison-and-hakea-hustler/
• https://www.readings.com.au/news/childrens-books-that-teach-resilience?fbclid=IwAR1mPXvOLB0EJ_vCdxbmR_s8aTUwI5P-nCA3DNk5De4Gm9ZHNnAJ9omZAwc
• https://telltalestome.wordpress.com/2018/10/15/black-cockatoo-by-carl-merrison-and-hakea-hustler/
• https://www.readplus.com.au/blog_detail.php?id=9103&fbclid=IwAR2VGg2GtjlG0QKKM3-m0ctILCNmg-hP90T1bwbyGyAZ9k2aYYFRTvHnCr0
• https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40530925-black-cockatoo

Some of the criticisms were:

• Animal abuse- Hakea is a vegan, Carl hunts traditionally and with a gun when out on Country. Treatment of animals living remote was really confronting for Hakea when she first arrived- and still is. But… it was a reality that needed to be shown so people can reflect on outback experience. Highlighting some of the ways that animals are treated around Australia, and which ways we traditionally see as humane compared to those that we don’t, might spark some interesting and enlightening dialogue.
• Short- The novella was written FOR remote Aboriginal teens so they can see their experience in a book that they can access. The unfortunate reality is that Aboriginal literacy rates fall well below the Australian benchmarks. We hoped to increase literacy with engagement in a short chapter book- their language/culture/experience being respected and recorded, sense of achievement when they complete the book etc. Keeping the novella short allowed the story to be accessible to everyone. It also meant that the deeper issues can be brought to the conscious and allow room for discussion. When studied in schools the text can be stand alone or it is short enough to be paired with other texts. Short=flexible.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and review! Have you seen a review that we have missed? We would love for you to share it with us here. Have something to say? We would love to hear your opinion on the novella.

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