Bindi by Kirli Saunders
Illus. by Dub Leffler. Magabala Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781925936667.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Seedlings. Cinders. Sprouts. These
are the three sections of this beautifully written heartwarming
story of Bindi, a young girl living on Gundungurra country, learning
from her Elders, enjoying the freedom of life outdoors with her
family, dogs and horses, and then facing a 'canbe', or fire, like
none their community has ever experienced before. From planting the
gum seedlings, to escaping the fire, to rebuilding afterwards,
Bindi's own life goes through a similar cycle. She is tossed from a
horse, and has to nurse a broken arm, just like her totem, the
garrall, or black cockatoo, with a broken wing. She and her bird
friend have to heal, gain strength and then venture out again. Bindi
learns from the Elders about cool burns that regenerate plants, new
sprouts that will grow. She is on the path to becoming a leader,
chosen to give expression to her talents in the design of an art
mural for the school.
The story is written in verse that flows easily, interspersed with
words from the Gundungurra language. It's not hard to work out their
meaning, but there is a glossary to refer to at the end if needed.
Black and white illustrations by Leffler give the impression of
fire-burnt charcoal drawings, with fascinating detail of insects,
feathers and plants, and the soaring of the black cockatoo on the
endpapers.
I love the humour and intimacy of the descriptions of family life
over the curried sausage dinner and rock melon dessert (soft fruit
because of Dad's teeth), potato bake made with French onion soup
mix, and other comforting food. I love how Bindi takes her
paintbrush 'for a walk' on her bedroom wall and her Dad acts
surprised or mad until he actually looks at the outcome. And I
haven't even mentioned the whole exciting world of school hockey.
But within this happy environment there are also small reminders of
more serious issues - Bindi's mother was a 'taken' child.
Saunders' story of Bindi and her loving family, good friends and
strong community is a positive affirmation of caring for others,
learning from Elders and taking care of Country; a junior fiction
novel clearly well deserving of the Daisy Utemorrah Award, and
hopefully the beginning of a series to be published by Magabala.
Themes: Fire, Caring for Country, Leadership, Respect, Aboriginal
culture, Aboriginal language.
Helen Eddy