Mia by Dianne Wolfer

Living on an isolated property near a remote township in the Pilbara WA, 13 year old Mia finds herself home alone when her mother has to make an unscheduled vet visit to another property. While she is away, an alert is issued for Cyclone Veronica and Mia has to make herself and a household full of farm and rescue animals safe. While weathering the terrifying winds, she successfully protects the house and property, provides first aid to a neighbour, and saves an injured horse.

As it becomes apparent that climate change is responsible for many of the environmental issues that she is concerned about, Mia finds an inner strength, and realises that there are various ways that she and her friends can make positive change.

Both compassionate and capable, Mia suffers anxiety and panic attacks, and is also worrying about whether the arrival of a new girl in town is affecting her relationship with her two best friends, her emerging feelings for her friend Nick, and preparing her persuasive speech for her English class.

This is a simply told but engrossing story that contains many issues that would resonate with readers, together with possible solutions that teens could take on board. As the plot develops, we learn a lot about animals and their care, life in the outback, techniques for dealing with anxiety, effects of climate change, and cyclones. A number of scenes describe animal injury and death, but Mia deals with these with a common sense and can-do attitude.  

Without making them the focus of the book, Wolfer seamlessly weaves details about local history, geography and climate, aboriginal sites, the mining industry and tourism into Mia’s story.

The book concludes with Author’s Notes outlining the background facts on which the story is based, a timeline of Cyclone Veronica’s 2019 movements, and resources for further information.

Mia is one in the series of Through My Eyes; Australian Disaster Zones, and teaching notes are available here and here.

This is a heart-warming and believable story: a fine example of writing that both educates and entertains the reader.

Themes: Animals, Climate change, Cyclones, Outback, Friendship.

Margaret Crohn