Nerra Deep time traveller: The broken rainbow by Tasma Walton & Samantha Campbell

Nerra’s great grandmother Nana Mirrin, has recently gone back into her Dreaming and before she passed she gave to Nerra an old wooden box containing ancient sacred artefacts. Now the custodian of the box as is the third generation custom, Nerra must wait for the box to reveal its special contents when the time is right.

When that time comes Nerra finds she is now responsible for precious items that once belonged to her Ancestors: a headdress/armband, giant shark tooth, polished abalone shell, clapsticks (Daal Kalk), woven dill bag (bilang-bilang) and a dress made of possum fur. Each of these artefacts have a feeling of power radiating from them and it is the Daal Kalk that send Nerra swirling into her first adventure.  

Landing by her favourite tree, Wurrun Nhanboo, a manna gum tree, Nerra meets and converses with a koala, Kurrburra who becomes her animal spirit guide. She realises that while she is still on her own Country she feels she has been transported back in time and soon learns from Karr’karook, the Keeper of Clean Sand and Clean Water, that she has travelled through Deep Time to the Dreaming. Due to the continuous fall of rain, it appears something has happened to Bineal and Pirnbial, the Keepers of the Rainbow who have not appeared to ease the rain. Nerra has been chosen by the Ancestors to help find Bineal and Pirnbial and what caused them to disappear.

Karr’karook and Nerra begin their search and find Pirnbial deep in a churning whirpool. Once rescued Pirnbial reveals that she and Bineal were captured by “The Devour'ena” who are trying to steal the Creation Powers of the Dreaming. The three search for Bineal, and a terrible battle ensues. With help from Kurrburra Nerra finds the Daal Kalk and calls on the cleverman, Bobbinary for help. Will Nerra be able to find the strength to help solve the danger the Country and its people are in?

The Broken Rainbow, the first in the Nerra: Deep Time Traveller Series is an entertaining and exciting read. Full of visual imagery, adventure, danger and a wondrous battle scene, it also shares the language and cultural traditions of the Boonwurrung people of coastal Melbourne. The illustrations spread throughout are an extra bonus that add to the engagement of the story. An excellent class novel choice.

Themes: First Nations Stories, Dreaming, Boonwurrung people, Country, Traditional Culture, Adventure, Responsibility, Trust, Bravery.

Kathryn Beilby