Shirley Marr, All Four Quarters of the Moon, Penguin Australia, July 2022, 336 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760899554
When the Guo family arrives in Australia for an opportunistic new beginning, they are not expecting such drastic lifestyle changes. Australia smells different to Singapore, sells cereal in strange boxes from supermarkets, and has the most expansive horizon Peijing has ever seen. Ba ba works shorter days, Ah Ma no longer bakes mooncakes, and Ma Ma learns that hand feeding Peijing and Biju their lunch every day at school isn’t exactly Australian protocol.
When the challenges of their new life become overbearing, sisters Peijing and Biju sit cross-legged on the floor of their shared room and escape to the ‘Little World.’ A mere cardboard box embedded with cut-out paper animals and plants to an outsider, it is Peijing and Biju’s entire world, that reminds them of their home in Singapore. Soon Peijing and Biju will learn that they don’t need to search as far as Singapore to feel at home, for home lies in plain sight.
Peijing navigates her troubles alongside her new friend Joanna, and Biju discovers her passion for acting. However, while the girls seem to have settled into their new lives, the adults in their family struggle to adjust. Peijing feels honour-bound to keep her family happy and comfortable. What will Peijing do when Ma Ma refuses to leave the house and Ah Ma tries to run away?
Shirley Marr, author of A Glasshouse of Stars, 2022 CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers has drawn from her own immigration story to craft the journeys of Peijing and Biju. The Little World, Joanna’s character and the interwoven Chinese mythology are all features of Marr’s novel inspired by her childhood, making for a touching read that feels all too real.
All Four Quarters of the Moon shares both the poignant and joyful tales of the immigrant experience in Australia. It captures the importance of sisterhood, friendship, family, and culture in light of challenge and change. I highly recommend this heartfelt and eye-opening read.
Reviewed by Olivia Sammut