Jared Thomas, Uncle Xbox, Magabala Books, March 2023, 86 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781922613363
This thoroughly delightful novel comes from the celebrated author, Jared Thomas, a Nukunu person of the Southern Flinders Ranges. His previous books have been shortlisted for Victorian Premiers and Adelaide Festival awards, and he is a recipient of the Kuril Dhagun Indigenous Writing Fellowship.
Dusty is an upper primary school boy, living with his single mum and baby sister, coping as best he can at school despite their family poverty, racist taunts and bullying. He is, however, a gifted soccer player, and in fact he is excellent at most sports. His stepdad, though, plays Xbox with him, endlessly. When his mum sends the stepdad on his way, Dusty is deeply distressed because his step dad has taken the Xbox with him. This catastrophe opens some interesting possibilities in Dusty’s life.
He finds he can earn his own pocket money by doing odd jobs in the neighbourhood, that people trust him and are generous to him, and that with his Uncle Rick’s help he can learn to surf. Perhaps too, he will one day be able to go out on country with Rick and his mum, where he will learn something of the complex culture he is inheriting.
Dusty is a likeable, real and smart character, and Jared Thomas has done something special with this novel across its twelve brief chapters. I hope it has many readers, especially among readers from eight to about fourteen years of age. This is another triumph of design and editing for Magabala Books.
Highly Recommended
Reviewed by Kevin Brophy
