All the way home (South Sudanese parent's stories for their children in Australia) - A Malual, A Maluk et al

It is so rare to find a book that will make me cry.  This is perhaps the most beautiful thing that I have read in recent times.  It is a truly moving book - I know some of the people in the book and, as such, I thought that I would find it interesting; however, I did not know what I was in for.

There is a story (as always) behind my reading of this book.  I was reading the local paper a week or so ago and I saw a picture of a young girl in my class holding a book up with her Dad.  This particular South Sudanese girl has the most beautiful smile, however, can be very quiet and reclusive.  Brazenly I said in class, in front of everyone, 'Did I see you in the paper holding a book that you had written?"  She was embarrassed and found me confrontational and the situation awkward.  I don't usually care about those things and powered on with my questioning anyway.  She eventually agreed that there was a book about the Sudanese community but it could have been her sister in the paper.  I said that I was interested in reading the book; I like to support the kids in your class.

Well, there are two other Sudanese students in the class, a quiet boy who was listening to the interaction but was silent the whole time.  The next class that we had - he approached me and passed on a copy of the latest book that the local South Sudanese community has produced.  I read it that night.  I simply couldn't put it down.

The book is an insight into South Sudanese culture and personal stories of refugees who have come into my local community.  It is more than that though.  It is the sharing of the stories and culture to their children.  It is an attempt to communicate with kids that want to be Australian and fit into Australian society.  It's a personal invitation to sit at their family dinner table and listen to these people communicate with their kids.  It is intensely personal - yet never voyeuristic.  You feel so special to read these personal accounts - so heartbroken at the trials faced by these people, and for me so jealous that they have such a strong culture.  Ours is broken and we seem hellbent on breaking it further - theirs is so strong.

In the introduction Abraham Malual shares how they want to assimilate into this country, however, not reject their own culture and stories.  This is the sort of bicultural substructure that Noel Pearson advocates, but seems so unwilling to be embraced among Indigenous peoples.  I, for one am glad that these people bring strong families into Australia - it is my hope that they will help us reclaim what we have lost.

The book is a set of stories about life in South Sudan or the difficulties of life in Australia.  Initiation, facial scars, menstruation, marriage dowry's, death of loved ones and problems with English teaching in Australia, it is all here.  Every story has a brief response from one of their children.  Some of them are priceless.  You'll laugh, cry, wince, laugh again and, if you are like me, feel jealous that such wonderful stories can be shared in families.

Storytelling simply doesn't get better than this - it will make these lovely people even more endearing to you.  Absolute must read.  I'm going to get them all.

5 -stars