AustLit

'The life stories and essays in this anthology are bound together in several ways, for instance in their unflinching sharing of trauma and their many demonstrations of the courage required to overcome the effects of trauma. Authors describe their experiences of violence, often of an extreme nature. Some write about losing loved ones to the consequences of homophobia or transphobia. But trauma is not the defining feature of this collection. There is commonality also in the generosity of spirit which flows from the first story, by Tiwi Elder and sistergirl Crystal Johnson. In ‘Napanangka: The True Power of Being Proud’, there is unthinkable violence, but there is also joy, forgiveness and pride. ‘I say to people: “Yes, I am a sistergirl. Yes, I am an Elder. I earned that respect. I earned that title. I got that respect.”’' (Introduction)