'This article explores the role that genre plays in fictional depictions of the Stolen Generations (Australian Indigenous children removed from their homes) in three twenty-first-century Australian middle-grade novels: Who Am I?: The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937 by Anita Heiss (2001); The Poppy Stories: Four Books in One by Gabrielle Wang (2016); and Sister Heart by Sally Morgan (2016). It argues that the genres of fictional diary, adventure story and verse novel invite different reading practices and approaches to history, and shape the ways in which the texts depict, for children, the suffering and resilience of the Stolen Generations.' (Publication abstract)
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Contents
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Meet Poppy,
single work
children's fiction
children's
historical fiction
'It's 1864 . . .
'and Poppy lives at Bird Creek Mission near Echuca. Poppy hates the Mission, especially now that her brother, Gus, has run away to pan for gold. What if Poppy escaped, too? Would she survive alone in the bush? And would she ever find Gus, whom she loves more than anything in the world?
'Meet Poppy and join her adventure in the first of four stories about a Gold Rush girl who dreams of a better life.' (From the publisher's website.)
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Poppy at Summerhill,
single work
children's fiction
children's
historical fiction
'Poppy sets out to chase her brother after he escapes from the Mission in search of freedom and a better life. She is taken in by a caring homestead family, after a terrible accident leaves her injured. The family's Aboriginal stockman, Tommy, awakens Poppy's Aboriginal roots and teaches her about their culture.' (Source: Libraries Australia).
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Poppy and the Thief,
single work
children's fiction
children's
historical fiction
'Poppy is on the road again, desperately trying to catch up with her brother. When she meets a mysterious Chinese boy, she thinks she might finally be getting closer to finding Gus and solving the mystery of the Chinese letter with the very special dragon seal. In Wahgunyah, she makes contact with the Chinese community who have come to Victoria to find gold. She's so close to finding out about her father and her Chinese heritage, but then Poppy is framed as a thief and captured! Will anyone believe that she's innocent?' (Source: Libraries Australia.)
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Poppy Comes Home,
single work
children's fiction
children's
historical fiction
'It's 1864 and Poppy, disguised as a lost princess from India, has joined a travelling medicine show. They're about to enter the town of Beechworth, where her brother Gus told her he was heading months before. Poppy is so happy to think that she might find Gus at last! But when she follows the clues, they lead her to the cemetery. Gus couldn't really be there, could he?' (Source: publisher's blurb.)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Genre, History, and the Stolen Generations : Three Australian Stories
2020
single work
criticism
— Appears in: International Research in Children’s Literature , December vol. 13 no. 2 2020; (p. 259-273)
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Genre, History, and the Stolen Generations : Three Australian Stories
2020
single work
criticism
— Appears in: International Research in Children’s Literature , December vol. 13 no. 2 2020; (p. 259-273)'This article explores the role that genre plays in fictional depictions of the Stolen Generations (Australian Indigenous children removed from their homes) in three twenty-first-century Australian middle-grade novels: Who Am I?: The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937 by Anita Heiss (2001); The Poppy Stories: Four Books in One by Gabrielle Wang (2016); and Sister Heart by Sally Morgan (2016). It argues that the genres of fictional diary, adventure story and verse novel invite different reading practices and approaches to history, and shape the ways in which the texts depict, for children, the suffering and resilience of the Stolen Generations.' (Publication abstract)