The Burnt Stick
Written by Anthony Hill | Illustrated by Mark Sofilas
Written to educate young Australians about the 'Stolen Generation, The Burnt Stick depicts the sorrow experienced by Jack Jagammara, a young Aboriginal boy, who was forcibly removed from his mother and clan and placed in the care of the Fathers in Pearl Bay Mission.
Illustrated with emotional, eye catching black and white sketches, The Burnt Stick allows students to understand the pain and struggle that people with Aboriginal cultural heritage experience, and how Australia, as a nation,has grown to be the place where all students can call 'home'.
Anthony Hill describes 'central facts' in a way that appeals to children in an educational, inspiring and child friendly manner.
'Anthony Hill weaves his story with simplicity and a spare understatement that brings the loss and heartache close to home.'
-Margaret Dunkle, Australian Bookseller and Publisher.
Illustrated with emotional, eye catching black and white sketches, The Burnt Stick allows students to understand the pain and struggle that people with Aboriginal cultural heritage experience, and how Australia, as a nation,has grown to be the place where all students can call 'home'.
Anthony Hill describes 'central facts' in a way that appeals to children in an educational, inspiring and child friendly manner.
'Anthony Hill weaves his story with simplicity and a spare understatement that brings the loss and heartache close to home.'
-Margaret Dunkle, Australian Bookseller and Publisher.
Relevant Themes and Elements
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Focus Text for Unit
The Burnt Stick has been selected as the primary focus text as it draws closely on Australian History, develops cultural awareness of Indigenous Australians have endured, identifies the diversity between cultural barriers and fits well into the Australian Curriculum for Year 6. Engaging the reader with a multitude of emotions, Hill highlights the hardships and cruelty imposed on indigenous Australians for being cultural different from European Australians. It identifies the erroneous beliefs that 'white mans law is better for all'. Hill, A. (1994). The burnt stick. Australia: Penguin |