Australian April – Things a map won’t show you

Things a map won’t show you – stories from Australia and beyond.  Edited by Susan LaMarca and Pam McIntyre.

Finding a good short story collection is a never ending quest for an English teacher (and their TL) and in this book I may have found the holy grail!  My attention was drawn to this book in the young adult section of my local library because of the authors (both known for library and/or children’s lit work) and its title indicated a hidden richness. The stories are diverse in their content and style. There are stories from Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific about friendship, family, holidays, city/country, culture, the mysterious and the past. There are poems and illustrated/comic book style stories and many of the more traditional style of short stories of varying length. Many of the acclaimed YA/children’s lit authors are included and this book would be an excellent introduction to their work. My favourite story is an extract from a young indigenous writer Tara June Winch and is called Cloud Busting. The description of the beach in the story had me entranced. Whilst the editors selected their stories to appeal to Year 7 and 8, this collection would have a place in any Year 7-10 English curriculum depending on how it is approached.