DOUGY James Moloney

A quick post to recommend this novel. 'Dougy' is an engaging 106 page read in the style of John Marsden. It is based on the story of a family of indigenous teens in a remote Australian town. The dad has shot through and the mum works hard to provide a happy life for the kids - two brothers and a sister.
The plot is based around the daughter Gracey who has an amazing athletic ability in running. She wins a scholarship which will secure her future. Unfortunately, her luck riles many of the white community members who use her good fortune as an excuse to increase the racial divide. Then comes the flood. Throw in the fact that the phone lines get cut as a western style shootout arises and the novel becomes quite a page-turner!
I think this novel would appeal to boys and girls around 12-14 years old, although I have had a few of my 15 year old footy-type male students say they have enjoyed the book.

The Happiest Refugee - A Memoir by Ahn Do

I don't know if I have written a post on a memoir before. Regardless, this is a must-read, inspiring one that carries the reader on the river of optimism and good will it contains.
Ahn Do writes in a simple style, reflecting on everything that has made him what he is today - he is so much more than just a comedian. Every story reveals another layer to his thankfulness and humility. He is funny, but he is also fiery, enterprising and versatile. Put this on your bucket list. Assimilate with an attitude of gratitude. You will feel better for having read it, I guarantee.

The following excerpt is from a time when Ahn performed in front of 200 Vietnam veterans. Not one to shy away from fear, he did the gig and here are some of his reflections:

   I decided to bring forward all the material that would prove to them I was just an Aussie kid. So I did a number of jokes about bull terriers and Datsuns and housing commission estates, and slowly I was getting a few chuckles. Then I moved on to footy jokes, farming jokes and kiwi jokes. Slowly, slowly, I won them over. The old guys finally realised that if they closed their eyes, this Vietnamese kid was actually just an Aussie comedian up there talking about his working-class childhood...

After the show they shared a few beers together:

Then Eric, the funniest of the old guys, said... 'You know why we lost the war, Ahn? it was all those bloody tunnels that the communists dug. We could never do that. You know why? Because with us Aussies, for every one guy who's digging there's got to be five standing around having a smoko.' (pp.182-3)