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Description
Tahnee is happy at her new school until she finds out that one of her friends believes she's only pretending to be Aboriginal. The coauthor is Ross Carnsew. Part of the Yarning Strong series
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a quick but meaningful read that deals with something a lot of middle schoolers actually face, this one's really solid. Tahnee's excited about her new school until a friend basically accuses her of faking her Aboriginal identity, which hits hard because it's about being seen and believed for who you are. The Yarning Strong series does a great job weaving in Indigenous Australian perspectives without feeling preachy, and at just 1500 words it's perfect for reluctant readers or kids who get intimidated by thicker books. It's got that mix of everyday school drama with something more serious underneath, kind of like what Wendy Komer does with friendship and identity issues but in a shorter, more punchy format. Parents will appreciate that it opens up natural conversations about cultural identity and how hurtful it can be when someone questions who you say you are, while kids will connect with Tahnee's frustration and her figuring out how to handle it.