Borderland by Graham Akhurst

Jono, a teenager from the city, is on a journey to discover his true identity. Growing up in Brisbane, he feels disconnected from his Indigenous roots. With his best friend Jenny, he lands a job at the Aboriginal Performing Arts Centre and gets a chance to intern with a documentary crew. Their task is to promote a government mining project in the remote Queensland desert, but the details are unclear, and the land is said to be sacred. Upon arriving in the small town of Gambari, Jono's instincts kick in. He experiences unsettling visions and panic attacks, haunted by Wudun, a spirit from the Dreaming. As he delves deeper, Jono begins to question the true intentions behind the mining project and whether the crew is hiding something. In this gripping tale, Jono faces supernatural challenges and uncovers truths about his heritage, exploring themes of identity and resistance against colonization.

The 347th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 80

This book was first published in 2023

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