Reaching Out Messages of Hope

by Mariah Kennedy, UNICEF (Editor)

Fifteen-year-old Victorian schoolgirl, Mariah Kennedy, brings together a collection of bestselling children's authors and illustrators to highlight social injustice. All author royalties will be donated to UNICEF. Fifteen-year-old Mariah Kennedy is passionate about fighting for social justice. As the UNICEF Australia Young Ambassador, Mariah created REACHING OUT as a fundraising project and all author royalties will be donated to UNICEF. Heartfelt and inspiring, this book contains stories, poems and illustrations that have been donated by some of the most world's renowned and respected authors and illustrators, including Graeme Base, Jackie French, Michael Leunig, Bruce Whatley, Michael Morpurgo, Andy Griffiths, Anna Perera, Libby Gleeson, Melina Marchetta, Alison Lester, Morris Gleitzman and many more. Ages: 10-14

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2013

Reviews

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think this book was perfect (which book is?) but it exceeded expectation being complex, thoughtful and having a balance of honesty about ark themes and yet hope to break through any sort of inevitability around it.

It's a star-studded book as far as authorship is concerned- having some deservedly well-known Australian authors (specifically ones that write for young people) as well as some that probably ought to get better known and some amazing young writer/activists that mingle with some of Australia's best writers quite confidently. A flaw is not enough voices from non-white writers (an Indigenous author or two would be good in the mix and in general I am not sure why most of them should be white). Stories range from sad to the point of depressing (but consciousness raising) such as Anna Perrera's work that has an almost documentary cast to it to the other end of the spectrum Morris Gleitzman's insistently optimistic and humour-filled projections of a more positive universe featuring the capable child at the centre of social change. It frightened me that even Gleitzman couldn't keep the darkness quite out of a story. We are talking about hideous things like war and persecution and poverty after all and children's place unjustly within it.

I don't know what else to say. I had to read the book slowly- sometimes only one story a day and broken up with lighter. fluffier reading because it CAN be depressing and yet I think we need to know this (and the children who started this movement can take the truth so I ought to too).

Read with care perhaps, but do read it. Do trust your children (at least high school children) to read this one. It's harrowing at places but it contains light too. As Andy Griffith's points out (I am taking him out of context a little but I think he would agree-- see p334 and decide if you agree) it matters that people know and care.

[Roslin Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book written for pre-teens/teens. Through both fictional stories and actual accounts, this short story anthology sheds light on the conditions that many underprivileged children live in around the world. This book covers topics of war, racism, poverty, child soldiers, state sponsored genocide, and much more. I think it would make an excellent tool in any classroom and inspire children and teenagers to care about others and want to help those in need.

[Haleemah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a beautiful book, very touching and made me want to make a change in the world.