Black Bones, Red Earth

by Lee Richie

Black Bones, Red Earth, is the harrowing, yet ultimately uplifting tale of a child’s search for happiness and a woman’s test of faith.

1951: Katherine’s journey begins in the unforgiving landscape of the Australian outback. Having been abandoned by her father after her mother is killed in a London air raid, Katherine finds little sympathy when she is consigned to an austere life in the care of Lachlan and Daisy Stuart on an isolated property beyond Broken Hill. There is little tenderness in the ten-year-old’s life until Aboriginal station hands offer their friendship, but love comes at a deadly price.

Current Now living an idyllic life in the north of England, for almost sixty years Katherine has hidden her past. But when an old letter is discovered, she is forced to relive her traumatic years under the Australian sun and explain who died and why she had to run. However, there’s a twist in the tale that will bring her once again to her knees. Will returning to Australia help her truly find peace?

A story of hope, love, sacrifice and resilience.

Genres: Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction

462 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 24, 2020

Reviews

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Bones, Red Earth by Lee Richie was a gripping historical fiction novel that was inspired by actual events that had come to pass. Before listening to this compelling audiobook, I knew little to nothing about the fate of certain British orphans who were placed on ships headed for far off Australia at the end of World War II. I can’t imagine the dread, confusion and uncertainty these frightened young children felt as they were shipped off so far from anything they had previously known. Black Bones, Red Earth told the story of one such eight year old orphan girl named Katherine. She and her older brother, Archie traveled together to Australia only to be separated upon arrival. Katherine and Archie had vowed to stay together. They were all each other had but that was not to be. Katherine herself was delivered to a homestead called Cutaway Creek in the remote Australian outback. The couple, Lachlan and Daisy Stuart, were expecting Katherine’s brother Archie but the local priest delivered Katherine to them instead. Not accepting Katherine would have brought disgrace to the Stuarts from the community so they took Katherine in reluctantly. Katherine was shown no warmth, love or compassion by the couple that took her in. She became a sad and lonely child who was deprived of any kind of love. She was made to live in the chicken coop on the sheep station. Her life was full of extreme hardships and abuse. Katherine grew up to become a very naive teenager since she was offered no formal education or guidance from the Stuarts. Her choices and decisions were not always the best. Black Bones, Red Earth told Katherine’s story from the time she arrived on the homestead as an eight year old girl, through her teenage years, to a time when the decisions she made and actions she took greatly influenced the rest of her life. Those decisions and actions left their mark on her and those she cared about deeply and had come to love.

Katherine’s life at Cutaway Creek could have been so much worse if not for the friendships she made with the Aboriginal people who helped run the sheep farm owned by the Stuarts. The lives of the Aboriginal people Katherine befriended on the homestead were met with suffering and discrimination as well. As a result of the way the Australian government saw and treated the Aboriginal people, they were often forced to give up their own children to the government. The Aboriginal parents were promised that their children would receive a better education and life than they could provide to their children but nothing could make up for the heartbreak they felt having a child taken away from them. Katherine found the love she so craved and the friendships she sought in these hired Aborigines. Without the help, understanding and love from Lou, Ellin and Toby, Katherine’s life could have turned out so differently.

Black Bones, Red Earth by Lee Richie was a thought provoking novel. I enjoyed Lee Richie’s descriptive writing and impeccable research he put into writing this novel. The audiobook was well narrated by Sandy Gore. Black Bones, Red Earth explored many themes throughout the novel. Among them were the treatment of young British orphans post World War II, racism, the oppression and treatment of indigenous or Aboriginal people, rape, child labor and the lack of protection and follow through for the orphans left in the care of undeserving families. Black Bones, Red Earth was written in two parts. The first part dealt with Katherine’s life, ordeals and consequences she faced in the remote Australian outback. The second part was about Katherine’s present day life. I enjoyed the ending and found it to be quite satisfying. Black Bones, Red Earth explored the history of Australia and its treatment of the Aboriginal people. There were many lessons throughout as it explored the hardships, loss, learning, cruelty and love Katherine came upon throughout her life. It was a story of new beginnings, forgiveness and trying hard not to forget. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Black Bones, Red Earth and recommend it very highly.

Thank you to Right Track Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Black Bones, Red Earth by Lee Richie through Netgalley in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This book was published on December 21, 2022.

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Bones, Red Earth by Lee Richie is NOT a book to be missed!

It is a masterpiece of vivid and raw emotional storytelling on so many levels that I found it impossible not to become completely intertwined and invested in this story from the first to the last sentence.

From a little girl’s recounting of the horrific life she experiences early on, through the “Golden Age” and every enthralling experience between, there is never a lull, never a lag in story pace. The extremely talented narrator Sandy Gore makes the audio version definitely the choice of format.
See short video here: https://www.goodreads.com/videos/1983...

No need to run through a synopsis - this story based on a true life account was written brilliantly, with moving, thought-provoking dialogue, presented and read in an unparalleled believable way that is rare to experience.

My vote would be Book of the Year in this genre (I hope it’s nominated), and if I could, I would give it MORE than 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher, and Lee Richie for an AAC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

[Star Gater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published: 02/24/20
Narrator: Sandy Gore

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial Audio for accepting my request to read and review Black Bones, Red Earth.

Wow. A week later and I still feel connected to the characters. I had the audiobook that was narrated beautifully by Sandy Gore. The story is told by the main character through her generous life span. While life is ups and downs for some, this was not the case for Katherine, the main character. She had so many lows, at one point I didn't think I would finish. The writing drew me in. I became a witness -- I wanted to scream, I wanted to help her, I wanted someone to help her. As the story went on so did the realization there are children abused and sold all over this world. While the backdrop is Australia 1950s, the pain is real today anywhere.

Richie writes a realistic story. I felt the pain, the fear and the moments of happiness. The genre is historical fiction and based on real events, the book itself is timeless. The ending was truly satisfying.

Published in 2020, this has been on my shelf for just a few months, I'm surprised this hasn't garnered attention.

[Réal Laplaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Bones, Red Earth, by Lee Richie, is a story inspired by true events, and while the author has taken fictional license, the story reads as if every word of it actually happened. This is a very deep and haunting tale, one that takes the reader sixty years back in the life of a young orphan named Katherine, who finds herself being traded off from her birth home in England, to a couple who live in the remote Outback of Australia. Set in post WWII rural Australia, the author does an excellent job of depicting the lifestyle in this barren and merciless landscape. The story begins with Katherine arriving in Australia and her introduction to her new and bizarre life, and goes on through her early teens until her road takes a dramatic and unforeseen turn. What happens next is a twisted and completely believable scenario that will have you flipping to the next chapter. This is a beautifully written story, with an ocean of metaphors and allegories that paint a three-dimensional canvas for the reader. One can actually sense what life was like in the Outback, its visceral charm and brutish side, the smell of the air, the feel of its sweltering heat and more. In as much as the story is well-written and keeps a grip on the reader, so does the impressionistic style of writing. As a final note, this novel, like so many others written about the injustices against the American blacks and the indigenous peoples of America, this story spotlights the similar outrageous abuses committed by the "whites" against the Aboriginal people of Australia. Overall, a very good read and worthy of a five star rating.

[Bonnye Reed]

Netgalley
pub date Feb 24, 2020
received Feb 27, 2020
BooksGoSocial

[Roberta Cheadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Bones, Red Earth is a well written book that delves deeply into the unjust and hypocritical colonial practices of both Britain and Australia. The author has tackled the difficult topics of racism, sexism, and mistreatment of orphans, with sensitivity and woven a gripping story and romance around it. Some sections of this book reminded me of A Passage to India by E.M. Forster and To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, both of which tackled similar racial issues. Black Bones, Red Earth has the added layer of the disgraceful treatment by Britain of its WWII orphans which is all the more shocking because these children were orphaned as a result of a war and circumstances beyond the control of ordinary citizens.

Katherine, aged 8, and her older brother, Archie, are shipped to Australia by the British authorities and allocated to guardians who look upon them as slave labour. Katherine is delivered by a priest into the clutches of Lachlan and Daisy Staurt, two hard and uncaring people who don't want a girl. They wanted Archie, but he is allocated elsewhere, and only Katherine is delivered to the Stuarts. Lachlan takes her in because he doesn't want to be disgraced in the community and Daisy has to abide by his decisions. Katherine's early life is one of hardship and abuse and it was a natural development that she would look for love in her community.

Katherine is a sad and confused child who grows into a naïve and love-starved teenager. She makes poor choices that set the tone for her future, but it is difficult for a reader to hold her accountable for her actions, given her distressing circumstances. After reaching rock bottom, Katherine's life takes an unexpected upturn and she develops into a graceful woman who is a good wife and mother. This section of the book is necessary to relieve the reader of the sadness and tension of the earlier sections.

This is not a happy story but it has a satisfying ending and its fast pace and revealing content will keep you turning the pages.

[Edi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting storyline as I had no idea that the British government has shifted orphans from WWII to Australia or how the Aboriginal people were shunned. Vivid descriptions of life in the outback in the 1950's. The characters are believable and will come to life on the pages. I got a little bogged down in the court proceedings but they offer some humor at human ignorance in a dark time. It taked up a lot of the book and it a while to get back to the present time to move the story on. The cover gives an adequate description of the story so I will not dwell on other content. Overall a good read. .
I received this book as a complimentary copy for an unbiased review.The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author,publisher,and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Edward Rickford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orphans don’t have it easy. And they definitely don’t have it easy when they have to deal with being shipped to the other side of the world because of misguided, paternalistic policies. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, for Katherine, the protagonist of Black Bones, Red Earth, life doesn’t get much better after being forcibly relocated to a country she has no connection to.
Nonetheless, she persists in the face of strife and turmoil, and her evolution as a character makes for a read both compelling and memorable.
Considering Katherine’s circumstances, it would be difficult to not extend her sympathy. Tragic as her circumstances are, and they only worsen with time, author Lee Richie does a good job of striking a balance. Yes, Katherine’s life is bleak but it is never overwhelmingly so. At first, the bleakness is kept at bay by small acts of mercy or unexpected moments of joy. As the story progresses, however, it’s the prospect of love that brings true hope into her life.
In the interest of not giving away any important story moments, I won’t delve into the details but I think readers should know the story is not a typical love story. It is a story marked by tragedy and injustice, not to mention grief and regret. But despite all that, I think the ending comes together in a way most readers will find profound as well as satisfying. The storyline regarding Kooper is particularly satisfying and one of the moments from the book that will stick with me the longest. Red Bones, Black Earth isn’t exactly light reading, but it’s a good read all the same. The pacing and the descriptions are all top-notch, (a quote from the first few pages that I particularly enjoyed: I sensed unknown creatures stirring, scurrying in the shadows, watching the new girl with glowing eyes. A skink did battle with a giant black spider in a splash of moonlight by the broken window….) and I highly recommend the book to readers interested in Australian history, social justice, and untraditional romance.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel but the powerful individual voice means that the tale comes across as a memoir. I was completely convinced, and I was comparing the tale to other outback stories, Reginald Ottley and Mary Pachett especially, also to the work I have been doing with the digitised newspapers from similar times.

Kate and her older brother are orphaned by a buzz bomb and sent to Australia, where it turns out that station folks are only after cheap workers. The youngsters are separated and Kate is stranded in the outback with an uncaring couple, no school or society. When she meets the Aboriginal workers she learns that these people have been treated even worse, both historically and in her present.

Later, as the title hints, a crime is committed and Kate, now a married woman, faces the loss of all she has come to care about in her young life.

The book walks us through the natural disasters which made a sheep station both perilous and unprofitable, and the drawbacks of releasing invasive creatures like the rabbit. As I have read in 'Dark Emu' the worst invasive creature may have been the sheep; these woollies moved around eating the natural botany down to the roots, packing the earth, fouling waterholes and, by causing shepherds to shoot dingoes, removing the naturalised predator of kangaroos, which in turn multiplied.

Social history, nature documentary, agriculture and a tragic romance combine in this strong, emotional novel.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Kathryn is taken from England and away from her brother Archie and sent to hidden Creek in Australia she thinks things can you get worse but they can and they do. The people she stays with Daisy in like one or the nicest people but as she grows into a beautiful young girl Locklin pays her more attention and although Daisy has her moments she’s mostly critical. Catherine find kindness where she can from the workers on the farm and especially from Ellen who was sent to care for the house when Daisy gets ill. She learns many things from the indigenous Australian culture and soaks it up. Although her wife can be very sad at times little does Catherine know things are going to get much worse. This is a book told over Catherine’s life and I found this book to be so interesting. They have key plot points that I want to say so bad but OMG if you love a good drama you need to read this book. They have a point in the book where Catherine is put in a situation and has to make a choice an OMG I don’t know what I would’ve done. I want so bad to say but just trust me this book is so good. I thought the first few chapters dragged on only because I wasn’t interested in Catherine’s young childhood but it’s just a short piece and then it gets so good! I enjoyed the narrator and thought you did a great job especially with the different accents and her character distinction was really good. This is such a great book. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

312 pages

4 and 1 / 2 stars

What a wonderful book.

This is Katherine's story. Hers and her brother's mother was killed in an air raid on London during WWII. Orphaned when their father left them in an orphanage, they were shipped to Australia in 1951. Unfortunately, Katherine and Archie were split up and sent to two different families.

So begins Katherine's sojourn from the age of ten and throughout the next sixty-five years. Cruel and uncaring, the couple with which she was housed were harsh. She lived in an old chicken coop complete with bugs and chicken filth.

She was very fortunate, however, when she met some of the kind people who helped to work the farm/ranch. These were the indigenous people who suffered much at the hands of the Australian government themselves. For the most part, they didn't let it get them down though.

This is a wonderfully written book. I knew how the government took the native peoples' children under the auspices of better education and socialization, just as the US and Canadians did to their original citizens. This is heartbreaking to read about. But, so hopeful at the same time So much more so because the book is based on actual events. Katherine's situation turned out to be more fortunate than many. I enjoyed the book and want to read more by Lee Richie.

I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very impressive and loaded with poignant moments😪

4.5🌟stars🌿
What a wonderful story! I learned so much about Outback life and the pictures author Lee Richie's words create of the characters and nature are so evocative: I could visualize clearly Kate, Lou, Ellin, Toby, Lachlan and the red earth, vast expanses and colorful wildlife Richie describes. Kate's life story, complete with a harsh, unloved childhood and doomed romance was fascinating, as was the way her tale provided a launch point for illustrating the state of race relations and treatment of the Aboriginal during the period.

I would say the emotional component is what really made this a great story for me. Here's a girl who finally finds her spot of stolen happiness and the consequences are dire, particularly for the people she cares for most. The ending softens the blow but provides lots of retrospection about what could have been: poignant stuff.😪

I did think the book's conclusion took too long to arrive and bogged down when filling in the years after Kate left Australia, but the very end brought all of the emotion front and center, and tears to my eyes. This is not a story I will easily forget.👍👍

Thanks to publisher BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 🎧

I had the audiobook narrated by Sandy Gore, her distinctive character voices and the feeling that she imparts is excellent, it really added to the story for me.

An historical drama set in 1950’s outback Australia. It follows 10yr Katherine who is sent to live in a remote austere outback property.

Katherine’s story is heartbreaking in places, poignant in others, just lovely in others. You can’t help but love Kate. It describes how difficult life in the outback was at the time. An historical account of how Britain shipped off orphans to Australia who ended up being used as slave labour. It also explores the way the Australian government treated Indigenous people. The title seemed strange when I started, but it’s so apt, and clever. It’s far more than an historical account though. It’s got in-depth characters some lovable, others you will hate, as well as an endearing family story. It’s very emotional in places, very interesting throughout, it really grabbed me.
Although Kate’s time in Australia was a short period of time in her life it had a huge impact on her. I’m glad that the book didn’t spend a lot of time on her life in England.
If you enjoy historical fiction I think that you will love this, although I think it’s a storyline that will capture anyone. It’s one I’d highly recommend

[Desiree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Bones, Red Earth is one of the most compelling books I have ever read.
The story begins with ten year old Katherine whose mother has been killed in an air raid and her father has abandoned both her and her brother. Katherine is separated from her brother and is brought to live in the with the Stuarts in the Australian Outback.
The book continues with Katherine's painful journey as a young child to current day when she has come face to face with her past again.
I learned so much from this book, which is inspired by true events, and this story touched on so many emotions. There were several moments that tears blurred my vision and yet, this is a book you can't put down once you start it.
Lee's writing is so beautiful and descriptive. I become so engrossed in his writing that I can feel the heat and taste the dust of the Outback.
This is the second book I have read by Lee Richie, and while completely different from Alexander Bottom and the Dreamweaver's Daughter, both stories have a way of staying with me well after reading.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

World War II leaves young Kate and her older brother orphaned, growing up in a London orphanage. It’s 1951, and adolescent Kate and her brother are plucked from London and dropped in the Australian outback. They are separated, both being adopted by different families. Not to say that these are families looking to provide love, rather families seeking cheap labor. Kate ends up on the sheep station of Lachlan and Daisy Stuart, who provide little for Kate beyond basic food and shelter. Daisy is a mean old woman and it appears Lachlan drinks, perhaps to be rid of her for a brief time.

Kate meets Lou, the hired hand and romance blossoms. I’m not going to go any further so as not to spoil the read. It’s a brief romance that lasts a lifetime, and the story of love, hope and sacrifice is worth the read. The writing is superb.

www.candysplanet.wordpress.com

[Marcia Kuraba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew nothing of Australia before reading this book. The author made me feel like I was there. But such a traumatic tale. I literally had to stop and cry. The character of Katherine is so real and moving. I lived her ordeals alongside her. What an emotional journey. I wanted more as the journey ended, but the finish to this novel was beautiful. Brilliant and soulful. Black and white culture sharing the same grief and joys. More, more, more, please.

[Annabel Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Richie did amazing with this book. The story follows Katherine’s life growing up as an orphan and foster child in outback Australia where she has to overcome heartache in search for happiness and love. An absolute must read/listen of a heart-wrenching story. Loved it.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, Heartbreak, and tragedy

Kate is ten years old when she is sent from an Orphanage in England to live on a sheep ranch called Cutaway Creek in Australia. This story is about the years she spent there, and the events that took place during those years. The sheep ranch was owned by Daisy and Lachlan Stuart.

The book is more about Lou, Ellin and Toby the Aboriginal workers Kate would meet, make friends with and consider family. It is about the Aboriginal way of life, how they were treated by the Australian government and by the white settlers that came to live on the lands they call home.

It is a story of hardship, love, cruelty, and tragedy. It is also a story of endurance, new beginnings, and forgiveness. Of a merging with past and present to bring a happy and bittersweet ending to the lives of the characters in the story.

I like to read about places I have never been and seen, about cultures I have never experienced and about love and courage in the face of adversity.

The author describes the beauty and the ugly side of Australia equally well so the reader can capture a picture of the country in whole. I enjoyed the descriptions and the history. The characters were realistic and true to character.

I would recommend this book, it was a good read.

Thanks to Lee Richie, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of the book for an honest review

[Talia Dominici · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me feeling quite emotional and has stayed with me for days. I chose it because I’d read the author’s first book which was quite funny and a real romp for adults and young adults alike. I got into this one expecting something similar, so I was shocked by Lee’s incredibly passionate portrayal of Katherine’s traumatic life. Beautifully written, Black Bones, Red Earth brings the reader along on the journey. Sad at times, joyous at others, this book is a rollercoaster for the emotions and a delight for the senses. I really felt that I experienced the Australian outback through Katherine’s eyes. All the characters were relatable and real. The issues of race and culture handled with extreme compassion.
Black Bones, Red Earth was a book I did not want to finish, but the ending just left me a weeping mess. I would readily recommend this book to anyone interested in historical drama and the survival of the human spirit. Loved it!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Lee Richie, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a copy of this book and a chance to review Black Bones, Red Earth.

Lee Richie has written a challenging account of the removal of children from England to Australia during the Second World War, Katherine the protagonist is mistreated; it’s sad and also heartening. The descriptive writing of remote Australia is crafted beautifully. There is comment on the treatment of Australian First Nation people which is distressing. The story jumps to present day England where Katherine relives her traumatic past. Great ending.

This is an excellent story, highly recommend.

[Antoniette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook is beautifully narrated by Australian actress, Sandy Gore. It is written from the perspective of Katherine who is looking back at her life, particularly from the ages of 8 to 18, when she has been brought to live in the Australian outback. While she only spends a fraction of her life there, she is forever haunted by her time there. Katherine's early years are filled with trauma and strife, and she makes some decisions she comes to regret. In the end, however, she is able to make peace with her past.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me access to the audiobook version of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[F.E. Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Richie's Black Bones, Red Earth not only made me feel as though I'd lived on a sheep station in the Outback but evoked the delicate balance between whites and blacks. Against this backdrop a powerful story of a young girl, orphaned by the blitz, battled her way to womanhood. Powerful and compelling with a satisfying twist at the end. All in all a great read!

[Mary Elizabeth Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set mainly in the Australian outback in the 1950s, Black Bones, Red Earth by Lee Richie is a highly polished work which drew me in immediately. Katherine's voice is fun, sparky, delightful although she is telling her rather disturbing, harrowing story. There's lots of atmosphere, and descriptive passages are tight and provide the right amount of detail.

I did some beta reading for the author last year and am so pleased to see it's been published.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Black Bones, Red Earth and I am still wiping the tears from my eyes. I LOVED this book. It's the best book I've read in a long time and I didn't want it to end.

[Elaine LaBonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The historical novel "Black Bones and Red Earth" reads like an autobiography. The first part begins when Katherine, at 8 years old, loses both of her parents. Her father abandoned her when a buzz bomb in London murdered her mother. There was an official proposal to move the vast majority of war orphans to Australia, with the promise that the large number of childless adults there would provide them with loving and secure homes. Regrettably, these kids had already been bought and sold as aboriginal slaves by the time they reached the Land Down Under.

Australian actor Sandy Gore read the novel with the same worn-out, unhappy attitude that Katherine had by this point in her long, laborious life. Rich characterizations by author Lee Richie convey a clearly thought-out authenticity. The production of this audiobook was excellent.

When Katherine is 78 years old, the second part begins. Now in England, she is content and joyful. Although she has kept her history private, it hasn't prevented the repercussions of her past naive decisions from reappearing, and the lies, deceptions, and terrors of that time nearly brought her to her knees. Even though the emotional wounds have mostly healed, the physical ones still exist. Complications are catastrophic when long-buried secrets are discovered.

I wasn't ready for the author to push me to such emotional lengths when I first started reading this book. I find it incredibly fulfilling when I can relate to the main character in a novel on a deep level. Yet I had to pause reading this novel multiple times to catch my breath since it is so masterfully crafted and thought-provoking. It has absolutely no issues, in my opinion. Do you believe this tragedy will have a satisfying ending? I appreciate BooksGoSocial Audio and NetGalley sending me this audiobook in advance for review. My opinion is both voluntary and honest.

Everyone interested in the difficulties people face in life and how they manage to live through them should read this book. I suggest listening to audio books to anyone who has trouble focusing on printed material or who has vision issues. Warning: Richie shows the cruel and oppressive violence employed to maintain the power of some preferred social groups. I advise searching for a different perspective if you are sensitive to this reality.

[GlenS · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the post-World War II era, Katharine and her elder brother Archie were transferred as orphans from the UK to Australia as part of the Home Children - child Migration programme conducted by Catholic Church-affiliated organisation.

After arriving in Australia, Kath is separated from her brother and assigned to live with a couple who had been promised a male kid as free labour on a remote outback property. Archie was not to be seen by Kath again.

There are numerous untold tales about how governments all across the world handled indigenous peoples. This memoir-styled book depicts the story of Kath, mis-treated and lonely only has who only has friendships with the aborigine labourers on the outback property where she lives. From them, she learns of their culture and, how along with their children, it was being stripped away from them.

Her narrative is heartbreaking; it follows her from a little, timid girl who is forced to forge her way into adulthood without assistance of her adopted .

This was an emotionally charged novel, but I would happily recommend this book to readers interested in historically accurate-based stories.

I would like to thank BooksGoSocial Audio and #NetGalley for sending me an E-advanced copy of #BlackBonesRedEarth in exchange for my own honest review. This book was due for release on February 24, 2020.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful and haunting read about a young girl, Katherine, who is sent out to Australia from England in 1951 after her mother’s death and father’s abandonment. On arrival she is separated from her brother and scared and bewildered is given over to a cold and uncaring couple on an isolated and remote property in the outback. Somehow she must carve out some sort of life for herself and with determination and courage she does just that. Atmospheric and richly evocative of the time and place, well-written and well-paced, it’s a dramatic tale that never becomes melodramatic and a sad tale that never descends into sentimentality. With excellent characterisation and authentic dialogue, always unpredictable and surprising, it’s a compelling novel and one which I very much enjoyed. It’s also historically accurate and a searing indictment of the treatment of the Aboriginal population and the consequent stolen generation, as well as the well-meaning but misguided government scheme to ship out British orphans to this far-away and unknown country. A great read.

[Dianoudine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from Netgalley.com and I am extremely grateful I did. The summary above says it all about the plot but I was so taken by the details, the turning of the fan on the ceiling, the smells, the dust, the colors, even the cardboard box... Everything feels so real and it makes the painful moments even more horrific and the sweet touches even more fragile. I wondered many times if this was a true story, the acknowledgements mention a number of inspirational characters so I guess some parts happened to someone and just for that reason you should read this book and spread the knowledge it brings about children being shipped across the world to faraway deserts, about indigenous peoples being ripped of their traditional lands, knowledge and culture (this echoes to another book I read recently and highly recommend too, Braided Sweetgrass), about abuse and pain, about love that moves mountains and never dies. This is a very rough yet subtle book, the writing is clear, funny, the characters full of flaws and tenderness... It was beautiful, thank you M. Richie!

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in need of an audio book now that the days are getting longer and I am spending more time out in the garden. I downloaded Black Bones, Red Earth on a whim, and I am so glad that I did. Wow - what a well written and interesting story.
Set initially in the Australian Outback in the 1940s and 50s, then in modern day UK and Australia, Kathryn/Kate's story was compelling, heartbreaking and inspirational. I laughed and I cried. The author's understanding of the history, cultures and landscape was exceptionally good. I will definitely read any other books written by them.
The audio/narrator grew on me, I wasn't sure to begin with, but I can't now imagine anyone else speaking Kate's voice. I think it took a while as it was an older voice and Kate was just a child at the start. It works though - so stick with it if the voice doesn't initially jell.
I am so pleased that I listened to this lovely book, and I think it will make an amazing film/TV series. Book clubs should also embrace it - there is so much to discuss.
I have no hesitation in giving this lovely book FIVE stars.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Right Track Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This statement is always true. I’m not given compensation to discuss a book and I’m not told how to rate a book. I am given a book in exchange for my opinions on it, and I am truthful in all my reviews whether I loved them or not.

This was a very intriguing book. This book follows a young girl Katharine and her trials and tribulations throughout her life as being an orphan. Her and her brother are separated and the couple that "adopts" Katharine is just looking for free labor.

This book sounds more like a memoir than a fictional book. Being my first Audiobook, I feel that the narration was a little flat. I could not tell which character was speaking at the time.

Overall, a great, captivating story of a young girl and her life becoming friends with people she never expected to. Creating bonds and memories that would last a lifetime, even the conditions that she was in.

Thank you Right Track Publishing for the opportunity to listen and rate this book