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What About Thao?
From the author of the bestselling Thai-riffic, Con-nerd and The Other Christy comes a funny and heartfelt novel for 10+ about a city kid in a small country town who's enjoying being the new kid at his tiny two-teacher school – until Kadir arrives and things get interesting!
In his signature style, Oliver creates a fabulously diverse and heartfelt duo in Thao and Kadir and their sometimes hilarious and sometimes heart-wrenching dilemmas of culture and belonging in a remote rural community. Throw in some slam poetry and it might just end in a lifelong friendship and a whole lot more understanding.
In his signature style, Oliver creates a fabulously diverse and heartfelt duo in Thao and Kadir and their sometimes hilarious and sometimes heart-wrenching dilemmas of culture and belonging in a remote rural community. Throw in some slam poetry and it might just end in a lifelong friendship and a whole lot more understanding.
- GenresMiddle GradeFriendship
208 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2022
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 21, 2022
Very entertaining story about migrants moving to regional centres to create new lives.
Main character Thao is strong and confident, and his family are well accepted into the new community. His parents are involved and active, and Thao makes friends easily.
Another new family arrive, Kadir's family, with a much more traumatic past. Their family doesn't fit in as easily and Thao is determined to get to the bottom of it.
Kadir doesn't speak, but writes. He uses his writing to reveal his story and let down the barriers.
This had many similarities to Maryam Master's lastest book, No Words. I heard Phommavanh on a youtube review talking about this. He met Maryam when visiting a school, and she ran this idea past him. Now both books are published at the same time???
Also, I listened to this as an audio book. Phommavanh read it himself. Use of interesting and varied verbs was limited - he used "says" all the time. Some very clever metaphors in the book however.
Main character Thao is strong and confident, and his family are well accepted into the new community. His parents are involved and active, and Thao makes friends easily.
Another new family arrive, Kadir's family, with a much more traumatic past. Their family doesn't fit in as easily and Thao is determined to get to the bottom of it.
Kadir doesn't speak, but writes. He uses his writing to reveal his story and let down the barriers.
This had many similarities to Maryam Master's lastest book, No Words. I heard Phommavanh on a youtube review talking about this. He met Maryam when visiting a school, and she ran this idea past him. Now both books are published at the same time???
Also, I listened to this as an audio book. Phommavanh read it himself. Use of interesting and varied verbs was limited - he used "says" all the time. Some very clever metaphors in the book however.
January 20, 2023
A heartwarming tale of two boys who have moved to remote rural Australia and who both bring their complex and interesting stories with them.
Thao is Aussie born, but is of Vietnamese heritage. His parents are looking for a simpler, country life and although he has some issues settling in, Thao makes friends at his new school.
But when Syrian refugee Kadir arrives, things start to get a bit more complicated. Thao wants to make him feel welcome, but Kadir is not forthcoming. He misses his war torn homeland - and is struggling with the fact that his father is missing. He resents the fact that his mum and twin sisters have moved half way around the world and he doesn't cope with his new situation.
The story has some great insights into what it must be like to move into a new community and the subtle differences between someone who has chosen to move and someone who hasn't.
I listened to the author read his story on audiobook and I very much enjoyed it.
Thao is Aussie born, but is of Vietnamese heritage. His parents are looking for a simpler, country life and although he has some issues settling in, Thao makes friends at his new school.
But when Syrian refugee Kadir arrives, things start to get a bit more complicated. Thao wants to make him feel welcome, but Kadir is not forthcoming. He misses his war torn homeland - and is struggling with the fact that his father is missing. He resents the fact that his mum and twin sisters have moved half way around the world and he doesn't cope with his new situation.
The story has some great insights into what it must be like to move into a new community and the subtle differences between someone who has chosen to move and someone who hasn't.
I listened to the author read his story on audiobook and I very much enjoyed it.
July 9, 2023
A touching and fascinating story about two boys who relocated to a distant rural area of Australia and brought their respective complicated and fascinating tales with them.
Thao was born in Australia but has Vietnamese ancestry. His parents desire a calmer, rural lifestyle, and despite his difficulties adjusting, Thao makes friends at his new school.
However, when Syrian refugee Kadir shows up, things start to become a little bit more challenging. Thao tries to make Kadir feel welcome, but he remains uncooperative. He struggles with the loss of his father and misses his devastated by-war birthplace. He hates that his mother and twin sisters moved halfway across the world, and he struggles to adjust to his new life.
The narrative offers some fascinating insights into what it must be like to relocate to a new area and the minute variations between those who have made the decision to move and those who haven't.
Thao was born in Australia but has Vietnamese ancestry. His parents desire a calmer, rural lifestyle, and despite his difficulties adjusting, Thao makes friends at his new school.
However, when Syrian refugee Kadir shows up, things start to become a little bit more challenging. Thao tries to make Kadir feel welcome, but he remains uncooperative. He struggles with the loss of his father and misses his devastated by-war birthplace. He hates that his mother and twin sisters moved halfway across the world, and he struggles to adjust to his new life.
The narrative offers some fascinating insights into what it must be like to relocate to a new area and the minute variations between those who have made the decision to move and those who haven't.
March 30, 2023
Thao and his family are the only Vietnamese in the small country town. The school is tiny, and Thao quickly learns that everyone knows everyone. Thao makes a friend, and he starts to like living in Megulla.
The Mafi family arrive in town, refugees from war-torn Syria, and life changes for Thao. As the most recent arrival before Kadir, Thao is asked to buddy him. Kadir wants only one thing: to return to Syria to find his father. It takes ages for Thao to get to know him, and he is torn between wanting to spend time with his friends and buddying Kadir.
A slam poetry competition makes things worse and better. How does Kadir sort out what he wants? What does Thao do to keep his old friends and buddy Kadir?
I enjoyed the rich characters, the intensity of the issues and feelings and the way the characters tried to sort things out.
Recommended for readers aged ten years and older.
The Mafi family arrive in town, refugees from war-torn Syria, and life changes for Thao. As the most recent arrival before Kadir, Thao is asked to buddy him. Kadir wants only one thing: to return to Syria to find his father. It takes ages for Thao to get to know him, and he is torn between wanting to spend time with his friends and buddying Kadir.
A slam poetry competition makes things worse and better. How does Kadir sort out what he wants? What does Thao do to keep his old friends and buddy Kadir?
I enjoyed the rich characters, the intensity of the issues and feelings and the way the characters tried to sort things out.
Recommended for readers aged ten years and older.
December 6, 2022
Gentle. Maybe too gentle.
Suitable for late primary, I’d been hoping for stage 4. I had heard that the author was great at doing school author talks and the book seemed to tick so many great boxes; multiculturalism, rural experiences, migrant experiences, the value of literature and poetry in overcoming isolation and forming connections to others and to place, but it was a little too nice. Thao slips into his tiny rural town a little too easily, and while Kadir wasn’t quite as uncomplicated, it was only ok.
Suitable for late primary, I’d been hoping for stage 4. I had heard that the author was great at doing school author talks and the book seemed to tick so many great boxes; multiculturalism, rural experiences, migrant experiences, the value of literature and poetry in overcoming isolation and forming connections to others and to place, but it was a little too nice. Thao slips into his tiny rural town a little too easily, and while Kadir wasn’t quite as uncomplicated, it was only ok.
April 25, 2023
A great Australian middle grade story that highlights the challenges of being the new kid at school, refugees moving to a new country and being confronted with racism for the first time.
Things I loved:
- Small country town
- Third generation Asian-Australian family
- Being the new kid, trying to fit in
- Slam poetry
- Reflection on not-belonging
Things I loved:
- Small country town
- Third generation Asian-Australian family
- Being the new kid, trying to fit in
- Slam poetry
- Reflection on not-belonging
October 5, 2022
In typical Oliver Phommovanh style, this is a heartwarming and funny story about fitting in. Loved the characters and the fact that it is set in a country town. Definitely adding this to our book club program at school.
August 23, 2022
I won’t feel fulfilled until Kadir finds his dad, but a heartwarming story in perfect Oliver Phommavanh fashion, there’s really no other MG writer out there that writes like him!
October 21, 2022
A good entry into 'issues' for younger readers. Lots of humour.
June 29, 2023
Great story of friendship.
May 4, 2025
This book has a ginormous heart and is a joy to read.
February 13, 2026
Written by a convicted paedophile.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-1...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-1...
December 19, 2023
A powerful story about displacement, war and friendship. The use of song and poetry as a bonding activity was a lovely and unexpected touch.
October 16, 2024
it was go
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews