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Say Yes: A Story of Friendship, Fairness and a Vote for Hope
Once there were two little girls who were best friends. They did everything together. As they got older they weren't allowed to do the same things anymore. Because they looked different. Because of the law...This is a story about the landmark 1967 Referendum, the two women who came together to change the law ... and how the Australian people said YES.
A story about how the events surrounding the historic 1967 Referendum played out in the everyday lives of two young girls
A story about how the events surrounding the historic 1967 Referendum played out in the everyday lives of two young girls
Hardcover
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 3, 2017
A very simple telling of one of Australias most significant recent moments in nation building written for a young audience.
Well written. But in reality fairness and equality for all are usually concepts most children carry within themselves naturally until they are taught otherwise.
On the other hand I can think of quite a number of "adults " I encounter in daily life who would benefit from sitting down and listening to this story read to them.
Well written. But in reality fairness and equality for all are usually concepts most children carry within themselves naturally until they are taught otherwise.
On the other hand I can think of quite a number of "adults " I encounter in daily life who would benefit from sitting down and listening to this story read to them.
November 19, 2020
“Because, you know, I am from a background where you understand about racial prejudice and you understand about equality. You know all the stuff – in a sort of intellectual, ‘right thinking’ way. But you don’t really know anything, because you don’t know people who have experienced it and who are looking at it from inside out. So for me [my relationship with Mandy Brown has] been really transformative in understanding how little I know and how deep the issues are.” – Marg Castles
I came to know this book, Say Yes: A story of friendship, fairness and a vote for hope (Allen & Unwin, 2017), via a segment of ABC’s 7.30 Report on April 27. Titled “Children’s book about friendship and a crucial moment in Australian history”, it tells the story of two young girls – one Aboriginal, the other from a white Australian family – who met in Adelaide in 1967 and became very good friends.
The girls were confused – why couldn’t they stay together in school, at the public swimming pool and the cinema, and while traveling on train? Just because they looked different? They cried: “It’s the law but that’s not fair. It’s just not fair.”
That was the story of Mandy Brown and Marg Castles, whose friendship has lasted 50 years and is still going strong. It inspired Marg’s sister Jennifer Castles to write Say Yes, whose publication helped to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum that made the law fairer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The keyword here is “fairer”, because “it was ‘a good beginning’, but there is still A LOT to do…”
The writing in this book is very straightforward. Paul Seden’s realistic illustrations, combined with the use of a diverse range of historical images and notes, help to augment a sense of reality. This is not just a children’s book, as the use of plain descriptive words in different colours and sizes demands attention from both young and adult readers. More importantly, Say Yes as a book captures a moment in our nation’s history – an essence of our nationhood – when we shared the same desire to be united by one identity. The book encourages readers to reflect upon this meaningful event, particularly when we realise it was only one moment in the past and we still have problems at the present and more than ever need to keep hoping and working together for a better future.
Recommended reading: “Jennifer Castles: Books that Changed Me”, The Sydney Morning Herald, April 16, 2017.
This review was originally published on "Voices under the Sun" blog (https://christinesunflower.com/2017/0...).
I came to know this book, Say Yes: A story of friendship, fairness and a vote for hope (Allen & Unwin, 2017), via a segment of ABC’s 7.30 Report on April 27. Titled “Children’s book about friendship and a crucial moment in Australian history”, it tells the story of two young girls – one Aboriginal, the other from a white Australian family – who met in Adelaide in 1967 and became very good friends.
The girls were confused – why couldn’t they stay together in school, at the public swimming pool and the cinema, and while traveling on train? Just because they looked different? They cried: “It’s the law but that’s not fair. It’s just not fair.”
That was the story of Mandy Brown and Marg Castles, whose friendship has lasted 50 years and is still going strong. It inspired Marg’s sister Jennifer Castles to write Say Yes, whose publication helped to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum that made the law fairer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. The keyword here is “fairer”, because “it was ‘a good beginning’, but there is still A LOT to do…”
The writing in this book is very straightforward. Paul Seden’s realistic illustrations, combined with the use of a diverse range of historical images and notes, help to augment a sense of reality. This is not just a children’s book, as the use of plain descriptive words in different colours and sizes demands attention from both young and adult readers. More importantly, Say Yes as a book captures a moment in our nation’s history – an essence of our nationhood – when we shared the same desire to be united by one identity. The book encourages readers to reflect upon this meaningful event, particularly when we realise it was only one moment in the past and we still have problems at the present and more than ever need to keep hoping and working together for a better future.
Recommended reading: “Jennifer Castles: Books that Changed Me”, The Sydney Morning Herald, April 16, 2017.
This review was originally published on "Voices under the Sun" blog (https://christinesunflower.com/2017/0...).
May 5, 2017
Say Yes: A story of Friendship, fairness and a vote for hope is a perfect book which mixes both history and storytelling to tell us about the 1967 referendum.
Say Yes, is told to us through the eyes of two best friends - one indigenous and the other white. We experience the heartaches, the unfairness, the loneliness and sadness that the indigenous people go through pre 1967 and then the joy - when finally the Australian law was changed to recognise Australia's indigenous people as people of this land, who deserved to be treated the same as everyone else.
Many children would have little idea about how Australian's used to treat the Indigenous people of this land and this story tells it perfectly. Using a mix of Paul Seden's illustrations and real newspaper clippings and photographs we are able to see what happened and the amazing people who were part of this change.
This year, 2017, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum so make sure you share this important event and take the time to read through the notes and explanation on the law that was changes.
There is still low education achievement outcomes for Indigenous children in Australia. The indigenous children deserve to learn how to read and write as much as any one else does so that they can choose to move out of poverty cycles and educate the next generation.
The Indigenous literacy foundation are an amazing group who raise money and work with indigenous communities. Through their programs they empower communities to learn how to read by giving them books and publishing books that have indigenous links.
We are a national book industry charity, which aims to reduce the disadvantage experienced by children in remote Indigenous communities across Australia, by lifting literacy levels and instilling a lifelong love of reading.
Please check them out at www.ilf.org.au and perhaps even participate in the great book swap in August: www.greatbookswap.org.au
Say Yes, is told to us through the eyes of two best friends - one indigenous and the other white. We experience the heartaches, the unfairness, the loneliness and sadness that the indigenous people go through pre 1967 and then the joy - when finally the Australian law was changed to recognise Australia's indigenous people as people of this land, who deserved to be treated the same as everyone else.
Many children would have little idea about how Australian's used to treat the Indigenous people of this land and this story tells it perfectly. Using a mix of Paul Seden's illustrations and real newspaper clippings and photographs we are able to see what happened and the amazing people who were part of this change.
This year, 2017, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum so make sure you share this important event and take the time to read through the notes and explanation on the law that was changes.
There is still low education achievement outcomes for Indigenous children in Australia. The indigenous children deserve to learn how to read and write as much as any one else does so that they can choose to move out of poverty cycles and educate the next generation.
The Indigenous literacy foundation are an amazing group who raise money and work with indigenous communities. Through their programs they empower communities to learn how to read by giving them books and publishing books that have indigenous links.
We are a national book industry charity, which aims to reduce the disadvantage experienced by children in remote Indigenous communities across Australia, by lifting literacy levels and instilling a lifelong love of reading.
Please check them out at www.ilf.org.au and perhaps even participate in the great book swap in August: www.greatbookswap.org.au
January 10, 2021
A powerful story set in the 1960s in Australia explaining the discrimination against aborigines and the election that changed this and recognised the indigenous inhabitants. Simple sketch like illustrations of the two girls - one black, one white - whose friendship struggle against separation are backdropped with hots and images of news, events and signage from the time.
May 17, 2018
I love the message, but I wasn't a fan of the layout and illustrations.
March 15, 2022
Every Australian child should read this book.
April 20, 2017
My review of this book is on readingtime.com.au
August 19, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book and I feel that this would be a great book to use as a starting point to teach children about the referendum.
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April 10, 2017Reviewed for Magpies
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews