The White Girl
As her granddaughter Sissy’s thirteenth birthday approaches, Odette develops a mysterious pain in her side and a deep sense of foreboding that something terrible is about to happen. She has spent the last twelve years raising the fair-skinned child, who was abandoned by her mother when she was just an infant. The two have formed an unbreakable emotional bond, but the arrival of a new police officer threatens to tear them apart. Sergeant Lowe revels in the authority his position gives him, including having power over all Aboriginal inhabitants of his district. He views Odette as overly independent and is waiting for a chance to put her in her place. Odette has played by the rules all her life, but with Sissy’s future at stake, she must make a decision that will have life-altering consequences for them both.
Set in 1960s rural Australia, Birch’s novel tells the story of the Stolen Generations, where “half-caste” (multiracial) Aboriginal children were taken from their families and put into institutions or given to white families. Law officers were granted guardianship of all Aboriginal people in their area and had the power to say where they could travel, work, or even live. Children could be removed from their homes anytime for no reason other than concern for their “welfare.”
Birch is a masterful storyteller and lets his story unfold naturally, trusting the reader will feel the horror of Odette’s situation without any editorializing. The relationship between grandmother and granddaughter is tender and powerful, and the supporting characters contribute additional dimension to the story. A short but gripping novel that will make the reader want to learn more about this not-so-distant part of Australian history.
