This could have been because she was 8 years-old before anyone realized that she was incredibly near-sighted and probably couldnt see anything further away than the words in a book. As a child Zana always had her head in a book. And one day it brings him Jimmie.Ĭarrying a notebook that she’s unable to read and wearing a sparrow made out of bone around her neck – both talismans of her family’s past and the mother she’s lost – Jimmie strikes up an unlikely friendship with Subhi beyond the fence.Īs he reads aloud the tale of how Jimmie’s family came to be, both children discover the importance of their own stories in writing their futures. Zana Fraillon was born in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia but spent her early childhood in San Francisco. Subhi’s mother, his sister and best friend Eli are also inmates of the centre. The novel centres on Subhi a young boy born in Australia within the walls of the detention centre.

‘…a special book’ – Morris Gleitzman, author of the acclaimed ONCE seriesīorn in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he’s at least 19 fence diamonds high, the nice Jackets never stay long, and at night he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures. ‘The Bone Sparrow is a modern narrative set in an Australian immigration detention centre.

As red as the sun and as deep as the sky. This novel reminds us all of the importance of freedom, hope, and the power of a story to speak for anyone who’s ever struggled to find a safe home. Sometimes, at night, the dirt outside turns into a beautiful ocean. This is a beautiful, vivid and deeply moving story about a refugee boy who has spent his entire life living in a detention centre. Perfect for fans of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS. Shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2017.

The bone sparrow by zana fraillon