
Shell's book is a story of Australia's shame and the "stolen" generation, when young. mixed blood and fairer Aborigine children were deliberately stolen from their parents and attempted to be "assimilated" into a white society, during the middle years of the twentieth century. It was an official Australian Government policy and saw an entire generation of young Aboriginal children lost from their families, many forever.
To Kill for a Dream focuses on the Fife family from the outback cattle country of Queensland. Emily and Harry's father Peter is on the run from the underworld and the police, leaving his wife Leslie and the two children to fend for themselves. Leslie's brother Iain, who is a Member of Parliament takes the children back to the family farm for their safety.
The book's main storyline is the remarkable relationship between two cousins, Jarrah, an eleven-year-old Aboriginal boy who was originally "stolen", but managed to escape from the school he had been sent to and make his way back home, to his beloved Dreaming Billabong and his cultural roots and young Emily who at seven, is convinced in Jarrah she has found a beautiful friend and her soulmate.
This is a gorgeous, sumptuous story, so well written by Shell, that I found myself not wanting to finish the book; I didn't want the story to end. My only consolation is the knowledge that the next book will continue the story of Jarrah's and Emily's burgeoning relationship. This is a wonderful book by a fantastic author. I have no problem recommending this book to everyone who enjoys historical drama. This is a five-star story every step of the way.
You can check out all of Ryn Shell's offerings here: http://amzn.to/1J8dAex