A Flash in the Dust (Meg Caddy, UQP)

Set in Western Australia in 1899, Meg Caddy’s queer YA historical novel A Flash in the Dust follows Gilberta and Norah, who are imprisoned in Fremantle Asylum and escape into the bush, only to find themselves hunted by a relentless killer. Forced to survive on the run, they form an unlikely bushranger gang with Nyungar brothers Kedalak and Malkar as they navigate a landscape shaped by violence and the prejudices of the society that cast them out. The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of the two young escapees and their pursuer, the Whistling Man. Caddy (Devil’s Ballast) builds tension while allowing space for nuanced character development, exploring how women and others deemed “undesirable” were historically institutionalised and marginalised. Shaped by differing class backgrounds – one by poverty, the other by privilege – Gil and Norah are depicted as experiencing queerness and social control in distinct ways. Caddy’s research into queer histories is evident throughout, grounding the narrative in a vivid sense of place and period. A Flash in the Dust is a story of unheard voices and unexpected love, offering a fresh historical perspective on LGBTQIA+ lives. While the novel includes confronting themes such as physical violence, the murder of a trans woman and the mistreatment of First Nations peoples, it remains a thought-provoking addition to secondary school libraries for readers aged 14 and over. For booksellers hand-selling to teen readers, this will suit those interested in reimagined Australian history in the vein of Kate Grenville, alongside Danielle Scrimshaw’s work recovering queer women’s history.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Emily Wyatt is an Adelaide-based librarian, writer and a lifelong reader. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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