The Pearl of Tagai Town (Lenora Thaker, Text)

Lenora Thaker’s debut novel, The Pearl of Tagai Town, is a fast-paced story that follows Pearl, a young Torres Strait Islander descendant, growing up in a northeastern Australian shantytown in the 1930s. As Pearl navigates her way through first loves, employment, and the outbreak of World War II, Thaker, a proud Meriam and Wagedagam woman, brings a cast of beautifully drawn, multifaceted characters to life. The chaotic warmth of Pearl’s family is particularly inviting and vivid, and her romantic interests are endearing. By interweaving Torres Strait Islander phrases seamlessly through the book and including a glossary at the end, Thaker portrays life as a First Nations person in that era with affection and unflinching honesty. There is no shying away from the brutality of the racism Pearl and her family experience, but it is balanced by a deep sense of community that seeps through the pages. While the novel is compelling, its ambitious scope results in some jarring time jumps, skipping over key moments in Pearl’s life that feel important. Although the story begins with Pearl aged fourteen, the narrative voice retains a youthful tone throughout, even as the story tackles heavier themes such as sexual assault and death, which feels at odds with the material. Nevertheless, The Pearl of Tagai Town is a moving and culturally rich work of historical fiction. Readers of Kate Grenville, Anita Heiss and those drawn to lesser-told stories from Australian history will find much to admire in this striking debut.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Tierney Khan is a freelance book reviewer and writer from Naarm/Melbourne. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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