Be Brave: The Life of a Pacific Correspondent (Barbara Dreaver, Awa Press)

In Be Brave: The Life of a Pacific Correspondent, Barbara Dreaver takes readers around the Pacific, introducing a wide range of people, from powerful politicians to impoverished families struggling to survive under conditions shaped by the former. The book documents Dreaver’s reporting on natural disasters, coups and epidemics over the past 30 years, as well as the personal risks that accompanied this work, including being targeted and detained by the military, uncovering drug syndicates and breaking stories about corruption in government. Throughout, Dreaver writes with sincerity and respect for the people at the centre of her reporting and the seriousness of the subject matter, balancing this with moments of humour – often at her own expense. Born on Ocean Island, Dreaver brings unique and fascinating insights into life in certain Pacific Island nations, drawing on her childhood in Kiribati, her time living and working in Rarotonga, and her career reporting across the region for Television New Zealand. Be Brave offers a rare look behind the curtain of the news and media industry from a writer who believes in and embodies the tenets of ethical journalism. Dreaver’s journalistic style carries through her memoir, resulting in direct, succinct prose focused on the facts and events as they happened. A pacey, action-packed read, Be Brave may be a strong recommendation for readers interested in journalism and global politics.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Ash Davida Jane is a reviewer from Aotearoa New Zealand, currently based in Naarm. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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