One Word (Melissa-Jane Fogarty, Lothian)

Melissa-Jane Fogarty’s One Word is a gentle yet powerful First Nations story about a young girl, Myra, who loves to stay with Pop. When she overhears him speaking to his sister on the phone in another language, she feels puzzled and hurt that he won’t share the language with her. As Myra’s visit nears its end, Pop finds a way to explain why his first Aboriginal language – Yugambeh – was once hidden in shame. Myra is then given her first word – “Gumera”, meaning “love” – to carry forward and share. Fogarty’s deeply evocative illustrations enrich this exploration of fear, shame and intergenerational trauma. The warmth, respect and innocence so carefully expressed throughout the text offer a sense of hope, suggesting that healing and reconciliation can occur when younger generations can understand the past and proudly reclaim First Nations languages. One Word provides children aged 5 and above, along with their parents and teachers, an accessible entry point for discussing the impacts of colonisation, the Stolen Generations, and the importance of preserving First Nations languages and cultures. Through the eyes of a child, Fogarty (Tubowgule: A Sydney Opera House History) helps readers of all ages to acknowledge the past while looking to the future.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Merril Darling is a freelance book reviewer based in 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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