Joey and the Junjardy (Allison Rocca, illus Brenton E McKenna, UQP)

Wakka Wakka and Kaanju author Allison Rocca’s debut middle-grade novel, Joey and the Junjardy, is a fast-moving, vibrant comedy-drama.

Joey is an 11-year-old, well-meaning yet misjudged prankster who has just moved to Coolibah Creek on Wakka Wakka Country, where his mum’s mob is from. He and his sister are used to changing schools because of their dad’s job, but this recent move follows the shameful “Big Trouble” Joey got into at his last school.

Joey hopes for a fresh start at Coolibah Creek Primary, but trouble follows him in a very literal form: a Junjardy, one of the “little hairy fellas” who scare and play tricks on kids. Joey enjoys his accomplice at first, but the Junjardy’s pranks soon become increasingly dangerous. To understand what it wants from him, Joey must turn to his Wakka Wakka culture.

Rocca’s novel is a delight to read – it is well paced and intriguing, with plenty of humour and heart. Joey is a terrific character, with an engaging narrative voice and a compelling emotional arc. Themes of identity, fitting in, navigating bullying and learning how to proudly connect with and share First Nations culture are all deftly handled by Rocca. Yawuru artist Brenton E McKenna’s energetic monochrome illustrations are used sparingly throughout, pairing perfectly with the comedy in the book.

Joey and the Junjardy will appeal to fans of Brooke Scobie’s Yarn Quest and Fiona Katauskas’s Hi from Outer Space.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Charlotte Callander is a freelance writer who has worked as a bookseller and museum educator. 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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