Paper Bags and Dreams

A collection of stories about two teenage girls for whom friendship and love are more important than cultural differences told with warmth and humour.

Edie and Maggie live in a small country town and are best friends - but very different. Edie is Aboriginal and Maggie Anglo-Australian; Maggie is good at school, Edie always struggles. No matter how hard she studies, Edie can only scrape a pass and although they promised each other that together they would change the world, when Maggie suddenly gets the chance to leave school and earn money, it's a serious challenge to their friendship. Will it survive?

Edie is a natural athlete but she also has a strong spiritual side and now that she is a young woman, it becomes even more important. The women tell her that since she has entered puberty, her body is 'making honey', so there will be big changes to the world around her. It's time for Edie to learn more about the Old Ways - which means confronting her own past.

After her mother left, Edie's grandparents took over the role of caring for Edie and her young brother Matty. They are tough and wise, but loving, and so far Edie has escaped the big black government cars that have come for many of the indigenous children in the town, but in PAPERBAGS AND DREAMS, the cars finally catch up with her. Will they tear her family apart?

The stand-alone sequel to WHISPER, this is a heartwarming portrait of friendship and reconciliation, and of a society offered the chance to balance the pain of the past with love.