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Anne Kayes has written a masterful YA novel that considers questions of human equality that are as pertinent in the twenty-first century as they were in 1981.
Reviews
Stuff.co.nz ~ “It’s 40 years since the 1981 Springbok Tour divided New Zealand like almost no other event in our history, cleaving us into two halves: those who supported the South African rugby team’s visit and those who did not. Compare this with pictures from last year’s Covid-19 lockdown when New Zealanders were the very picture of calm compliance. How to bring these two events together in a book ostensibly for young adults?
“Anne Kayes’ impressive novel In Our Own Back Yard does this – and more – with cogency, bringing a power and intensity to the events of four decades ago while contrasting them with the pandemic. She considers questions about equality, what it takes to find one’s voice and use it, and how we learn from painful experiences. The contrast between tour protests and pandemic isn’t always seamless, but it provides a useful way to introduce then drive the coming-of-age story.”
Radio New Zealand ~ Listen to the review by Louise Ward.
Meet Kiwi author Anne Kayes
Find out more about Anne Kayes on her author profile.
