Book Review – Dust by Christine Bongers

Challenging Debut YA Novel by Australian Author

Aug 27, 2009

Set in rural Queensland in the 1970s, this debut novel follows a 12 year old girl as she is challenged by events in her small country town.

Written by debut Australian author Christine Bongers, Dust (Woolshed Press, 2009) paints an evocative picture of growing up in Australia in the 70s and the confusing challenges and conflicts of youth.

Dust by Christine Bongers

Growing-up in outback Queensland in the 1970s, 12-year-old Cecilia Maria has six brothers and a burning desire to not be considered “just a girl”.

With a lively intelligence and a love of literature, Cecilia is also active, opinionated and determined to keep up with her brother Punk, who is just one year older. Cecilia struggles with the usual childhood issues of wanting to fit in and trying to find her place in the network of relationships in their small country town.

As an adult, Cecilia must return to her home town, trying to find someway of coming to terms with the ghosts of her past, especially the unreasonable and passionate dislike she had as a child of their nearest neighbours, the Kapernicky girls.

The Story of an Australian Childhood

At the most superficial level, Dust is a fascinating story of a 1970s Australian rural childhood. For those who grew up in Australia during those years, Bongers’ descriptions will stir dormant memories of what family life was like at the time.

At a slightly deeper level, this is a wonderful account of a young girl moving from childhood into the teenaged years. Cecilia’s struggles to define herself and find where she belongs in the schoolyard hierarchy will be familiar to many who have made a similar journey, trying to balance personal ideals and standards with a desire to fit in with the popular crowd.

Cecilia’s relationship with her brother Punk also reflects this developing maturity with their childhood wrestling matches and arguments growing into a relationship that is obviously significant to them both.

Childhood Experiences Shaping Character

At the most significant and impacting level, Dust is the story of Cecilia’s gradual realisation of why the Kapernicky sisters stand out and why their behaviour is so different. When Cecilia becomes aware of the difficulties faced by Aileen and Janeen Kapernicky, her regrets lead her along a different path, bringing a depth of maturity to her dealings with others and a sensitivity that she previously lacked.

The impact of the Kapernicky sisters’ fate on Cecilia’s outlook and decisions demonstrates the significant influence regret and the traumatic experiences of childhood can have on an individual’s character and future, even if the trauma is not experienced first hand.

Dust deals with issues of child abuse with some references to teenaged sexual experiences. These experiences are never described in graphic detail, however they may not be appropriate for younger or more sensitive readers.

Christine Bongers

Christine Bongers was born and raised in Biloela, Central Queensland. She has worked as a broadcast journalist in Australia and England, written two environmental television documentaries and runs her own media consultancy.

A Confronting Story of Childhood Experiences

Despite the very serious themes, there is an appealing wit and humour evident in the story, particularly in the adult Cecelia’s conversations with her own teenaged children and in the scenes between Cecilia and her brother Punk as children.

As mentioned above, the sexual themes may make this story inappropriate for younger readers and parents should exercise discretion. The story raises some very important and significant issues, however, and would be an ideal starting point for discussions about peer pressure, the danger of making assumptions about others, the importance of acting with integrity and the value of healthy and supportive friendships.

Well-written and incredibly evocative of the rural Australian setting and lifestyle, Dust is a challenging story that leaves readers contemplating the significant issues it raises. Bongers’ writing and characters are very engaging and she conveys her message within the framework of an interesting and appealing story.

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