Books2Movies Club discussion

For those not familiar, the rabbit-proof fence is a fence constructed between 1901 and 1907 to keep rabbits and other pests out of the agricultural areas all over Australia. The fence in the title of this story is one crossing Western Australia from north to south. While loosely based on the life story of Doris Pilkington's mother, this is a story about the whole Stolen Generation, mixed-race Aboriginal children, mostly from the first half of the 20th century, that were forcibly removed from their homes under pretense of their education and assimilation to the society. In those government facilities, they were treated poorly and their education was mostly directed toward making them more-less suitable for lower-paid labor. The Aboriginal girls from the story escaped one of such facilities and trekked over 1,600 km using the rabbit-proof fence as their orientation guide toward their homes.

I must admit that before seeing the movie, Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), I had no idea such horrible discrimination and mistreatment of children and indigenous people had occurred in Australia, and for so long, deep into the 1970s. It broke my heart. That's why I suggested we read this story. Simply this is something we all should know about, and remember.

I recently finished the book, and although I´d heard about the mistreating of Aboriginal children before, it was very moving. I wondered that not much of this torture was mentioned in the book, but then the girls were perhaps so happy to escape shortly after their being brought to the "school". I admired their strength, esp. that of Gracie, and gave it 5 stares because of its importance.

Now looking ahead to the film, which I still have to find among my recent orders. ;)