Angela (novel) facts for kids
Angela is an exciting novel for young adults. It was written by the Australian author James Moloney. The book was first published in 1998.
This story is the third book in a series called the Gracey trilogy. The first book is Dougy (1993). The second book is Gracey (1994).
Angela has been published in many ways. You can find it as a regular book, an audio book, or an e-book. It even won an award from UNESCO for promoting tolerance and peace.
Why James Moloney Wrote Angela
James Moloney wrote Angela six years after Gracey. He didn't plan to continue the story at first. However, he became very interested in a report. This report was about a sad time in Australian history.
The report talked about the "Stolen Generations." This refers to a period when many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were taken from their families. This happened by government policies.
Moloney read reports like "Bringing Them Home." He learned that some children were taken by force. Others were given up by parents who had no legal rights. These parents often didn't understand what the government was doing.
Moloney realized these children were "stolen." He wanted to write a story about it. He decided to tell this story through the eyes of a white character. He chose Angela, Gracey's friend, as the main character.
What Angela Is About
The novel follows two friends, Angela and Gracey. They are now in their first year of university. Their friendship starts to feel different. This is because of the new environment and new friends.
Gracey, who is a Murri (an Aboriginal person from Queensland), wants to learn more about her culture. She spends time with other Indigenous students. Angela tries to be supportive of Gracey.
But their close friendship slowly begins to change. Gracey starts to think deeply about the "Stolen Generation" stories. These stories make her question past decisions made by white people.
Through a difficult journey, Gracey learns to accept the past. She begins to move towards a better understanding. This helps her work towards healing between black and white Australians. Angela tells the story from her point of view.
The Gracey Trilogy Books
The Gracey Trilogy includes three books:
