Gracey (novel) facts for kids
Gracey is a popular young adult novel written by the Australian author James Moloney. It was first published in 1994. This book is the second part of a series called the Gracey trilogy. The first book is Dougy (1993), and the third is Angela (1998). In 1995, Gracey was recognized as an Honour Book at the Children's Book Council of Australia Awards for older readers. Many different versions of the book exist, including regular books, audio books, braille, and e-books.
Contents
Why the Author Wrote Gracey
James Moloney, the author, shared why he decided to continue the story after the first book, Dougy. He noticed that many young people from Aboriginal communities faced challenges. They often had limited chances for jobs or to feel respected in their communities.
He wanted to show how these difficulties could lead to feelings of hopelessness. He also wanted to explore how Gracey, one of the main characters, might feel about her identity. She goes away to a boarding school and starts to wonder if she will lose touch with who she is.
What Happens in the Story
Gracey's Family Visit
The story of Gracey follows Gracey and her friend Angela during their last school holidays. They are visiting Cunningham with Gracey's brothers, Dougy and Raymond. Gracey and Angela usually go to school in Australia, and they are visiting Gracey's family. Gracey feels a bit uncomfortable and embarrassed by her family during this visit. However, her brother Raymond seems to be really enjoying their time there.
A Mysterious Discovery
While playing in some trenches, Dougy finds what look like human bones. Gracey suggests they take the bones to the police. The police take the bones to investigate further and find even more bones in the area.
Uncovering History
Back in Brisbane, Gracey's English teacher gives her some books about Aboriginal history. At first, Gracey isn't very interested. She wants to fit in with the "white community" and doesn't want to stand out. But as she researches more, she starts to learn about the history behind the bones Dougy found.
Gracey's Changing View
Later, Gracey returns to Cunningham when her mother passes away. A series of difficult events happen, which makes Gracey think differently about her life and her background. The story is told from the viewpoints of both Gracey and Dougy.
The Gracey Book Series
The Gracey Trilogy is a series of three books by James Moloney. They tell a continuing story about the characters.
