That Deadman Dance
By Kim Scott
"That Deadman Dance" is a novel by Kim Scott, first published in 2010. The novel is set in Western Australia in the early 1800s, and tells the story of a young Noongar boy named Bobby Wabalanginy and his encounters with the first British settlers in the region.
Bobby is a curious and energetic child who is fascinated by the newcomers and their strange customs, language, and technology. He befriends several of the settlers, including the kind-hearted Dr. Cross and the ambitious Lieutenant Dan Horton, and becomes a bridge between the two cultures.
However, as the British settlers begin to establish their presence in the region, conflicts and tensions arise between them and the Noongar people, and Bobby finds himself caught in the middle. As he navigates his way through the rapidly changing landscape of his world, Bobby must confront difficult questions about identity, belonging, and the legacy of colonialism.
Australia Macmillan. 2010. 401p.