Four books to challenge your perspectives

This week is Book Week, a national celebration to celebrate reading.

Regardless of how you consume books in 2019: e-books, pdfs, audiobooks or... physical page-turning books, reading is so important to help you learn about new perpestives, different stories, and ideas from the past, present or even the future.

Here are four books recommended by our staff at Youth Affairs Council Victoria to challenge your perspectives of social change.

Say Hello - Carly Findlay

"I liked this book because it feels like a very honest and intimate story about Carly’s life and her encounters with ableism that challenge the reader to examine their own unconscious bias. Carly's writing is humours and engaging. 

I’d love to see this book on the must read list of every high school."

- Miia Tolvanen, Youth Disability Advocacy Service, Manager

Dark Emu - Bruce Pascoe (also Young Dark Emu)

"Dark Emu paints a compelling picture of skilled agricultural stewardship of Australia by Aboriginal peoples before colonisation, thus debunking the myth of Terra Nullius. 

It is very readable, and there is a version, Young Dark Emu for children and young adults as well."

- Katherine Ellis, Youth Affairs Council Victoria, CEO

"I bought Young Dark Emu for my nephews growing up in the UK, and it managed to captivate them off their screens and sparked curiosity, at least for a little while!" 

- Karen Walsh, Youth Affairs Council Victoria, Great South Coast Rural Development Co-ordinator 

Axiomatic - Maria Tumarkin 

"Axiomatic is book which deconstructs the way we process grief through five compelling, all-consuming true anecdotes that pushes the boundaries of non-fiction.

It is a gut-wrenching, beautiful read which challenged me to the core about how I see the world, what is resilience, and how trauma manifests in our lives."

- Thomas Feng, Youth Affairs Council Victoria, Media and Communications Manager

The Hate Race - Maxine Beneba Clarke

"Maxine's memoir focuses on growing up in suburban Australia during the 1980s and 1990s, and the constant racism she faced.

It gives readers an incredible insight into the impact of racism. I think her memoir is so powerful - every Australian should read it!"

- Stacey Christie, Youth Disability Advocacy Service, Digital and Content Officer

How many have you read? And were there any books you think we missed? 

Let us know what you think of the YACVic's team's selection by sharing on social media or contacting us via email.

In the meantime, find out more about YACVic and what we do.

Happy reading!