The Voices

author
Susan Elderkin

plot synopsis in 50 words or fewer
Set in Western Australia,The Voices is the story of Billy Saint, a white child who is "sung up" by an Aboriginal spirit child, Maisie. Both Billy and Maisie know that he is being made to love her forever—and for Billy this knowelge presents a terrifying prospect.

what really matters
More than just an incredible tale of a haunted little boy (and later, man), this book is a profound exploration of Aboriginal history, customs, and politics. She deftly paints a close and detailed picture of a gorgeous but endangered culture. An interesting presentation of the ways in which communities have all but ceased to listen to the "voices" of their native cultures.

some of the hype
"Elderkin's dialog effortlessly conjures intricate characters and settings, highlighting the dangerous confrontations between cultures in the outback." —Purdence Peiffer, Library Journal

"Certainly brilliant. . . . Beautifully written, melancholy, fey, angry and utterly absorbing. . . . Part fable, part coming-of-age story." —Cressida Connolly, The Daily Telegraph (UK)

"As a writer she is the real thing, and the novel, tender, sensual and genuinely original. . . . Evidence of great talent." —Maggie Gee, The London Times (UK)

"Susan Elderkin's characteristically dazzling techniques are on display in all their virtuosity and freakish inventiveness. . . . She is without equal." —The Independent (UK)

some other things this author has written
Sunset Over Chocolate Mountains
Arizona Icecream