The Secret River - Kate Grenville

Recommended for ages 15-adult.

FINALLY! A meaty, complex book that is well-written. Although I'm starting to tire of books about the colonisation of Australia due to overexposure, this novel really is one the best fictional accounts of the subject.

The Secret River follows the story of William Thornhill - sentenced to the colony of NSW for theft. William's wife Sal accompanies him, and over time the family claims their own piece of land in the Hawkesbury. The bulk of the novel, however, explores Thornhill's interaction with the local Aboriginal tribe and the other white settlers. Indeed the power of this novel lies in the complexity of Thornhill's character and the nature of the relationships he forges. His ability to commit atrocities against the local inhabitants is described in a way which highlights the uncertainties of every settler's mind.

This is an engaging and powerful read which will linger with Australian readers long after - a lot of us can claim such characters as ancestors. Because of the infrequent use of dark language and the major themes of this book, it's best to be savoured by kids over 15. Adults will take much more from it.