Former Australian Children’s Laureate Gabrielle Wang has again drawn on her Chinese heritage to weave a novel with elements of magic realism. The setting is both Melbourne and rural China during the Depression in 1932. Twelve-year-old Moonie dreams of becoming a dress designer. She is devastated when her mother, Ma Mi, is sent away and she doesn’t know why. Suddenly a mysterious boy appears in her bedroom.
Because her older sister can’t see him, Moonie thinks he is just another ghost like the three in their house already. However, Little Dipper is real and has been transported to Australia from Chongming Island in China by a magical silkworm cocoon. His family farms silkworms and is very poor but he dreams of going to school. His little sister dies after falling from a tree but her ghost visits and encourages him.
How these two resilient characters accept the reality of these visits, sees them accept changing circumstances. Moonie sets about making a dress for Ma Mi’s birthday, convinced that this will bring her back, while Little Dipper puts up with bullying at a school that has offered him a place.
In The Silken Thread, various themes are gently tackled. To the experienced reader, it is obvious that Ma Mi has depression and has gone away to be treated. The state of the economy is explored and the extreme poverty of peasant farmers in 1930s China is empathetically described. This novel is a lovely way of showing today’s young readers what life was like then in both Australia and China.
Reviewed by Lynne Babbage
Age Guide 8+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHORGabrielle Wang is an author and illustrator, and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2022 to 2023.
Born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage, her maternal great-grandfather came to Victoria during the Gold Rush and her father was from Shanghai. Her stories are a blend of Chinese and Western culture with a touch of fantasy.
Gabrielle’s first children’s novel, The Garden of Empress Cassia, won the 2002 Aurealis Award, was shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards and was a CBCA Notable Book. The Pearl of Tiger Bay was shortlisted for the 2004 Aurealis Award and The Lion Drummer was a Notable Book in the 2009 CBCA Book of the Year Awards. A Ghost in My Suitcase won the 2009 Aurealis Award, was a CBC Notable Book, was shortlisted for the 2011 Sakura Medal and received a Highly Commended in the 2010 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards. Her first young adult novel, Little Paradise also received a Highly Commended in the 2011 Prime Minister’s Awards. Gabrielle’s picture book The Race for the Chinese Zodiac (2010) illustrated by Sally Rippin and Regine Abos was a Notable Book in the CBCA Awards for 2011 and shortlisted for the 2011 YABBA and WAYBRA awards. Gabrielle created two characters, Poppy and Pearlie, for the highly successful Our Australian Girl series.
The Wishbird was a CBCA 2014 Notable Book and was shortlisted for the 2014 Australian Book Design Awards, Yabba Awards, Kroc Awards, Koala Awards, Cool Awards and Crystal Kite Award. Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon was shortlisted for the 2023 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, the New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards, and the Queensland Literary Awards.
Gabi’s books also include the suspenseful The Beast of Hushing Wood for middle readers, and a sequel to the award-winning A Ghost in My Suitcase called Ting Ting the Ghosthunter.
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