This book is incredible. Tony Birch has created characters who personify strength, resilience, grit and determination. The story is laced with grief and Birch doesn't shy away from the hard truth of what life was like for Aboriginal women in the 1960s.

The book showcases the fears and reality of Aboriginal children being stolen from their families. The White Girl is about families, and the love and bonds that make women protect their own at any cost. It's about human connection and interactions. It's about good and evil. And above all, it's about strong women.

The story is compelling. I was hooked from the start. If I had the time, I would have happily read it in one sitting. But there were so many times I had to pause and reflect. It's hard to believe how normal the atrocities were; it's almost inconceivable how horribly white people treated Aboriginal people. It's even more shocking to think that the 60s was even that long ago. I can't even imagine having to seek permission from the police to leave town; or having to live with the fear that my children could be taken from me at any moment.

I highly recommend The White Girl. It will make you cry, it will make you think. It will shine a light on the injustices of the past, giving clear insight in to the oppressive policies of the 20th century. It's educational and emotive, and a book every Australian should read.