Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence

Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence tells the true story of three Aboriginal girls who escape from the Moore River Native Settlement in Western Australia in 1931. The girls undertake a journey home across 1,500 miles of harsh Australian terrain, following the rabbit-proof fence as their guide. The book is based on the experiences of the author's mother, Molly Craig, who was forcibly removed from her family as part of Australia's assimilation policies targeting Aboriginal children. Set against the backdrop of colonial Australia, the narrative chronicles their determination to return to their community in Jigalong despite government efforts to track them down. The book examines the personal impact of Australia's "Stolen Generations" policies while documenting Aboriginal family life, culture, and connection to land. Through this account of survival and resistance, Pilkington Garimara presents both an important historical record and a testament to the human spirit.

Readers appreciate this true story for documenting a dark chapter of Australian history through personal experience rather than dry historical facts. They note the straightforward, matter-of-fact writing style helps convey the gravity of the events. Liked: - Maps and background information provide helpful context - Quick pace maintains reader engagement - First-hand account brings authenticity - Cultural details about Aboriginal life and customs Disliked: - Writing can feel basic and unpolished - Some found the narrative distance made emotional connection difficult - Readers wanted more detail about certain parts of the journey - Abrupt ending left questions unanswered Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (450+ ratings) "The story itself is incredible, but the writing is merely serviceable," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads user writes: "The simple prose actually makes the injustice feel more stark and real."

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🦘 The journey depicted in the book was made on foot by three young Aboriginal girls - including the author's mother, Molly - who walked over 1,500 miles across Western Australia to return home after being forcibly removed from their families. 📝 Author Doris Pilkington Garimara learned about her mother's epic journey during a series of conversations while caring for her mother during an illness in 1985. 🎬 The book was adapted into a successful film in 2002, titled "Rabbit-Proof Fence," directed by Phillip Noyce and produced by Christine Olsen. 🔗 The rabbit-proof fence that guided the girls home was actually three fences, built between 1901 and 1907 to keep rabbits and other agricultural pests out of Western Australian farmlands - it was the longest unbroken fence in the world. 👥 The story has become a powerful symbol of the "Stolen Generations" - the estimated 100,000 Aboriginal children who were taken from their families by Australian government agencies between 1910 and 1970 as part of an assimilation policy.