Tangara

Tangara Lexie, a young girl in Tasmania, discovers an ancestral necklace that once belonged to her great-great Aunt Rita. The necklace leads her to form an unexpected connection with Merrina, opening a door to experiences that bridge past and present. The story combines elements of fantasy and historical fiction in its exploration of Tasmanian Aboriginal culture and history. Set against the Tasmanian landscape, the narrative follows the development of a cross-cultural friendship between two children. This award-winning 1960 novel, which received the Children's Book of the Year Award for Older Readers in 1961, deals with themes of friendship, cultural understanding, and the complex relationship between Tasmania's past and present. Through its blend of reality and fantasy, the book offers young readers an introduction to important aspects of Australian history and indigenous perspectives.

Readers describe Tangara as a children's adventure story that handles themes of friendship across cultural boundaries. Based on online reviews, many consider it significant among Australian children's literature from the 1960s. Readers appreciated: - The respectful portrayal of Aboriginal characters and culture for its time period - The detailed descriptions of Tasmanian wilderness - The elements of mystery that maintain suspense Common criticisms: - Dated language and attitudes reflecting the era it was written - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers noted the ending felt rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (42 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (8 ratings) Several reviewers on Goodreads mentioned reading it as children in Australian schools during the 1960s-70s. One reader wrote: "It opened my eyes to Aboriginal culture at a young age." Another noted: "The friendship between the girls felt authentic despite their different backgrounds."

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🔸 Nan Chauncy was one of Australia's most celebrated children's authors, winning the Children's Book of the Year Award three times between 1954 and 1961. 🔸 The word "Tangara" comes from an Aboriginal Australian word meaning "to dream" or "dreaming," reflecting the book's themes of cultural connection and spiritual heritage. 🔸 Tasmania's Aboriginal population was devastated during the colonial period, with the population dropping from around 6,000 in 1803 to just 47 known survivors by 1847. 🔸 The book was published in 1960, during a period when few Australian children's books addressed Aboriginal history and culture with such sensitivity and depth. 🔸 Chauncy lived in Tasmania for most of her life on a property called "Day Dawn," where she gained firsthand experience of the landscape she so vividly describes in her books.