Gracey

The Gracey Trilogy #2

by James Moloney

Gracey's come home to Cunningham on holidays. But now she's a state athletics champion and a private school student, and everything looks different... even frightening.

Part history, part mystery, Gracey is a challenging story about the past and the present, murder and compassion, and black and white identity.

Gracey is the second book in James Moloney's award winning trilogy, beginning with Dougy and ending with Angela.

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens, Read For School

164 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

My full name is James Francis Moloney and I was born in Sydney, Australia on 20 September, 1954. When I was seven years old, my family moved to Brisbane and except for the odd year or two, I have lived in Brisbane ever since. At school, I was into every sport going - cricket, footy, swimming - you name it. It's hard to believe now but in High School, I was a champion Long Jumper! After University I became a teacher and then a Teacher Librarian. I moved around from school to school and in 1977-8 found myself in Cunnamulla, a little "outback" town where many Indigenous Australians live. These turned out to be important years for my writing.

In 1980, I look a year's leave, stuffed a backpack full of clothes and went off to see the world. Got to do it, guys! There's so much out there, from things to uplift your spirit to things that make you question the humanity of your fellow man. I stepped over rotting dog carcasses in Mexico city, got all weepy in a roomful of Impressionist paintings and met some fascinating people. Hope you'll do the same one day.

1983 was another big year. I got married and started work at Marist College Ashgrove, an all-boys school in Brisbane, where I stayed for fifteen years. During this time, I became interested in writing for young people, at first using the ideas and experiences gained from my time in Cunnamulla, mixed in with the thinking and wondering I'd done overseas. After my early attempts were rejected, the first of my novels, Crossfire , was published in 1992.
In 1997, my fifth novel for young adults, A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove won the Australian Children's Book of the Year Award. At the end of that year, I decided to leave teaching and become a full time writer.

In the mean time, my wife and I have produced three great children, two of whom are currently studying at University. Photos of them to the right, along with my lovely wife, Kate, who has encouraged me along every step of the way.

Now that I have turned my hobby into my job, I have had to develop some other interests. For exercise, I go cycling along the bike paths around Brisbane. I'm also into great books, great food, movies, travelling, learning to speak French and I dabble in a little painting. In recent years Kate and I have spent an extended period in France, cycled through Vietnam and soon we will be off to the USA.

Reviews

[Cass A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teen fiction. The second in a trilogy (Dougy, Gracey, Angela), this book is written from the points of view of Gracey, her younger brother Dougy (both indigenous), and the new local policeman in the town of Cunningham, Trent Foster. Gracey, a champion sprinter, has been on scholarship at Hamilton College, a private school in Brisbane, for a couple of years by this time. During one school holidays Dougy finds bones at a construction site, and controversy erupts around whose bones they are and how they got there. Gracey struggles with issues around her aboriginality and how she fits in at Hamilton College, and there are further complications involving her mother's health and her older brother Raymond's run-ins with alcohol and the law.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gracey returns home during school holidays from her Brisbane boarding school, and her brother Dougy discovers bones in a building site that are from an old Aboriginal massacre. Gracey researches and learns the circumstances around the massacre, and along the way questions her identity and her family relationships, especially after her mother dies of lung cancer and her brother commits suicide in jail.

[Bruce Wadd · Rating 5 out of 5]

With truth and authenticity Moloney plunged into a myriad emotions, numerous small town Australia issues and complex indigenous history post white arrival. Answers aren’t necessarily given but deep questions asked through intriguing characters, their perspectives and through an exciting array of events including the unfortunate death of one of the side characters. A good read and fitting sequel to Dougy.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good storyline again. I can see why this series was so popular in schools back in the day. Gracey is a good character and I will be interested to see where he takes her in the final book. Very good middle school text with lots of issues to explore.

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal but pulled a few punches thankfully.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a sequel to Dougy, we pick up on the life of Gracey who is now a successful student at a Brisbane boarding school. There is much excitement and media interest when Dougy finds some old bones. It seems this is evidence of a massacre and different groups interpret the discovery to suit their own ends. A great read.

[Ellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Carry on of Dougy. It also has major storey line problems where it does not flow.

[Elisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

i had to read this book for school. and so far its pretty good :)

[Ki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it for school but I didn't find it boring but intriguing because it gave an insight to something that most people don't know about.

[Just · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this continuing story of Dougy and Gracey and their experiences as Aboriginals in white Australia. Will find the last one in the series to read.