What do you think?
Rate this book
To and Fro
Sam tries to understand what it means to be black in this funny Australian story about identity, family and friendship.
Most kids meet their parents when they're born. All they need to do to impress them is poop, sleep and make goo-goo ga-ga sounds. But I'm twelve. None of that is going to impress my father.
Sam thinks he's a weird-looking white kid with an afro. He lives with his white mum (annoying but not smelly) and brown dog Trevor (smelly but not annoying). He's never met his father. He just knows that his father is black.
But a surprise visit has Sam questioning who he really is. Is he a white kid with a black dad? Or a black kid with white skin? Or half-black and half-white?
Not only does Sam want to know these answers, he has to know them to finish his annoying homework and perform in the school concert. But how can he make his outside match his insides if he doesn't know who he is?
A delightfully funny story about family and identity, and what it means to be truly Sam.
Most kids meet their parents when they're born. All they need to do to impress them is poop, sleep and make goo-goo ga-ga sounds. But I'm twelve. None of that is going to impress my father.
Sam thinks he's a weird-looking white kid with an afro. He lives with his white mum (annoying but not smelly) and brown dog Trevor (smelly but not annoying). He's never met his father. He just knows that his father is black.
But a surprise visit has Sam questioning who he really is. Is he a white kid with a black dad? Or a black kid with white skin? Or half-black and half-white?
Not only does Sam want to know these answers, he has to know them to finish his annoying homework and perform in the school concert. But how can he make his outside match his insides if he doesn't know who he is?
A delightfully funny story about family and identity, and what it means to be truly Sam.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2024
5 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 4, 2025
For those of you who read my reviews, hello! You may notice that much of what you are about to read is a straight copy and paste from another review from the CBCA shortlist.
I try to read all the CBCA shortlisted books so I can spruik them to my students. With that in mind I read this book as if I am the intended audience. Even with that caveat I really struggled.
The premise of the story is that the main character, Sam, lives with his mum and has never met his dad. He is a white kid with an afro and suffers from a lot of boy teen issues including, but not limited to, bully at school, not fitting in, low grade issues with mum, changing body. He has been raised by his single mother and one day his dad arrives on the scene. Turns out that although Sam is white his dad is black. This explains the afro.
To and Fro is slightly less frenetic in its messaging towards the reader but it still grated on me. Most of the adults were caricatures and none of the child characters were really fleshed out. The actual issues were easily resolved and everything was wrapped up too neatly for my liking. I think this book is very firmly for a teenage boy audience as there are numerous and I mean NUMEROUS references to balls. And not the bouncing kind. I am not clutching my pearls over this because I am not the intended audience and perhaps a young male readership might relate to some of Sam's anxiety around his balls.
But, just like my other CBCA review I kept thinking about the previous two winners in this category: Runt and Scar Town. Both those stories had family, community and integrity at the heart of the story but never bashed the message over your head. The characters were well fleshed out. Runt was very funny and although the villain was a bit cartoony I forgave it because it is a children's novel. In the case of Scar Town there were some genuinely tense scenes.
While this book was less didactic and slightly more pleasant to read, I still do not want it to win
I try to read all the CBCA shortlisted books so I can spruik them to my students. With that in mind I read this book as if I am the intended audience. Even with that caveat I really struggled.
The premise of the story is that the main character, Sam, lives with his mum and has never met his dad. He is a white kid with an afro and suffers from a lot of boy teen issues including, but not limited to, bully at school, not fitting in, low grade issues with mum, changing body. He has been raised by his single mother and one day his dad arrives on the scene. Turns out that although Sam is white his dad is black. This explains the afro.
To and Fro is slightly less frenetic in its messaging towards the reader but it still grated on me. Most of the adults were caricatures and none of the child characters were really fleshed out. The actual issues were easily resolved and everything was wrapped up too neatly for my liking. I think this book is very firmly for a teenage boy audience as there are numerous and I mean NUMEROUS references to balls. And not the bouncing kind. I am not clutching my pearls over this because I am not the intended audience and perhaps a young male readership might relate to some of Sam's anxiety around his balls.
But, just like my other CBCA review I kept thinking about the previous two winners in this category: Runt and Scar Town. Both those stories had family, community and integrity at the heart of the story but never bashed the message over your head. The characters were well fleshed out. Runt was very funny and although the villain was a bit cartoony I forgave it because it is a children's novel. In the case of Scar Town there were some genuinely tense scenes.
While this book was less didactic and slightly more pleasant to read, I still do not want it to win
February 20, 2024
Funny coming-of-age story highlighting themes of diversity and kindness.
July 19, 2025
Under the sheet it smelled like fart. I sniffed to see if the fart was mine or Trevor's. I couldn't tell. Trevor sleeps with me and our farts smell kind of the same because I feed him my leftovers from dinner. With Mum's cooking, there are always leftovers.Such a worthy nomination for CBCA's Younger Readers Book of the Year - for the more mature younger readers, anyway. I am so looking forward to reading this one aloud to Years 5 & 6, and watching their reactions to the opening pages, including the quote above and a second-page reference to his dog, Trevor's, balls (not of the tennis variety).
In fact, there are quite a few references to balls in this thoughtful, spirited insight into pre-teen, Sam's, life. We get a very raw view of what it is like to be a 12-year-old boy, who is learning about his family, his hormones and his sense of self. Once he hears that his biological father is from Africa and, "much darker than ... imagined", he explores how he can be black like his father if his skin is white. With a necessary foray into stereotypes, expectations and racism (and an unfortunate 'blackface' incident), To and Fro encourages readers to stand up for who they really are while also being mindful of typecasting others.
As well as inspiring meaningful conversations, To and Fro is really very funny. Such as when:
Trevor detected me tiptoeing past the laundry and barked for me to let him out. I panicked, ran back to the bedroom and jumped into bed before Nanna woke up to the sound of barking and caught me. Only I ran into Nanna's bedroom and jumped into her bed. Nanna thought I had a nightmare and made me sleep in the bed next to her.or
Uh-oh! I was in the women's toilet ... I was shocked to hear that women are even louder than men in public toilets ... The woman doing her business in the cubicle next to mine sounded like she was trying to start a lawnmower.
I so enjoyed this book, and fully believe that middle-years students will too, although if anyone intends on using this as a read-aloud I would recommend pre-reading to ensure you are okay with the bodily functions and body parts that are referenced as part of the story.
I was on stage waiting to perform when 'it' extended of its own free will.Everyone will enjoy spending time with the funny and brave Sam on his journey of self-discovery.
May 2, 2025
There are a lot of elements of this novel I quite like: Sam is a funny character at the beginning of the novel, his struggle with identity, being mixed race and not knowing his father is well represented and I like that Charlee was not a stereotype. She and Sam's dad were the two best characters in the story. There was also a surprising amount of talk about Sam's 'balls' and other puberty related humour that I am sure will appeal to the young male readers.
However, as the story goes on, Sam is revealed to be such an unlikeable character I was really struggling to continue to read. His selfishness and attitude towards his mother in particular was insufferable and not 'called out' by anyone in the book, not even by his Mum. It is an attitude I unfortunately see reflected at school too often.
When Sam does begin to realise the error of some of his attitudes regarding race, it happens too quickly and he does an immediate 180.
When I shared the CBCA Shortlist with my students, this was the book they were most interested in exploring. I wonder what they will ultimately think of it?
However, as the story goes on, Sam is revealed to be such an unlikeable character I was really struggling to continue to read. His selfishness and attitude towards his mother in particular was insufferable and not 'called out' by anyone in the book, not even by his Mum. It is an attitude I unfortunately see reflected at school too often.
When Sam does begin to realise the error of some of his attitudes regarding race, it happens too quickly and he does an immediate 180.
When I shared the CBCA Shortlist with my students, this was the book they were most interested in exploring. I wonder what they will ultimately think of it?
April 28, 2025
Brisbane-based author Anton Clifford-Motopi is a former teacher and lecturer who currently works as a health researcher at a university. His website states that Anton’s stories explore themes of self-identity, family relationships and friendship, and draw from ‘...his experiences of being black with light skin, growing up in a large adoptive family and raising four children’.
Anton’s debut middle grade novel, To and Fro, was one of six novels shortlisted in the Readings Children’s Prize 2024. The story is loosely inspired by Anton’s fascinating childhood experiences – featured in an ABC Conversations episode here – though Anton acknowledges that his main character Sam’s story is ‘a little less strange’ than Anton’s own!
Twelve-year-old Sam, who describes himself as a ‘weird-looking white kid with an afro’, lives with his mum in Brisbane. He's never met his South African dad, whom he assumes didn't want to know him. So you can imagine Sam's surprise when his mum sits him down one day to tell him that (a) his dad didn't know Sam existed until yesterday, and (b) his dad is in Australia for work and wants to meet him!
Combine this with a school project on identity, a cast of entertaining side characters and a pinch of pubescent angst, and you have a recipe for an excellent read. The pitch-perfect tween voice gave me both Paul Jennings and Morris Gleitzman vibes. This hilarious, heartwarming and highly satisfying read is recommended for fans of funny realistic fiction aged 10 and up.
This would be a suitable Reader’s Cup title for Years 7/8.
This review was first shared on StoryLinks Australia.
Anton’s debut middle grade novel, To and Fro, was one of six novels shortlisted in the Readings Children’s Prize 2024. The story is loosely inspired by Anton’s fascinating childhood experiences – featured in an ABC Conversations episode here – though Anton acknowledges that his main character Sam’s story is ‘a little less strange’ than Anton’s own!
Twelve-year-old Sam, who describes himself as a ‘weird-looking white kid with an afro’, lives with his mum in Brisbane. He's never met his South African dad, whom he assumes didn't want to know him. So you can imagine Sam's surprise when his mum sits him down one day to tell him that (a) his dad didn't know Sam existed until yesterday, and (b) his dad is in Australia for work and wants to meet him!
Combine this with a school project on identity, a cast of entertaining side characters and a pinch of pubescent angst, and you have a recipe for an excellent read. The pitch-perfect tween voice gave me both Paul Jennings and Morris Gleitzman vibes. This hilarious, heartwarming and highly satisfying read is recommended for fans of funny realistic fiction aged 10 and up.
This would be a suitable Reader’s Cup title for Years 7/8.
This review was first shared on StoryLinks Australia.
April 14, 2024
Sam likes his afro, even if he gets bullied over it. One boy in particular loves to grab Sam's hair and mess it up, drop things in it and generally make Sam angry. Sam has considered cutting it, but being short for his age at 12, he likes the height his fro gives him.
The fact that he is white with a fro does make him look a little different from his peers, but his best mate Aiden doesn't think he looks weird, accepting Sam for who he is. Sam has always believed what his mum told him about his dad and he's never been interested in the man that left his mother before he was born. At least until she tells him his dad is in town and wanting to meet him. Mum had never told him the whole truth.
Finally, Sam realises where his distinct hair comes from as his father is black South African, and his journey of figuring out who he really is, begins. He discovers he has more than just his father to add to his family tree, and through a school project about who he is and where he came from, he digs deeper into his true self.
It's not a straight forward path, with a few bumps, much confusion and many misunderstandings to work through, but with his Mum and Nanna alongside (no matter how annoying or embarrassing they are), and his dad's love and patience, Sam learns he's not black and white, a white kid with a black dad or a black kid with white skin. He is Sam, a year 6 student of Wesley State Primary School with great friends, a loving extended family and a future to look forward to.
To and Fro made me laugh out loud in so many places as main character Sam learns who his father is and gets to know him. This humour is effortlessly woven through this story with a serious topic of understanding who you are as a mixed-raced person.
Learning his father is black helps Sam understand his distinctive afro, but there is so much more for Sam to learn about being black, even if he is white. His journey is brilliantly written and will help readers understand the complexities of being mixed-raced in a world that often labels and applies expectations to a person over the colour of their skin.
Sam isn't the only one that 'grows' through the novel. His OTT teacher Mr Peacock has much to learn, as does his judgmental white grandmother, but the author keeps a light heartedness throughout with a farting dog (and Nanna), Sam's horror at going through puberty, and his quick thinking and funny dialogue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel written from personal experiences by this author, and look forward to reading anything else he pens.
The fact that he is white with a fro does make him look a little different from his peers, but his best mate Aiden doesn't think he looks weird, accepting Sam for who he is. Sam has always believed what his mum told him about his dad and he's never been interested in the man that left his mother before he was born. At least until she tells him his dad is in town and wanting to meet him. Mum had never told him the whole truth.
Finally, Sam realises where his distinct hair comes from as his father is black South African, and his journey of figuring out who he really is, begins. He discovers he has more than just his father to add to his family tree, and through a school project about who he is and where he came from, he digs deeper into his true self.
It's not a straight forward path, with a few bumps, much confusion and many misunderstandings to work through, but with his Mum and Nanna alongside (no matter how annoying or embarrassing they are), and his dad's love and patience, Sam learns he's not black and white, a white kid with a black dad or a black kid with white skin. He is Sam, a year 6 student of Wesley State Primary School with great friends, a loving extended family and a future to look forward to.
To and Fro made me laugh out loud in so many places as main character Sam learns who his father is and gets to know him. This humour is effortlessly woven through this story with a serious topic of understanding who you are as a mixed-raced person.
Learning his father is black helps Sam understand his distinctive afro, but there is so much more for Sam to learn about being black, even if he is white. His journey is brilliantly written and will help readers understand the complexities of being mixed-raced in a world that often labels and applies expectations to a person over the colour of their skin.
Sam isn't the only one that 'grows' through the novel. His OTT teacher Mr Peacock has much to learn, as does his judgmental white grandmother, but the author keeps a light heartedness throughout with a farting dog (and Nanna), Sam's horror at going through puberty, and his quick thinking and funny dialogue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel written from personal experiences by this author, and look forward to reading anything else he pens.
March 30, 2025
12-year-old Sam lives in Brisbane with his white Mum, Kate. The only thing he knows about his dad is that he’s Black and left before Sam was born. When Sam is assigned a school project "Who I am and where I come from" and he embarks on a journey to discover who he is.
Sam's life changes when he meets his dad, Lebone, a Black South African, during a work trip. Along the way, Sam has some hilarious and awkward moments – including a failed attempt to darken his skin to connect with his Black heritage. He also grapples with the awkwardness of puberty, discussing things like erections and female sanitary products in a humorous, age-appropriate way.
Set in South-East Queensland, the novel blends laugh out loud humour with deeper emotional moments as Sam navigates his mixed-race identity and discovers his cultural heritage, all while trying to figure out who he really is.
Great debut novel and I hope to see more in the future.
Sam's life changes when he meets his dad, Lebone, a Black South African, during a work trip. Along the way, Sam has some hilarious and awkward moments – including a failed attempt to darken his skin to connect with his Black heritage. He also grapples with the awkwardness of puberty, discussing things like erections and female sanitary products in a humorous, age-appropriate way.
Set in South-East Queensland, the novel blends laugh out loud humour with deeper emotional moments as Sam navigates his mixed-race identity and discovers his cultural heritage, all while trying to figure out who he really is.
Great debut novel and I hope to see more in the future.
April 7, 2025
Sam is worried. His mother, who he thinks is pretty strange ordinarily, is acting more weird than normal. Finally, she tells him that his father wants to meet him. The true story of his mother and father’s relationship and what happened before he was born is revealed, and Sam is shattered.
He meets and spends time with his African father and wants to be more like him. He’s tired of secrets and being the white kid with an afro, but the harder he tries, the more confused he gets. It seems life is more complicated than he first thought. He must build and rebuild relationships with his family, immediate and extended. That is tough.
Recommended for readers aged eight years and older.
It is a great read about discovering yourself and finding what is important for both children and adults.
He meets and spends time with his African father and wants to be more like him. He’s tired of secrets and being the white kid with an afro, but the harder he tries, the more confused he gets. It seems life is more complicated than he first thought. He must build and rebuild relationships with his family, immediate and extended. That is tough.
Recommended for readers aged eight years and older.
It is a great read about discovering yourself and finding what is important for both children and adults.
July 10, 2025
The character Sam is consistently horrible and degrading to his mum even when learning things he’s mad at her about weren’t her fault at the end of it. This book seems to think because Sam has somewhat hard circumstances that he can be a horrible person and it’s excusable because he’s “bullied” and he never really matures or is shown to have flaws which he obviously does. This author seems to have a mind of a child and is obsessed with balls (thinking that all children male children would relate to this seems like a bit of a cop out) I felt genuinely angry the more and more this book went on , hopefully the last we will see from this author - I feel sorry for all the women in his life because he clearly has some major mummy issues.
June 9, 2025
Read as part of CBCA Younger Reader Short list.
Quite a topical read. Touches on multiculturalism within one community, predominantly Aboriginal and South Africa. Reference to skin colour and how people can make comments not realizing they are racist comments. Shows cross generational views, with nana making traditional references, as well as School principal trying to push blame and avoid accountability and calling out inappropriate behaviour.
overall it shows the journey of Sam, trying to work out his identity and gaining the knowledge and confidence to be proud of himself inside his own skin.
lots to discuss in the book.
Year 3 upwards
Quite a topical read. Touches on multiculturalism within one community, predominantly Aboriginal and South Africa. Reference to skin colour and how people can make comments not realizing they are racist comments. Shows cross generational views, with nana making traditional references, as well as School principal trying to push blame and avoid accountability and calling out inappropriate behaviour.
overall it shows the journey of Sam, trying to work out his identity and gaining the knowledge and confidence to be proud of himself inside his own skin.
lots to discuss in the book.
Year 3 upwards
May 6, 2024
Loved this funny and touching book… go along with 12 year old Sam’s journey of discovery of identity and meet his quirky family and friends. Such a well-written tale of growing up mixed race, with depth, humour and heart. 💙
December 27, 2024
Shockingly sexist this book should be a psychological case study on misogyny. Genuinely hope someone has some sense and they don’t share this nonsense in schools.
December 27, 2024
Couldn’t have a more unlikable main character.
May 23, 2025
A delightful coming of age story focusing on family and identity. Looking forward to discussing this with the shadow judging team at school.
August 8, 2025
How is this on the CBCA shortlist ? What a joke.
October 22, 2025
3.5 star rounded up
December 23, 2025
This book grabbed me and I could not put it down. In To and Fro, Sam, twelve, lives with his white mum in Brisbane and he feels like the weird white kid with the Afro. He’s never met his black South African dad, who apparently left his mum while she was pregnant. But then one day, his mum announces that his dad is in Brisbane, that he only found out about Sam the day before and he wants to meet him. Sam is shocked and has to grapple with his family and his self-identity, while preparing a presentation for school about who he is. The irony is that for the reader, Sam is a very clear, strong character who is as fascinating as he is hilarious. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews