Echo In The Memory

by Cameron Nunn

What if memories never die? An evocative Australian YA novel about family, place, and how history has a way of weaving itself into our present.

What if memories never die? When fifteen-year-old Will is sent away to stay with his grandparents in rural New South Wales, he finds the isolated farm strangely familiar; except the memories he’s channelling are not his own. But whose are they? And why does his grandfather share the same haunting link? As two stories unfold, nearly 200 years apart, two boys exiled to what feels like the end of the earth struggle to find their identities and voices in the face of abandonment and tragedy. A page-turning YA novel that explores the darker moments of our convict past and how they resonate today.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Historical

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2021

Reviews

[Katie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating read told from the perspective of two teenage boys separated by almost two hundred years. The stories parallel each other in many ways, creating an engaging read that I just couldn’t put down. I would highly recommend!

[Anna Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Australian historical fiction. A beautifully written and mysterious story with dual perspectives set in the past and present. Not a book to whip through; take the time to savour the beautiful prose.

[Sienna]

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[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it was intriguing and mysterious. Well-written Australian fiction and worth recommending to younger readers.

[Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Representation: Indigenous Australian characters
Trigger warnings: Racism, colonisation, death and disappearance of a grandfather, grief and loss depiction
Score: Five out of ten.

Echo in the Memory by Cameron Nunn was disappointing.

It starts with Will in the 2020s and William in 1828. The characters lack depth and development except Will, but adding more would help improve the story. Will develops by losing his attitude towards his parents, but William mostly stays the same. There were side characters, such as Will’s parents, grandparents and friends, but I saw little of them as Nunn focused on Will and William. What is the point of including William's side if there are few links between them? Focusing on William or Will only would be an improvement.

Both parts of the story were difficult to read as I had to read the racist comments and stereotypes against Indigenous Australians present in William's time. The only intriguing aspect about William is when he discovered that Indigenous Australians are not savage or barbaric, contrasting with the British portrayal. People labelled Indigenous Australians as Black, even though they are not. They are different from them, but the British colonisers do not understand. At least the writing style is accessible for a YA audience with its lack of detailed descriptions or purple prose.

The conclusion is okay.