Black Bones, Red Earth by Lee Richie was a gripping historical fiction novel that was inspired by actual events that had come to pass. Before listening to this compelling audiobook, I knew little to nothing about the fate of certain British orphans who were placed on ships headed for far off Australia at the end of World War II. I can’t imagine the dread, confusion and uncertainty these frightened young children felt as they were shipped off so far from anything they had previously known. Black Bones, Red Earth told the story of one such eight year old orphan girl named Katherine. She and her older brother, Archie traveled together to Australia only to be separated upon arrival. Katherine and Archie had vowed to stay together. They were all each other had but that was not to be. Katherine herself was delivered to a homestead called Cutaway Creek in the remote Australian outback. The couple, Lachlan and Daisy Stuart, were expecting Katherine’s brother Archie but the local priest delivered Katherine to them instead. Not accepting Katherine would have brought disgrace to the Stuarts from the community so they took Katherine in reluctantly. Katherine was shown no warmth, love or compassion by the couple that took her in. She became a sad and lonely child who was deprived of any kind of love. She was made to live in the chicken coop on the sheep station. Her life was full of extreme hardships and abuse. Katherine grew up to become a very naive teenager since she was offered no formal education or guidance from the Stuarts. Her choices and decisions were not always the best. Black Bones, Red Earth told Katherine’s story from the time she arrived on the homestead as an eight year old girl, through her teenage years, to a time when the decisions she made and actions she took greatly influenced the rest of her life. Those decisions and actions left their mark on her and those she cared about deeply and had come to love.

Katherine’s life at Cutaway Creek could have been so much worse if not for the friendships she made with the Aboriginal people who helped run the sheep farm owned by the Stuarts. The lives of the Aboriginal people Katherine befriended on the homestead were met with suffering and discrimination as well. As a result of the way the Australian government saw and treated the Aboriginal people, they were often forced to give up their own children to the government. The Aboriginal parents were promised that their children would receive a better education and life than they could provide to their children but nothing could make up for the heartbreak they felt having a child taken away from them. Katherine found the love she so craved and the friendships she sought in these hired Aborigines. Without the help, understanding and love from Lou, Ellin and Toby, Katherine’s life could have turned out so differently.

Black Bones, Red Earth by Lee Richie was a thought provoking novel. I enjoyed Lee Richie’s descriptive writing and impeccable research he put into writing this novel. The audiobook was well narrated by Sandy Gore. Black Bones, Red Earth explored many themes throughout the novel. Among them were the treatment of young British orphans post World War II, racism, the oppression and treatment of indigenous or Aboriginal people, rape, child labor and the lack of protection and follow through for the orphans left in the care of undeserving families. Black Bones, Red Earth was written in two parts. The first part dealt with Katherine’s life, ordeals and consequences she faced in the remote Australian outback. The second part was about Katherine’s present day life. I enjoyed the ending and found it to be quite satisfying. Black Bones, Red Earth explored the history of Australia and its treatment of the Aboriginal people. There were many lessons throughout as it explored the hardships, loss, learning, cruelty and love Katherine came upon throughout her life. It was a story of new beginnings, forgiveness and trying hard not to forget. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Black Bones, Red Earth and recommend it very highly.

Thank you to Right Track Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Black Bones, Red Earth by Lee Richie through Netgalley in exchange for a honest and unbiased review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This book was published on December 21, 2022.

When Kathryn is taken from England and away from her brother Archie and sent to hidden Creek in Australia she thinks things can you get worse but they can and they do. The people she stays with Daisy in like one or the nicest people but as she grows into a beautiful young girl Locklin pays her more attention and although Daisy has her moments she’s mostly critical. Catherine find kindness where she can from the workers on the farm and especially from Ellen who was sent to care for the house when Daisy gets ill. She learns many things from the indigenous Australian culture and soaks it up. Although her wife can be very sad at times little does Catherine know things are going to get much worse. This is a book told over Catherine’s life and I found this book to be so interesting. They have key plot points that I want to say so bad but OMG if you love a good drama you need to read this book. They have a point in the book where Catherine is put in a situation and has to make a choice an OMG I don’t know what I would’ve done. I want so bad to say but just trust me this book is so good. I thought the first few chapters dragged on only because I wasn’t interested in Catherine’s young childhood but it’s just a short piece and then it gets so good! I enjoyed the narrator and thought you did a great job especially with the different accents and her character distinction was really good. This is such a great book. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

In the post-World War II era, Katharine and her elder brother Archie were transferred as orphans from the UK to Australia as part of the Home Children - child Migration programme conducted by Catholic Church-affiliated organisation.

After arriving in Australia, Kath is separated from her brother and assigned to live with a couple who had been promised a male kid as free labour on a remote outback property. Archie was not to be seen by Kath again.

There are numerous untold tales about how governments all across the world handled indigenous peoples. This memoir-styled book depicts the story of Kath, mis-treated and lonely only has who only has friendships with the aborigine labourers on the outback property where she lives. From them, she learns of their culture and, how along with their children, it was being stripped away from them.

Her narrative is heartbreaking; it follows her from a little, timid girl who is forced to forge her way into adulthood without assistance of her adopted .

This was an emotionally charged novel, but I would happily recommend this book to readers interested in historically accurate-based stories.

I would like to thank BooksGoSocial Audio and #NetGalley for sending me an E-advanced copy of #BlackBonesRedEarth in exchange for my own honest review. This book was due for release on February 24, 2020.

I’ve always struggled with audiobooks, but as someone with a long daily commute, I decided to give this one a try. There aren’t many stories about Aboriginal Australians, so I was immediately interested when I read the description. The book is narrated by Kate, an English orphan who grows up on a ranch in 1950’s Australia, where she befriends Aboriginals. She faces a lot of shame and grief in her desire to be loved. Whether it be reader Sandy Gore’s emotive tone and way of capturing the various characters’ voices, or writer Lee Richie’s gorgeous descriptions of the Australian Outback, I was hooked from the start! I found part two to drag a bit, as much of it was Kate in present day summarizing the events of part one. However, I was touched by the book’s conclusion, and I’m inspired to learn more about Aboriginal Australians.

CONTENT WARNING: This book contains instances of sexual assault.

This book is quite unusual. I’m not quite sure why. I listened to the audio version and the voice of Sandy Gore as an older woman, immediately grabs attention as it is so different from the usual narrators. The account is not so much a story as an autobiography. That of a young girl shipped to Australia post war and used as little more than a slave in the outback. The telling of her time in Australia continues until she is a young adult. As usual I will not be recalling anymore of the plot here as I believe that the professional blurb writers do a better job without giving anything away.
Overall it is a sad tale but also fascinating bringing in aspects of aboriginal life and how a person can ‘heal’ and overcome despite the traumas of a misused younger life. It is a book you will remember reading.

Black Bones, Red Earth - Lee Richie

🎧Audiobook review🎧

I went into this completely blind, based on a rave recommendation from a trusted book friend.

I was instantly grabbed by the superb voice acting of Sandy Gore which immediately evokes and captures an older lady recounting memories of times long past. I trusted this character and wanted to hear her story.

Historical fiction, based on true events, it starts in the 1950's with British orphan Katherine being dropped off on a remote outback sheep station. Bleak, cruel and unforgiving, and that's just Katherine's foster parents.

It's a story of coming of age in the harshest of environments, and reflections from older age of a life's regrets, what was, and what could and should have been. It's heart wrenching, finely balanced with love and hope and strength of spirit.

Audiobooks encourage me to expand my genres, and this worked perfectly, not a book I would have chosen to read, but Sandy Gore's narration bought Lee Richie's writing to life and made it completely real. I learnt a lot too, and the aspects of Aboriginal culture are handled sensitively and with great respect.

I'm not going into the plot, I think the blurb gives quite a lot away. Trust me, this is deeply moving, compelling, compassionate and a great expansive life story, beautifully written and narrated.

Very highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial Audio

I received this book from Right Track Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This statement is always true. I’m not given compensation to discuss a book and I’m not told how to rate a book. I am given a book in exchange for my opinions on it, and I am truthful in all my reviews whether I loved them or not.

This was a very intriguing book. This book follows a young girl Katharine and her trials and tribulations throughout her life as being an orphan. Her and her brother are separated and the couple that "adopts" Katharine is just looking for free labor.

This book sounds more like a memoir than a fictional book. Being my first Audiobook, I feel that the narration was a little flat. I could not tell which character was speaking at the time.

Overall, a great, captivating story of a young girl and her life becoming friends with people she never expected to. Creating bonds and memories that would last a lifetime, even the conditions that she was in.

Thank you Right Track Publishing for the opportunity to listen and rate this book

I was in need of an audio book now that the days are getting longer and I am spending more time out in the garden. I downloaded Black Bones, Red Earth on a whim, and I am so glad that I did. Wow - what a well written and interesting story.
Set initially in the Australian Outback in the 1940s and 50s, then in modern day UK and Australia, Kathryn/Kate's story was compelling, heartbreaking and inspirational. I laughed and I cried. The author's understanding of the history, cultures and landscape was exceptionally good. I will definitely read any other books written by them.
The audio/narrator grew on me, I wasn't sure to begin with, but I can't now imagine anyone else speaking Kate's voice. I think it took a while as it was an older voice and Kate was just a child at the start. It works though - so stick with it if the voice doesn't initially jell.
I am so pleased that I listened to this lovely book, and I think it will make an amazing film/TV series. Book clubs should also embrace it - there is so much to discuss.
I have no hesitation in giving this lovely book FIVE stars.

This absorbing historical novel, set mainly in the Australian Outback in the 1950's, has the feel of a personal narrative. From the start of the book, readers will root for Katherine to find happiness after the heartache and trauma she has endured. While there are rough moments in this story, it is an engaging book that easily draws readers in.

The story begins when 10-year-old Katherine is taken from post-WWII London to a "station" in the Australian Outback owned by Lachlan and Daisy Stewart. Her mother had been killed by a bomb and her father then surrendered her and her older brother, Archie, to a Christian mission. She later finds out that the Stewarts had only agreed to take her because they wanted Archie b to work on their property. Archie, however, is sent to a work site where he is killed at 16.

The Stewarts are not warm and caring towards young Katherine, supplying little affection or attention to her needs. She is not sent to school and instead is tasked with helping Daisy with the laundry and food preparation, darning socks (which she hates!), and doing farm chores such as milking cows and feeding pigs and horses. Daisy hits her, and Katherine deflects the abuse by telling herself that she is strong and resilient. A minor flaw in the book is that Katherine sometimes "tells'', rather than "shows" us her feelings. As several years go by, tensions between Katherine and Daisy ease to a degree, especially after Daisy is diagnosed with lung cancer. To avoid spoilers, I will just say that Katherine's life takes an abrupt turn after the death of Daisy.

There is much to admire in this story, especially Katherine's interest in Aboriginal culture and the ways that the author evokes the bleak, hard landscape and inhabitants of the Australian outback. I found Katherine's friendship with Toby, whom she spends time with when he comes to work on the farm when he was still very young, especially fascinating. Toby is gregarious and teaches Katherine to ride a horse. His lessons on plants and nature come in handy for Katheine when she runs Z.into trouble.

There are frequently interesting character details interwoven into the story which reveal the
nature of various characters. For example, after Daisy is instructed by the local priest, Father Donahue, to bring Katherine to church once a month, Daisy scrubs Katherine in a bath and dresses her in a properly fitted dress to bring her to church. Daisy knows that she has not treated Katherine well, but does not want to advertise this to the commun

It would have been helpful for readers unfamiliar with the geography of Australia (such as myself) to have included more information about the precise location of Cutaway Creek, the (perhaps fictional) town in which the story is set.

I listened to this story as an audiobook. The Australian actress Sandy Gore is skilled with differentiating her voice to portray male and female characters, and she infused appropriate emotion into each person. At times, her voice sounds more mature than adolescent Katherine should sound, but overall, she pulls listeners into this story.

Thank you to Netgalley for an audiobook copy of this novel.

5⭐️

I had the audiobook narrated by Sandy Gore, her distinctive character voices and the feeling that she imparts is excellent, it really added to the story for me.

An historical drama set in 1950’s outback Australia. It follows 10yr Katherine who is sent to live in a remote austere outback property.

Katherine’s story is heartbreaking in places, poignant in others, just lovely in others. You can’t help but love Kate. It describes how difficult life in the outback was at the time. An historical account of how Britain shipped off orphans to Australia who ended up being used as slave labour. It also explores the way the Australian government treated Indigenous people. The title seemed strange when I started, but it’s so apt, and clever. It’s far more than an historical account though. It’s got in-depth characters some lovable, others you will hate, as well as an endearing family story. It’s very emotional in places, very interesting throughout, it really grabbed me.
Although Kate’s time in Australia was a short period of time in her life it had a huge impact on her. I’m glad that the book didn’t spend a lot of time on her life in England.
If you enjoy historical fiction I think that you will love this, although I think it’s a storyline that will capture anyone. It’s one I’d highly recommend