Salt River Road by Molly Schmidt
Salt River Road is a book about two teenagers trying to recover and deal with the grief of losing their mother, but it is also about reconciliation.
When Elena loses her battle with cancer the Tetley family implodes. She leaves a gap in their lives that can never be filled. Their father is unable to function when his children need him the most. The family sheep farm comes to a halt and if something is not done the family will lose everything.
All the children are hit hard but we mainly experience the loss through the eyes of Rose and Frank. They are teenagers and have always been as close as twins however their mother’s death rips them apart, with Frank withdrawing not only from Rose but from everybody.
With no one to help them the children come under the care of two Noongar Elders who have a connection to the family through their father.
Molly Schmidt certainly undertook detailed consultation with local Menang and Goreng Noongar Elders to include appropriate and culturally sensitive references to First Nations people.
It is a beautiful story and it’s ultimately very uplifting, so if you like Australian literary fiction you will enjoy it. I can see why Salt River Road won the 2022 City of Fremantle TAG Hungerford award. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
It’s also available as an Audiobook on Libby.
