Meet Me at the Intersection is a rich short story anthology written by a diverse range of Australian authors and lovingly edited by Rebecca Lim and Ambelin Kwaymullina. The anthology aims to showcase the experiences of marginalised groups through “own voice” stories, whose authors fit into those groups.
The first thing about the anthology that the reader will notice is the beautiful cover art, designed by Kwaymullina. It communicates the central message of the anthology, which is that while every person’s experiences are unique, the experiences of marginalised groups intersect in many ways. It’s a reminder that no matter how different we may be, there is always some common ground.
The anthology is divided into four categories, though the introduction acknowledges all of the experiences within don’t fit neatly into each group. The book begins with stories from First Nation people, then people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and finally, people of colour who connect with migrant experiences.
Taking any one of these stories shows how much these identities interact with each other. Mimi Lee’s story, ‘Fragments’, ties in the effects that culture and family have on mental health, while Jordi Kerr’s fantastical ‘Sheer Fortune’ gives an analogy for being queer while living with a chronic illness. The beauty of these stories is that no matter how specific the themes are, someone out there will relate to them, and they are important to help readers understand things that are outside of their own experiences.
Meet Me at the Intersection has been carefully crafted to give a voice to the voiceless. While mainstream media is making strides towards inclusivity, Own Voice stories allow marginalised groups to share their experiences with honesty. The authors, by sharing their stories here, have poured their hearts out so that the readers can see a small selection of the true human experience, but also so that a reader might pick up the book and see themself reflected in its pages. The anthology opens the door to diversity in Australian YA as a collection of heartfelt and genuine stories, and hopefully sets a precedent for the future.
Astrid Sholte’s novel combines urban fantasy and murder mystery in a setting that echoes the popular dystopian-style factions of young adult fiction, but with enough unique elements to make it stand out. The world of Four Dead Queens is reminiscent of fantasy, but instead of magic, there is strange and interesting technology that serves as …
For anyone who loves fairy tales with a twist, the Rondo series is the perfect way to escape to a world of magic and mystery. Rodda creates a new layer to the classic formula, drawing from familiar characters such as evil queens, talking animals and mythical creatures, but the addition of two protagonists from the …
With the arrival of the new Netflix series, now is a perfect time to sink your teeth into Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. This series is unique and one of my favourites; Snicket’s narration is satirical, morbid and hilarious all at once, and although he will warn you many times that the books …
The Graveyard Book, published in 2008, is a work of Neil Gaiman’s that instantly appeals to readers of the macabre and strange. The novel follows Nobody ‘Bod’ Owens through his experiences of living with a cohort of ghouls and ghosts within a cemetery. The Graveyard Book chronicles his life throughout the graveyard and the places …
Released to the public on September 3rd of 2018, Violet Grace’s novel The Girl Who Fell tells the tale of Francesca ‘Chess’ Raven, an adolescent girl living with a woman named Gladys after the death of her parents. Chess Raven is a hacker, and becomes swept away in a grand and interesting adventure after the …
The penultimate novel from the world of the Magisterium series is set one year after the events of The Silver Mask. Callum Hunt has been framed and is now residing in prison. But, after being broken out, Callum is captured and detained on an island out in the sea, forced to continue his study on …
Book Review – Meet Me at the Intersection edited by Rebecca Lim and Ambelin Kwaymullina
The first thing about the anthology that the reader will notice is the beautiful cover art, designed by Kwaymullina. It communicates the central message of the anthology, which is that while every person’s experiences are unique, the experiences of marginalised groups intersect in many ways. It’s a reminder that no matter how different we may be, there is always some common ground.
The anthology is divided into four categories, though the introduction acknowledges all of the experiences within don’t fit neatly into each group. The book begins with stories from First Nation people, then people living with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and finally, people of colour who connect with migrant experiences.
Taking any one of these stories shows how much these identities interact with each other. Mimi Lee’s story, ‘Fragments’, ties in the effects that culture and family have on mental health, while Jordi Kerr’s fantastical ‘Sheer Fortune’ gives an analogy for being queer while living with a chronic illness. The beauty of these stories is that no matter how specific the themes are, someone out there will relate to them, and they are important to help readers understand things that are outside of their own experiences.
Meet Me at the Intersection has been carefully crafted to give a voice to the voiceless. While mainstream media is making strides towards inclusivity, Own Voice stories allow marginalised groups to share their experiences with honesty. The authors, by sharing their stories here, have poured their hearts out so that the readers can see a small selection of the true human experience, but also so that a reader might pick up the book and see themself reflected in its pages. The anthology opens the door to diversity in Australian YA as a collection of heartfelt and genuine stories, and hopefully sets a precedent for the future.
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