Rabbit-Proof Fence: The True Story of One of the Greatest Escapes of All Time

Rabbit-Proof Fence is the story of 3 young part-Aboriginal girls in Australia, the oldest only fifteen years of age. Historically, "half-caste children", (half-Aboriginal and half-Caucasian) were considered wards of the Australian government and were, therefore, forcibly removed from their families and taken to settlment schools that were little more than jails. The purpose of these schools was to prepare these Aboriginal children for their role in white society as domestics and farmworkers. This book is a true story of 3 girls who escaped from the Moore River Settlement school. Their story is nothing less than amazing. The description of the "weevily porridge" that they were served for breakfast at the school, or the sheets that were only issued when the big inspectors were coming to visit and the other hardships they faced should sadden and anger every reader. Unfortunately, there are many similarities between their story and the treatment of Native Americans in this country. It is a must read!

I was enthralled by this story. It is also educational. Having seen the movie, I just had to read the book to get the details--and I might add, the real truth about the details. For example, in the book it is Gracie and Daisy, not Molly, who first approach a house for food. (I don't know why this is changed in the movie.) I thought this was wise on Molly's part, since younger children are often times better received by strangers. If you don't have a lot of time to read, you might appreciate the brevity of this book. The "Glossary of Mardujara Words" is helpful, especially since some non-English words appear in the book more than once.

A different kind of coming-of-age story, set in Australia. And the kids are three aborininal girls (remember that at one time the Austrailans considered the aboriginal people to be animals, or at least sub-human) who trek across sere and wild landscapes to return to their home.Then realize that this is a true story, told by the daughter of one of the three girls who, along with maybe thousands of other children, were separated from their families by government edict, forced to 'live as white.' It was a misguided effort at assimilation, masquerading as well-intentioned but in reality was a formal effort to erase an entire culture.Rabbit-Proof Fence is an inspiring story of survival, defiance, resiliance, and ultimately of love.

What an amazing story. It's made all the more powerful by the blending of historical background and the knowledge that the story is being told by someone with firsthand experience of the institution as well as a direct connection to the main characters. This is a good read, about a subject not often heard about in the States. This book will be making the rounds of my friends and family.

This is a truely moving novel and all the more so because it is true. Set in the 1930's it is a story of three aboriginal girls who were forcably taken from there families in the desert of western australia and put in a native settlement to be trained in the ways of 'white' society. The way aboriginals were treated was apauling and it is one of australias darkest secrets refered to now as the 'stolen generation'.Molly who is fourteen leads her two sisters in an escape and journeys something like 2400km across the australian desert, amazing by anyones standards but these are children.they are pursued by trackers and search planes, and walk until they reach the rabbit proof fence. A fence that crosses australia from north to south and will lead these three determined children home.