Pearl : An Australian Story

Dripping in detail, Judith Dring’s Pearl: An Australian Story brings to life the complex nature of a small Australian town. The realness of the world Judith Dring creates is truly remarkable and should not be missed. Set during wartime in the 1940s, the country and small towns of Australia still reel with the social issues of sex and race. Sally, innocent but with keen eyes and a sharp mind, is slowly exposed to these ever-present facts of small town life. In a world speckled with abusive husbands and wealthy classmates, Sally must work through the inequity of being a poor female to find a better life. Through much of her youth, her best friend, Pearl, opens her eyes to the world around her. However, as Sally will learn later, Pearl is an outcast herself. When Pearl must leave her, will Sally be able to navigate the path to adulthood and success on her own?