Yarning Strong More Than Just a Piece of Land

Warning to First Nations Peoples: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the contents in Yarning Strong may include names and images of people now deceased.

Lara and her family live on a housing estate where there are families from many cultural backgrounds. Lara and Presto’s best friends are two Iraqi children. Lara’s parents buy a property on their ancestral land, which is important to them and their extended family. Lara and Presto are upset about moving, but come to enjoy living in the country. Then Lara becomes the target of racist bullying at her new school. She runs away to her best friend’s home on the housing estate. Lara learns that land is important to many peoples, and a solution to her problem is found.

More Than Just a Piece of Land is part of the Yarning Strong series, a vibrant and purposeful series of novels and anthologies by First Nations authors, created to inspire Years 3–6 students while supporting meaningful classroom learning. Rich in story, voice and perspective, each text offers teachers and students authentic opportunities to explore First Nations cultures and experiences through high‑quality literature.

Themes: Relationship to and importance of ancestral land • Starting over • Bullying and racism