To coincide with the release of the series on ABC television, Nadia Wheatley produced a companion book, Making My Place, which features interviews with cast and behind-the-scenes information about the process of creating the series.
Interviews with the child actors include their impressions of the characters they portray, their favourite parts of their role and their thoughts on Australia’s multicultural history. There are brief profiles of the actors and numerous on-set photos.
The book begins with information about the creative process, both for the writing of My Place and the input needed to translate the story from the page onto the screen. There are entries highlighting the roles of the author, illustrator, producer, director and the readers of the original book.
Extensive teaching notes are available and the original My Place picture book, Making My Place, and the TV-series are ideal for teaching Australian history and examining the cultural diversity of the Australian community. Making My Place also offers interesting insights into the process of producing a television series for students studying media and film-making.
My Place and Making My Place are fascinating reading for anyone, young or old, with an interest in Australian history and culture. The books carry a strong message about the connection between Indigenous Australians and the land, as well as highlighting just how culturally diverse the influences on the Australian community have been over the centuries since European settlement.
- this review by Susan Whelan
Title: Making My Place
Author: Nadia Wheatley
Publisher: HarperCollins $29.99 RRP
Publication date: April 2010
Format: Hard cover
ISBN: 9780733327940
For ages: 7+
Type: Junior non-fiction, TV-series tie-in
