Isabella and her little sister Catherine aren’t sure about the move to an old homestead on an orange orchard and their stepdad even less so, but their mum has fallen in love with the house.

When they arrive, they realise the photos online have been staged in certain lights and it’s much more run down than expected. Work begins immediately. The new way of making a living is staring at them too – an entire orchard full of fruit that needs to be picked.

No locals respond to their ads and banners put up in their new town, except a Muslim family also new to the area.

Damaska, her little sister Samaya, Grandmother Jida and her father are new to Australia, sponsored by her uncle. Damaska is keen to learn English and settle into their new home, but Jida makes everything so hard with her negativity and expectations.

Taking picking work in the orchard begins to change their lives. They meet Isabella’s family and the dinkum Aussie octogenarian called Megan from next door. Isabella’s big brother Abel helps as much as he can too, when allowed leave from his army barracks.

This shared task brings two cultures together in friendship, support, and laughter, but also brings distrust, hate crimes, jealousy and violence.

Racism is rife within a small pocket of people in this town. Tensions boil over in disappointment, frustration, and fear. Soon Damaska is defying her impossible grandmother, a young local man is desperate to save his little brother from more harm, and Abel is fighting for his life.

Set in a small rural Australian town, the reader is taken into three homes:

• The newcomers in town who have taken over an orange orchard with no experience behind them
• Newcomers to the country with little English and constant battles within their new life vs their old one
• A local drunk responsible for his nephews, too handy with his fists and a mouth full of malice

As I got to know the characters, I begun to understand them even if I didn’t like some of them. My favourite character is Megan, the straight talking, big-hearted elderly lady who helps smooth hurts and provide refuge.

Wish Me Gone is a story of friendship, fitting in, racism, prejudice, and new love. 

Author – D J Blackmore

Age – 13+

(Action, Love, Family, Prejudice, Racism, Crime, Friendship, Bullies, Conflict, Violence, Soldier, Muslim, Australia, Small town, Orange Orchard, Fruit picking, Octogenarian, Dentist, Customs)