THE UPWELLING BY LYSTRA ROSE

Kirra lives with her Nan on the Gold Coast and, at the beginning of the novel we find her depressed and worried. She has been having dreams since she turned sixteen, and they are coming true. Her most recent dream tells about the end of the world but her Nan has forbidden her to share these dreams with anyone. Kirra’s great grandmother had dreams too, and she ended up in a psychiatric hospital. Ever since Kirra’s brother died and her father left to work in the mines, Kirra has had counselling to help her with her loss. She shares her worries with her counsellor and only gets uneducated platitudes.

It is decided that Kirra should participate in a surfing competition at Jellurgal Point – the place her brother Wuz died doing the same thing. Nan believes this will shake Kirra out of her nonsense and allow her to move on with her life. Out in the waves, Kirra experiences something incredible and when she struggles to the water’s surface she finds herself somewhere totally different.

She has entered the ancient world of her heritage, the Yugambeh people. There, she meets Tarni, a girl who has the gift of ‘untangling languages” and Narn, a dolphin caller. Kirra’s ancestors believe in the great spirit N’gian who came down from the sky to join the people and living creatures he loved so much. He shared his powers amongst the people and since that time they have lived in harmony with surrounding believers. They know Kirra’s arrival is important, as a symbol she drew on her surfboard is one that represents their god.

But there is an evil force nearby that is threatening everything around them. Jiemba has been promised Tarni in a “joining” but he is not to be trusted. He and his followers believe in the evil spirit Malung and Jiemba has plans to take over all around him. Kirra, Tarni and Narn must defeat Jiemba before their world is decimated. He is strong and it will be a battle to the death if he is to be destroyed. Will they be able to save their world and will Kirra be able to travel back to her time?

The Upwelling is classified as a YA novel but I believe confident Middle Grade readers will enjoy it too. Lystra Rose has given us a time-slip fantasy novel but again, it is much more than that. On one level, it is a book about growing up, learning self-belief and finding where you belong. Luckily for readers, it is wrapped up in a beautiful allegory about good and evil. It is also one of the best books I’ve read that gives non-indigenous readers a closer insight into indigenous culture, lore and ancient lifestyle. This debut novel is definitely worth reading.

For Ages: 12 + years

Number of Pages: 400

Published: August 2022 Hachette

Themes: Self-belief, belonging and family.