The publisher says...

Dylan and her adored French mother dream of one day sailing across the ocean to France. Paris, Dylan imagines, is a place where her black skin won’t make her stand out, a place where she might feel she belongs. But when she loses her mother in a freak accident, Dylan finds herself on a very different journey: a road trip across outback Australia in the care of her mother’s grieving boyfriend, Pat. As they travel through remote towns further and further from the water that Dylan longs for, she and Pat form an unlikely bond. One that will be broken when he leaves her with the family she has never known. Metal Fish, Falling Snow is a warm, funny and highly original portrait of a young girl’s search for identity and her struggle to deal with grief. Through families lost and found, this own-voices story celebrates the resilience of the human heart and our need to know who we truly are. 

The author says...

Click on the icon below to watch a video where author Cath Moore explains why she wrote Metal Fish, Falling Snow.

Click on the icon below to watch a video where the author discusses one of the themes explored in the book - the relationship between skin colour and emotions - and reads a passage from the point of view of Dylan, the story's protagonist.

The CBCA judges say...

This beautifully written novel is a confident and creative YA debut that explores the themes of grief, family and identity with wonderful imagery and genuine humour. The language used is awe-inspiring and unique. After the loss of her mother, Dylan is taken on a journey across outback Australia towards the grandfather she has never known, challenging her notion of family and forcing her to confront her own racial identity. Dylan is a quirky character, attempting to make sense of the death of her mother, her racial identity and her relationship with her abusive father – a character who is flawed and dealing with his own demons. Her grief is palpable and heartbreaking, deftly explored through the touch of magical realism present throughout the novel. The outback Australian setting adds a feeling of vastness to the story and is so well illustrated that the reader can almost feel the heat of the desert and smell the stale beer in the pubs. It is a welcome change to read male characters who are complex, emotional, present and caring. Dylan’s relationships with her stepfather, grandfather and young cousin are a highlight. As a child of Guyanese and French parents, Dylan’s commentary on her identity as a mixed-race Australian child is a welcome addition to the YA landscape that feels wholly authentic.

The Reading Time reviewers say...

Click here to read the Reading Time review.

Teaching Notes for this book...

The publisher has generously made teaching notes available for this book. Click on the icon below to view these resources.