20 great reads from First Nations writers in 2022

To acknowledge the long history of storytelling from the oldest continuing living culture in the world, we have compiled a list of 20 great reads by First Nations writers published in 2022! The following books are displayed in no particular order and include fiction, biography, poetry, history and more. Please note that as ever, this is not a complete list of every such read published this year. We also recommend exporing our ongoing collection.

If you're looking for books for younger readers: read our recent 2022 picture book round-up or take a look at our ongoing children's collection or our ongoing young adult collection.

Cover image for Blacklight: Ten Years of First Nations Storytelling

Blacklight: Ten Years of First Nations Storytelling

Hannah Donnelly,Sweatshop

Blacklight: Ten Years of First Nations Storytelling is a definitive anthology of writing produced entirely by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives from Western Sydney and beyond

In stock at 2 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 2 shops

Cover image for This All Come Back Now: An Anthology of First Nations Speculative Fiction

This All Come Back Now: An Anthology of First Nations Speculative Fiction

Mykaela Saunders

A world-first collection of blackfella speculative fiction from well-known and emerging First Nations writers.

In stock at 5 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 5 shops

Cover image for We Come with This Place

We Come with This Place

Debra Dank

A deeply personal, profound tribute to family and the Gudanji Country to which Debra Dank belongs.

In stock at 6 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 6 shops

Cover image for Enclave

Enclave

Claire G. Coleman

From the critically acclaimed author of Terra Nullius comes a novel in the tradition of Margaret Atwood and Naomi Alderman that explores a future of surveillance, disruption and segregation that…

In stock at 3 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 3 shops

Cover image for Astronomy: Sky Country (First Knowledges)

Astronomy: Sky Country (First Knowledges)

Karlie Noon, Krystal De Napoli

What do you need to know to prosper for 65,000 years or more? The First Knowledges series provides a deeper understanding of the expertise and ingenuity of Indigenous Australians.

In stock at 7 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 7 shops

Cover image for My Dream Time

My Dream Time

Ash Barty

It’s a tennis story. It’s a family story. It’s a teamwork story. It’s the story of how I got to where and who I am today.

Available to order, ships in 10-14 daysAvailable to order

Cover image for Sixty-Seven Days

Sixty-Seven Days

Yvonne Weldon

An intense and mesmerising story of first love, culture and belief.

Available to order, ships in 3-5 daysAvailable to order

Cover image for Harvest Lingo

Harvest Lingo

Lionel Fogarty

Harvest Lingo is the fourteenth collection of poems by Lionel Fogarty, a Murri man with traditional connections to the Yugambeh people from south of Brisbane and the Kudjela people of…

In stock at 3 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 3 shops

Cover image for Through Old Eyes

Through Old Eyes

Uncle Wes Marne

Published to commemorate the author’s 100th birthday, this wide-ranging and thoughtful collection reflects on history, colonisation, family, childhood, Aboriginal Dreaming, traditions and storytelling, working lives and people.

In stock at 2 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 2 shops

Cover image for The Wonder of Little Things

The Wonder of Little Things

Vince Copley, Lea McInerney

A First Nations Elder shares his extraordinary story of finding kindness in the midst of prejudice, and joy in living life to the full

Available to order, ships in 10-14 daysAvailable to order

Cover image for Tell Me Again

Tell Me Again

Amy Thunig

The most inspirational and important memoir of 2022

In stock at 5 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 5 shops

Cover image for ART

ART

Charmaine Papertalk Green, John Kinsella

ART is the second collaborative poetry work from Charmaine Papertalk Green and John Kinsella. It is a formidable call and response piece that builds on the stunning dialogue the two…

In stock at 2 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 2 shops

Cover image for Growing up Wiradjuri

Growing up Wiradjuri

Growing up Wiradjuri is a collection of personal stories by Wiradjuri Elders. The writers are Uncles and Aunties who came of age in New South Wales in the 1950s and…

In stock at 6 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 6 shops

Cover image for Marrul: Aboriginal Identity & the Fight for Rights

Marrul: Aboriginal Identity & the Fight for Rights

Inala Cooper

What does reconciliation and truth-telling look like, and how do we as a nation find justice for Indigenous people?

In stock at 2 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 2 shops

Cover image for Cartwarra or What?: Selected Poems and Short Stories

Cartwarra or What?: Selected Poems and Short Stories

Alf Taylor

Alf Taylor’s stories and poems offer a vivid picture of the care, kindness and gentleness of Aboriginal families and communities and their enduring strength, resourcefulness and power.

Available to order, ships in 5-9 daysAvailable to order

Cover image for Madukka the River Serpent

Madukka the River Serpent

Julie Janson

A striking novel about family and resistance from Australian Darug Burruberongal writer and playwright Julie Janson.

In stock at 5 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 5 shops

Cover image for The Boy from Boomerang Crescent

The Boy from Boomerang Crescent

Eddie Betts

It’s a long, hard road from the Nullarbor to the MCG.

Available to order, ships in 10-14 daysAvailable to order

Cover image for Big Love

Big Love

Brooke Blurton

A raw, moving and uplifting memoir about courage, resilience and the transformative power of love, from one of Australia’s most captivating personalities

In stock at 3 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 3 shops

Cover image for Plants: Past, Present and Future (First Knowledges)

Plants: Past, Present and Future (First Knowledges)

Zena Cumpston, Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Lesley Head

Plants: Past, Present and Future celebrates the deep cultural significance of plants and shows how engaging with this heritage could be the key to a healthier, more sustainable future.

In stock at 6 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 6 shops

Cover image for Unlimited Futures: Speculative, Visionary Blak+Black Fiction

Unlimited Futures: Speculative, Visionary Blak+Black Fiction

Rafeif Ismail,Ellen van Neerven,Hella Ibrahim

In partnership with Djed Press, Fremantle Press brings 21 emerging and established own-voice writers together to imagine a new future.

In stock at 2 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 2 shops