Things a Map Won't Show You

Dr Susan La Marca and Dr Pam Macintyre are widely regarded as two of Australia's foremost experts and consultants in children's and young adult literature. Susan La Marca has a celebrated career as a teacher-librarian, adjunct lecturer, and editor of Synergy, the research journal for the School Library Association of Victoria. She has dedicated her career to designing vibrant learning environments and unlocking the pleasures of reading for young people.

Dr Pam Macintyre teaches language, literacy, and young adult literature at RMIT University. Her profound impact on the Australian literary landscape is cemented by her roles as a judge for prestigious awards, including the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards and the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards. Together, La Marca and Macintyre curated this collection to showcase diverse, authentic voices that challenge, excite, and broaden the horizons of student readers.

First published in 2012, Things a Map Won't Show You: Stories from Australia and beyond is an unforgettable collection of short fiction, poetry, and comic art gathered specifically for young adult readers. The anthology brings together thirty distinct pieces from both legendary, established Australian authors, such as Paul Jennings, Sonya Hartnett, Ursula Dubosarsky, and Oodgeroo Noonuccal, and compelling emerging talents. The texts span a massive variety of forms and genres, including contemporary realism, speculative fiction, historical narratives, and graphic art.

As a powerful literary mosaic, the collection moves beyond the rigid boundaries of physical maps to explore the unseen emotional, cultural, and spiritual landscapes of characters. From a cricket match in a refugee center and the perils of hunting goannas to awkward blind dates and cursed stones, Things a Map Won't Show You serves as a vibrant snapshot of diverse human experiences, delivering a compelling invitation for students to step off the edge of the map and explore the world through fresh eyes.

As you read through the anthology, pay close attention to how the different authors explore these central ideas:

• Cultural Identity and Belonging: Many pieces highlight the rich, multicultural reality of modern life and the friction, warmth, or humor that arises when navigating dual cultural worlds (such as Tanveer Ahmed's The Exotic Rissole).

• Connection to Place and Unseen Landscapes: Moving beyond what is printed on a literal map, these stories reveal the deep spiritual, historical, and emotional connections people hold to land, country, and memory.

• Diversity of First Nations Perspectives: Through prose, poetry, and comic art, Indigenous contributors share stories of spiritual connection, ancient traditions, and modern systemic challenges (including works by Tara June Winch, Oodgeroo, and Jack Davis).

• Adolescence and Personal Milestones: The collection brilliantly captures the awkward, funny, and dramatic realities of growing up—ranging from sibling dynamics and testing personal boundaries to facing life-altering choices.

Keep an eye out for these literary and structural terms as you study the text:

• Anthology: A published collection of poems, short stories, or other pieces of writing compiled by an editor or editors.

• Vignette: A brief, evocative description, account, or episode that gives a sharp, concentrated insight into a character, moment, or setting.