As a child, Australian Olympic basketballer Patty Mills was obsessed with sport, and especially basketball. As an Indigenous person he had to not only prove himself on the court but also deal with the misconceptions of other players about Aboriginal people and their ancient culture.
In ‘Patty and the Shadows’, sports-mad Patty has plenty to prove, especially to his arch-rival Tyson, who gives Patty a hard time about his people. This only makes Patty more determined to prove himself on the basketball court. When his team The Shadows reach the grand final, Patty and his friends have a chance to show that Indigenous kids can do anything.
Engagingly written in the first person, Patty’s voice is strong and proud. A poster of Cathy Freeman––an inspiration to so many sports people––graces Patty’s bedroom wall in cartoon-style digital illustrations. Patty also talks about his Great uncle, Eddie Mabo ––another inspirational Indigenous person. The story deals head on with misconceptions by non-Indigenous people about how the Aboriginal people lived in Australia before Europeans invaded.
Patty Mills was born in Canberra. His father is a Muralag man from the Torres Strait Islands and his mother is from the Kokatha people of South Australia. Patty plays basketball with the San Antonio Spurs in the American National Basketball Association (NBA), and he is a triple Olympian with the Australian Boomers. He was also recognised as the ACT Young Australian of the Year in 2015 and the NAIDOC Person of the Year in 2017.
Dr Jared Thomas is a Nukunu man of the Southern Flinders Ranges, an Arts Development Officer at Arts, South Australia and an Indigenous Literacy Foundation Ambassador. Jared's writing explores the power of belonging and culture.
‘Patty and the Shadows’ is the second book in the ‘Game Day!’ series, in which Australian Olympian and NBA star Patty Mills combines inspiring and entertaining stories about basketball with a strong message about having pride in your Indigenous heritage and culture.
Series: Game Day! : no 2
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
