The Binna Binna Man

The powerful story of an Aboriginal teenage boy who is caught between the attractions of city life and the ways of his people. After a terrifying encounter with the Binna Binna man he knows what he must do in order to be true to himself.

'The Binna Binna man is a big fulla and he stinks like a goat. He can be good and heal you, but if you poke fun at him then you can get into big trouble, like die.'

In Binna Binna country you should watch where you go, even on a night when life is so stuffed up that nothing matters any more. You go wandering too far and you might come face to face with your worst nightmare - the Binna Binna man.

Filled with laughter and affection, this is the powerful story of a boy who is learning that if you forget where you come from you get weak. That to stay strong you must listen to the old people with your eyes and your ears - and your heart. A companion to My Girragundji.

About The Author

Meme McDonald is a writer and photographer who creates books for young people and adults.

Boori Pryor is from North Queensland. His mother's people are Kunggandji and his father is from the Birra-gubba Nation. Boori is a performer, storyteller and writer.

Meme and Boori co-wrote Maybe Tomorrow (Penguin, March 1998) with Margaret Dunkle as consulting editor. The Binna Binna Man (Allen + Unwin 1999) won Book of the Year at the NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2000. Meme and Boori also co-wrote two prize-winning books which have been adapted for theatre. My Girragundji (Allen + Unwin 1998) had two seasons touring nationally with The Bell Shakespeare Company, and Njunjul The Sun (Allen + Unwin 2002) - which received the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction - was adapted by Kooemba Djarra Theatre Company and produced with QPAC in Brisbane.