The interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
The Tribe. Book 1. Walker Books Australia, 2012 IBSN: 9781921720086
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. For readers who love dystopian
novels, or even those whose appetites are becoming jaded with the
plethora that abound at the moment, The interrogation of Ashala
Wolf, opens up a new dimension in excitement and thought
provoking themes in this genre. The book begins with a terrifying
scene where a young girl named Ashala is being taken to a machine to
begin an interrogation because she has a supernatural power, an
Ability. From then on the reader finds out snippets of Ashala's life
as an illegal, a person who society believes will disturb the
Balance which has been carefully built up after a catastrophe has
destroyed the way the world worked.
Kwaymullina explores a future where difference is feared. Instead of
fearing the difference in colour and ethnicity that occurs in
present society, those barriers have broken down, as the world
became one large country. Instead those who have the Ability are put
into detention centres to protect the normal society from their
powers. Some people with different abilities, like Healers, are
given an Exemption, but Ashala, afraid for her life, had escaped to
the forest of Firstwood, where she lives with a group of young
people. This theme of tolerance is combined with the thread about
whether it is ethical to use violence to maintain a society or to
change it. As Ashala's companion Ember says, 'You can't change a
society for the better with violence, Ashala. Only with ideas.' (pg
208).
Along with these big themes, comes excitement and thrills as the
reader follows what is happening to Ashala. The suspense is built up
in a very clever way. Each time Ashala is taken to the machine to be
interrogated, she reveals more memories of her life and her ability,
even though she fights to keep her comrades' names and location a
secret.' As a reader I was gripped with terror about what she was
going through and what would happen to her little band in the forest
and the twists and turns keep me fully engrossed in the story.
Ashala's feeling for Justin Connor, the young guard who had betrayed
her to the evil Chief Administrator Neville Rose, also add an
emotional feel to the story.
I found myself neglecting all sorts of work to sneak off and finish
this book - a good indication of its original premise, interesting
characters and wonderful Australian setting. A teacher's guide is available.
I believe that this would be a fascinating class text or book to use
with a literature circle.
Pat Pledger