Engaging, thought-provoking stories from a young Tasmanian Aboriginal author who addresses universal themes - identity, racism, heritage destruction - from a wholly original perspective.The stories in Born Into This throw light on a world of unique cultural practice and perspective, from Indigenous rangers trying to instil some pride in wayward urban teens on the harsh islands off the coast of Tasmania to those scraping by on the margins of white society railroaded into complex and compromised decisions. To this mix Adam Thompson manages to bring humour, pathos and occasionally a sly twist as his characters confront racism, untimely funerals, classroom politics and, overhanging all like a discomforting, burgeoning awareness for both white and black Australia, the inexorable damage and disappearance of the remnant natural world.

Contents: The old tin mine -- Honey -- Born into this -- Invasion Day -- Jack's island -- Summer girl -- Descendant -- Sonny -- Aboriginal Alcatraz -- Black eye -- The blackfellas from here -- Your own Aborigine -- Bleak conditions -- Time and tide -- Kite -- Morpork -- Acknowledgements.

Age book of the year shortlist 2021