What about Thao? by Oliver Phommavanh
What about Thao? is the latest novel from best-selling author Oliver Phommavanh. In a similar vein to Thai-riffic, Con-nerd and The other Christy, Oliver brings to heartbreaking and hilarious reality the experience of being the other in a new situation. Of Thai-Australian heritage, Oliver has the credentials to write authentically about the experience of trying to fit into new cultures. Being young and an ex-primary school teacher he knows the lingo and the workings of modern classrooms. Oliver is also a stand-up comedian appearing on national TV and radio and a number of comedy venues. His signature style permeates his writing. Oliver is very popular and well-reviewed on the school writing workshop scene. With a presence as engaging as the voice we hear in his books it is no wonder that he is invited to speak to reluctant writers about story creation.
What about Thao? features Thao (pronounce as towel without the l). He has a Vietnamese cultural heritage but has always lived in Australia. Thao and his family move to a small town (Megulla) in rural NSW and being the easy going, cool sort of guy that he is, has no problems other than the usual (which are perceptively described) of being the new kid in a multi levelled class of which he is one of the year 6’s. Shortly after Thao arrives, Kadir from war-torn Syria arrives. He has a background of shocking trauma and loss. When it comes to who is going to help Kadir out, the teacher asks “What about Thao?” Hence the title and the resulting friendship choices, dilemmas, wonderful Thai and Syrian cooking and slam poetry!
Oliver cleverly reveals stereotypical thinking and comments and frequently turns them on their head. With the surety of a comedian he upends expectations and the relief is comedy. For example, as Thao’s family arrive in Megulla … “that’s when the lady told us to go back to where we came from.” Instantly the reader thinks RACIST but it is revealed shortly after that she meant literally that the family needed to do a U-turn because they had already passed their house. Australian expressions are scattered throughout as the two boys come to grips with the slang spoken e.g. p.137 “It’s so lovely to see some young blood.”
“Blood?” Kadir says, looking alarmed.
“It means young people,” I say, nudging him in. The story is narrated in the first-person voice of Thao so the reader knows the highs, the lows, the worries and the plans of Thao and views the little remote country town and its people through his eyes. “Somewhere on the trip here, my excitement must have leaked out the window. The milkshake churns in my stomach. This was my parent’s dream but what about me?” It is easy for the reader to identify with Thao.
This is a story about friendship, identity, belonging and multiculturism written with a great deal of unforced naturalness, great humour and the observation of an author who knows.
An entertaining read.
Themes: Friendship, Refugees, Social groups.
Wendy Jeffrey
