First Nations Child Stolen in Fantasy Novel

Celebrity English Chef Jamie Oliver is not only in the cooking business, he’s also in the children’s book business, releasing the well-received Billy and the Giant Adventure in April 2023. From the reviews I’ve seen, children really like it, and it constantly receives good reviews. Earlier this year, May 2024, Oliver released the sequel to his bestselling first book, Billy and the Epic Escape, again, well-received and enjoyed by children across the world. Although this rating has somewhat been skewed by recent reviews.

It’s weird, despite this book being released almost six months ago, it’s only now that people seem to have an issue with it. For many months, children have been raving about this book. You’d think if it was inherently evil, then somebody would have noticed in the first week, or at least, the first month. But no, six months later things have suddenly come unstuck. The Conversation: “Jamie Oliver’s novel really missed the mark.” It’s funny, only six months later in November, it’s missed the mark. The ABC were a bit harsher: “The book Jamie Oliver shouldn’t have written”. That’s weird, only in November they say he shouldn’t have written it, a book he released in May. One would think this book is titled, Billy and the Racist Indigenous Cannibals” the way the media are going on about it.

So what’s the actual issue with the book? Well, apparently (sorry, I can’t actually get hold of the book myself as I am forbidden from viewing its racist contents… Doesn’t this feel reminiscent of the old book-burning days?). But yes, apparently, there is a chapter called “To Steal a Child”, in which a wicked woman teleports to Alice Springs in central Australia to kidnap an Indigenous child to join her press gang of other kidnapped children from other countries. Why? Because “First Nations children seem to be more connected with nature.” The adults responsible for the young girl who lives in foster care are distracted by the woman’s promise of funding for their community projects. Once abducted, the little girl tells the other children that she can read people’s minds and communicate with animals and plants because “that’s the indigenous way”. Despite being an Alice Springs girl, she uses words from the Gamilaroi people of New South Wales and Queensland.

Anyway, that’s pretty much the extent of the problems with this book. Yoorrook Justice Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter commented, “Jamie Oliver’s children’s book represents a deeply concerning example of how Indigenous peoples continue to face misrepresentation and cultural appropriation in mainstream media. The complete lack of consultation with First Nations peoples.” Oh, so if I write a fictional fantasy book about say, ninjas, do I have to consult the Japanese parliament now? “The harmful stereotyping of Indigenous peoples as having mystical powers and being more connected with nature”. So in a fantasy book where people can teleport to other countries, the idea of giving the Indigenous character some magical powers is somehow wrong? Does that mean characters like Harry Potter are harmful stereotypes of young glasses-wearing British boys who cast spells and wield magical wands? No, it’s a fictional story! Up until November, all the kids loved this story. Surely Indigenous children too like the idea of having magical powers.

Of course, Jamie Oliver has apologised, but unsurprisingly, that’s not enough. How dare you write a successful children’s book six months ago that includes an Indigenous character without us knowing about it! Ms Hunter commented, “While Oliver has apologised, the impact of such misrepresentation on First Nations children and communities cannot be understated. This is why it’s crucial for publishers to involve First Nations peoples at every stage of the publishing process when their stories and experiences are being used.”

You know what this will result in? Nobody will want to include Indigenous characters ever again, because it’s too much hassle. And if you don’t these people are serious, “Jamie Oliver urged to engage with truth-telling commission amid book fallout”. Yes, they want to haul an international author and chef before the Victoria state Yoorrook Justice Commission. They seem to think they have the same powers as the International Criminal Court. Delusions of grandeur. Megalomania. Now that is a work of fiction.

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