A review by spinesinaline
The Yield by Tara June Winch

challenging dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The three narratives that the blurb alludes to are brilliantly used here: the MC August, who has returned home to her family for her grandfather’s funeral after leaving due to a tragic loss; her grandfather Poppy, creating his own dictionary to keep his native language alive and sharing stories through each of the definitions; and an immigrant pastor from the 1900s, whose perspective adds to our understanding of the treatment of Indigenous peoples in Australia throughout history and the land claims this family are currently fighting.

It’s a book about grief in more ways than one: more recent and past losses of family members, the horrific treatment of their ancestors and through that treatment, the loss of lives, culture, language, and land. Winch does not shy away from details so there are some very brutal descriptions in here, so do take note of the content warnings. I wasn’t surprised to learn this history but horrified all the same.

As someone who works in the archives and museum field, I also really appreciated seeing these institutions called out in terms of how they handle Indigenous objects and requests for repatriation to this day. Getting to experience the unfeeling policies from those whose objects are held, without consent in many cases, by museums and archives is a welcome perspective that more professionals should be exposed to in reconsidering these policies.
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