Official Review: Native Companions by Jenni Barnett

[Bethel Saint Bright]

Just like the author, I have always wondered how bushmen survive without civilization. This book, and the series, will make an exciting read. I look forward to digging deeper.

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

There is a beautiful air of the old Australia in this book; I have never (unfortunately) been there, but this is how I imagine it would have been. The pictures are lovely. The reviewer has explained the book well, thank you. I would find this book a tad long winded, but glad that I had read.

[Chinazo Anozie]

I'm not much of a history buff and I don't have any knowledge of aboriginal Australia. However, it appears great that Native Companions by Jenni Barnett delves into these themes. I'll have to pass on this one.

[Suvankar Das 1]

What a beautiful review! It really makes me want to pick up Harmony: The Saga of the Earth. I love how it combines poetry, art, and such an important message about protecting nature. The way the book uses heartfelt poems to raise environmental awareness sounds truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[Atieno Magero]

Native Companions seems like a great novel for people who like anthropology, history and mythology. The book has a captivating plot and I like that readers can learn interesting information from reading this book. Hopefully, the errors will be rectified in later editions of this book. Congrats on making botd!

[Ohanele Chinonyerem]

Rex's journey to uncover his family's secrets and fulfil his grandmother's wish is admirable, and Native Companions by Jenni Barnett seems like an interesting book.

[Gayatri Tripathi]

Thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful review! I love how you highlighted the structure of Native Companions, especially the tale-within-a-tale narrative and how each section builds on the last. The way you described Gran Yan as a "silent witness" really captured my attention — it sounds like such a powerful and symbolic part of the story. I also appreciate you mentioning the glossary and illustrations; it’s great to know the author included these details to make the cultural aspects even more vivid. Despite the minor punctuation errors, it sounds like a beautiful and immersive read. I’m even more excited to check it out now!

[Soma Ezenwanne]

Native Companions by Jenni Barnett sounds fascinating, and I’m really interested in knowing how the tribe survives through tough times and stays strong with their moral code.

[mrlefty0706]

"Native Companions" by Jenni Barnett is book one in the Dreamtime Mysteries trilogy and is based in the remote regions of Australia. Jenni Barnett has had a lifelong interest in anthropology and aboriginal societies. Her tales describe the bushmen’s survival skills in the remote regions of Australia. The beginning of the sample raises the question if migration went from Africa to Australia after the ice caps melted or did the migration go from Australia to Africa? The main character is Rex Graham, a part-Aboriginal anthropology student, who heard many of the Dreamtime mysteries from his family growing up in remote Australia. When his grandmother is dying, he promises her that he will find the key to her great-grandfather’s dreamtime mysteries and he will publish them for the benefit of their people. Rex learns his history from supernatural forces by sitting under the great tree of memories called Gran Yan to get in touch with his ancestors and their stories. He falls asleep under the tree and while under a dreamlike trance he overhears the legends that the Gran Yan tree passed down to younger trees and future generations. The story is speculative fiction but it is based on the supernatural knowledge he gains from his visits to the Gran Yan tree. Rex is truly gifted like the Shamans in aboriginal history. The mysteries, legends and myths have been passed down through many generations of Gran Yan trees and Shamans. There are six sections to the book and each section focuses on a distinct stage in his native tribe’s struggle to survive. The last section ties up loose ends and answers many of the questions readers will have. Jenni Barnett uses her creative writing skills to enhance the incredible stories. I love history and the sample convinced me to read this book and the following two books in this trilogy.

[Antony mbuvi]

Native Companions by Jenni Barnett is a thoughtful exploration of Aboriginal culture through the journey of Rex Graham, a young man reconnecting with his roots. The story blends real-world anthropology with Dreamtime legends, offering a unique and spiritual reading experience. Richly detailed and beautifully written, it’s a great choice for readers interested in indigenous stories and mythologies.

[Joseph Phoebe]

Native Companions, Jenni Barnett transforms the ancient gum tree Gran Yan into a powerful symbol of Aboriginal continuity, channeling dreamtime legends through Rex Graham’s trance-like connection to his ancestors’ stories.

[Jelani Trotter]

Barnett’s evocative prose in Native Companions breathes life into the pre-European Aboriginal world, capturing the Booran Tribe’s rites, customs, and spirituality with a reverence that highlights their resilience and moral strength.

[Janet Kimetto]

Thanks for the review! "Native Companions" is an insightful book that provides a deeper look into the lives of Australia's native tribes, the Aboriginal people.

[Benita Ogarekpe]

Before this review I never would’ve thought this to be my kind of book, but now I simply must check it out. It’s not without its imperfections but I’m sure it will make for a good read.