If You Keep Digging

Book excerpt: If You Keep Digging is a moving collection of short stories that is an essential addition to current and on-going discussions that affect the youth including those around migration, gender, sexuality and identity. The selection of stories highlights marginalised identities and looks at the daily lives of people who may otherwise be forgotten or dismissed. 'Monkeys' is a skilful commentary on domestic violence, toxic masculinity, patriarchy (and how it is racialised), power dynamics between white and black men and how children come to 'know' that they are white or black. 'Skinned', whose protagonist is a woman with albinism, is a powerful story about learning to accept that you deserve love when the world constantly tells you otherwise. In 'Fourteen' the author deftly demonstrates the ability to play with concepts of time and reality. It is a compelling story about potential and how one can feel unfulfilled despite having hopes and ambitions.