Year 8 Welcomes Author Helen Chebatte
Our Year 8 students recently had the wonderful opportunity to meet Australian author Helen Chebatte, the author of Bro, which students have been studying as part of their English novel study this term.
Helen gave students an insight into the inspiration and reality behind the novel, explaining that while Bro is a work of fiction, it draws on real experiences of ethnic and social divisions. She shared how, growing up in Western Sydney, she was often placed into a particular cultural group because of her Middle Eastern background, despite identifying as Syrian as well as Australian. This provided students with an interesting connection to the divisions and 'unwritten rules' experienced by Romeo and Diz (the main characters) throughout the novel.
Students also gained a deeper understanding of the characters and themes in Bro. Helen discussed Romeo's moral and personal struggles, as well as Diz's unique spiritual journey and the way his questions about life and spirituality provide an important anchor throughout the story. She explained that Diz's death was deliberately used to highlight the dangers of tribalism, and the irreversible consequences of violence.
A particularly powerful message for our students was Helen's encouragement to stand up for what is right, even when it might mean standing apart from the group. She also spoke about the importance of emotional vulnerability, reminding students that “emotional vulnerability makes us strong people”.
Helen also shared some fascinating insights into her writing process, including the importance of memory and research in creating an authentic setting and dialogue. Students were interested to learn that the language used by the teenage characters was carefully chosen to reflect the way young people spoke at the time and in the community in which Helen grew up.
As Bro is written as a fast-paced, dialogue-heavy novel, Helen explained that she wanted the book to be accessible to reluctant readers while also ensuring that young people from different backgrounds could see themselves represented in literature.
For our Year 8 students, studying Bro and then having the opportunity to meet the real Australian author behind the story was a wonderful way to bring their learning to life. Students were able to ask questions, hear directly about the author's experiences and gain a deeper understanding of the characters, themes and ideas they have been exploring in class.
We are very grateful to Helen for taking the time to speak with our students and for giving them such an authentic insight into the world of writing and storytelling.
Sharon Rodrigo-Wilson
Secondary Teacher
