To and Fro

By Anton Clifford-Motopi

Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd

Brisbane-based author Anton Clifford-Motopi is a former teacher and lecturer who currently works as a health researcher at a university.  Anton’s stories explore themes of self-identity, family relationships and friendship, and draw from ‘…his experiences of being black with light skin, growing up in a large adoptive family and raising four children’.

Anton’s debut middle grade novel, To and Fro, was one of six novels shortlisted in the Readings Children’s Prize 2024. The story is loosely inspired by Anton’s fascinating childhood experiences – featured in an ABC Conversations episode here – though Anton acknowledges that his main character Sam’s story is ‘a little less strange’ than Anton’s own!

Twelve-year-old Sam, who describes himself as a ‘weird-looking white kid with an afro’, lives with his mum in Brisbane. He’s never met his South African dad, whom he assumes didn’t want to know him. So you can imagine Sam’s surprise when his mum sits him down one day to tell him that (a) his dad didn’t know Sam existed until yesterday, and (b) his dad is in Australia for work and wants to meet him!

Combine this with a school project on identity, a cast of entertaining side characters and a pinch of pubescent angst, and you have a recipe for an excellent read. The pitch-perfect tween voice gave me both Paul Jennings and Morris Gleitzman vibes. This hilarious, heartwarming and highly satisfying read is recommended for fans of funny realistic fiction aged 10 and up.

This would be a suitable Reader’s Cup title for Years 7/8.

Teaching resources

Allen & Unwin 2024

Anton clifford-Motopi

Annaleise Byrd is the author of middle grade adventure fantasy Losing the Plot. Her upcoming titles, Down the Plot Hole and You Are Not a Pup! will be published in April 2025.