My River Sanctuary

A river. A family. A stranger.

On the banks of Perth’s Swan River, Kim Chen fights to preserve her family’s urban farm and build a future for her son. A story of heritage, belonging and the meaning of home.

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About the book

Kim has grown up on the banks of the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia. Her Chinese ancestry stretches back four generations to the first Chinese prospectors who sought a livelihood in the dusty goldfields.

Kim is raising her son, Ayden, while Jack, Ayden’s father and her childhood love, works as a war photographer in Afghanistan.

With a son to support, Kim employs Ara, an Afghan refugee, to help rebuild her father’s urban farm. But their plans provoke a backlash from the surrounding community.

Like the Swan River itself, this story flows through memory and loss, following a family struggling against the tide.

Reader reviews

"Timely, hard-hitting, and skilfully crafted, My River Sanctuary is an enthralling read. In it, author Robin Bower masterfully combines vivid, realistic characters with a compelling story line to relate a poignant tale that may hit a little too close to home for many readers. Given the current political and cultural climate not only in America, but worldwide, My River Sanctuary delves deep into the strident xenophobic, jingoistic conversation being held in nations across globe. If the purpose of art & literature is to provoke and unsettle, then Robin Bower is the consummate disruptor – a much needed one for this day and age. A highly recommended read."

– Goodreads review (Apex Reviews)

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