Zac

The Third Space series is a unique project designed in response to the Australian Curriculum's inclusion of the key elements of diversity competence: intercultural and ethical understanding, personal and social capability, and critical and creative thinking. Comprised of thirteen novellas, The Third Space aims to equip students with the requisite understandings, skills, attitudes and dispositions to deal with difference through reading stories focussed on young protagonists. This...
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The Third Space series is a unique project designed in response to the Australian Curriculum's inclusion of the key elements of diversity competence: intercultural and ethical understanding, personal and social capability, and critical and creative thinking. Comprised of thirteen novellas, The Third Space aims to equip students with the requisite understandings, skills, attitudes and dispositions to deal with difference through reading stories focussed on young protagonists. This series takes students on an introductory journey out of their own world and into the intriguing world of human diversity. Students are given a unique opportunity to step out of their own space and into 'the third space' ' a space where people of different cultural, racial and belief systems are understood and respected. The novellas provide the conceptual tools and imaginative space to help students discover and participate in this 'third space' where multi-culture and multi-faith are key components of a society that is rich, harmonious and inclusive. Growing up in the Jewish quarter of St Kilda - Melbourne's Cool Town - has its scary and funny moments for Zac. His dad is an annoying weirdo, his little sister Ella thinks she's the Queen of the World and their two doggies are lovable but pretty stupid. His Jewishness is ... well ... complicated. The streets are full of a kaleidoscope of hats which mean different things in Cool Town. And then a girl with a scarf on her head and a cute dog turns up and this brings frightening conflict out into the open. There are battles, scuffles and rituals and Zac and Ella sort of ... maybe ... possibly become adults. Ultimately, all these dramatic events are more important than what covers your head in Cool Town.