In this novel it is easy to tell it is an aboriginal story because it uses a lot of aboriginal language and is based on an aboriginal family.The language influences the reader in showing the way that some aboriginal people think. We are shown all this under the influence of the language. The talk of the "migaloo fullas" as opposed to the aboriginals, the belief in the "eunjee" and "quinkins", the importance of the boy's "girragundji" and and the use of words like "mooyu" (bum), "jalbu" (girlfriend) and "dunghai" (take off) always makes us remember that it is a story about people different to "us" who sometimes think in very different ways.
All the references to the spirit world tell us that it is an aboriginal story. It has many references to the spirits, including the boy talking about his "girragundji" and references to tribal totems (the cassowary). The Binna Binna man is the main spirit, someone who can hurt you or help you, scare you or cure you. It is important when the character says "we're in Binna Binna country now" as it shows how natural this belief in the spirits is.
Lots of the things that happen in the story - the plot - are "aboriginal", reminding us that this is an aboriginal story. The extended family cramped in the car for the trip, the fact that they are going to visit a mission, the incident with the Binna Binna man and the references to the family violence and grog among the adults at Yarrie are all examples.
