All That We Know by Shilo Kino

Shilo Kino’s debut adult novel All That We Know is a fierce, funny, and emotionally resonant exploration of identity, language, activism, and the heavy inheritance of colonisation. Set in present-day Tāmaki Makaurau, the novel follows Māreikura, a young Māori woman navigating the complexities of being both unapologetically herself and reluctantly visible in an age of viral outrage, digital platforms, and cultural reclamation.

Māreikura is magnetic, complicated, and entirely compelling. Raised by her Nan since infancy, she is caught between multiple worlds: a Pākehā schooling system, the expectations of te ao Māori, and the inescapable pull of social media stardom after a viral speech makes her an “accidental activist.” Kino’s portrayal of Māreikura’s struggle to honour her whakapapa while healing from intergenerational trauma is honest and unflinching.

The novel offers a nuanced portrayal of Māreikura’s rumaki reo journey, reflecting both the transformational power and the emotional weight of language reclamation. Kino captures the rawness of this immersion experience: the whakamā, the grief, and the unexpected moments of light. As Māreikura battles internal demons, self-diagnosed ADHD, religious alienation, and fractured friendships, her evolving worldview is both painful and empowering. Her connection with fellow tauira Jordana is a particular highlight—both tender and sharply political as the pair create a podcast addressing colonisation, identity, and their personal growth.

Kino also interrogates the double-edged nature of visibility. Māreikura is placed on a pedestal, only to find herself suffocating beneath public scrutiny. Kino does not offer simple resolutions; instead, she invites readers to sit with discomfort and contradiction. Māreikura’s treatment of others, particularly Pākehā like Chloe, raises valid concerns and critiques, but also discomfort for readers navigating their own learning journeys. Yet this is Kino’s strength: holding space for difficult kōrero without prescribing fixed answers.

The ensemble cast offers welcome contrast and complexity. Characters like Eru, the Mormon best friend preparing for a mission, and Kat, Māreikura’s accomplished new partner, show the tensions between faith, sexuality, tradition, and progress. Glennis, Māreikura’s steadfast Nan, grounds the narrative with wisdom and love, while the presence of tūpuna and dreams steep the story in a spiritual undercurrent that is distinctively Māori.

Kino’s prose is rich and evocative, moving easily between humour and heartbreak. Her dialogue is sharp, her cultural insight profound, and her characterisation unforgettable. The inclusion of te reo Māori and historical reflection deepens the narrative, making this novel not only a story but a living, breathing act of decolonisation.

All That We Know is a vital and courageous novel that challenges, uplifts, and leaves a mark. Kino doesn’t offer a polished narrative arc of healing, but rather something more authentic: a portrait of growth through chaos, reconnection through resistance, and language as both a salve and a shield. Māreikura’s journey is ours too, and Kino ensures that, in reading it, we all move a little closer to home.

Reviewer: Chris Reed

Moa Press