A Special Book Launch In Ingham

From the cane fields of Macknade to bookshelves across Australia, Angelina Mastrippolito’s debut memoir Le Seconde: Inheriting the Unspoken has made an inspiring impact. Her hometown launch, held at TYTO Conference Centre in Ingham, was a moving and memorable event, with more than seventy people gathering to celebrate her success.

Friends, family, childhood neighbours and past classmates filled the room to show their support, purchase a signed copy, and hear Angie speak about her journey. The warmth and love from the crowd was clear, as many connected personally to the story of growing up in what was fondly known as ‘Little Italy.’

Angie’s memoir explores life as a second-generation Italian woman, shaped by the complexities of migration, family loyalty and unspoken expectations. Her childhood in Far North Queensland’s cane fields was full of adventure, but also carried deep undercurrents. Her grandfather was an ardent fascist. Her father and grandfather wrestled with the shadows of an unspoken past. Her mother, caught between duty and defiance, quietly taught her young daughter a revolutionary song to irritate her father-in-law.

From these layered family experiences, Le Seconde paints a powerful portrait of identity, resilience and womanhood. Angie’s reflections, including vivid shared memories of tiptoeing through her mother’s kitchen, sparked both laughter and thoughtful discussion during the launch.

The event proved to be more than a book signing. It was a gathering of the Italian community, as many in the audience recognised their own stories in Angie’s words. A memoir of living between two worlds and unravelling family mysteries, Le Seconde clearly struck a heartfelt chord with everyone in attendance.