Home may be a fictional children's book but the "emotions and feelings" in the story centre on a period when the author's family were forced to flee their homeland.
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That's why Karen Hendriks chose to launch her book at Windang Public School during Refugee Week (June 20-26)
"Home is being released during Refugee Week as Australia's history is built upon people from all over the world migrating here to make it their home. Some of those have a refugee background," Ms Hendriks said.
"People leave where they have come from for a reason and there is always a story behind it. Home shows how we are all connected to times and places through our family."
The Shellharbour author's mother was born in Wunschendorf, a small Czech village which once had hundreds of houses and residents but has now almost entirely disappeared from the map.
In 1946 its entire ethnic German population was forced to leave. There was a mass expulsion of people with Sudeten German heritage.
"My mum was a baby when this happened and she was with her mum and grandmother," she said.
"They walked from the mountains to Germany with only what they could carry. Mum has no memory of this.
"Although, Home is entirely fictional this is where the inspiration for Home came from. The Czech Republic village on the northern border of Poland is now called Srbska.
"Wunschendorf is now remembered online by the srbska.org created by Sophie Dixon who also has purchased a home there.
"The house my mum and Oma were born in is one of the houses that is still standing today. Home is about losing a home, finding another but not forgetting the one you came from."
The author said her book also explores how places experienced makes memories.
She added objects and memories also connected people to places.
"My connection to Wunschendorf is a heart locket that came from there and has been passed down to me. It is a character in Home and my connection to Wunschendorf," Ms Hendriks said.
"After World War II Australia realised they needed to populate or they would perish.
"They offered assisted passage to people. Many people from all over Europe came to Australia for a new start, for freedom and opportunity.
"You were screened to come and had to be young and fit and prepared to work. At this time in Australia's history people came by ships.
"If you visit Darling Harbour the Maritime Museum has an Immigration Wall where those that have immigrated can have their names placed on the wall. My mum and her brothers names are on the wall.
"In Home the little girl sees a poster. There were posters displayed at that time asking people to come to Australia."
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