Mount Gambier Library is set to welcome Indigenous author Warren Rankine for an evening discussing his memoir, Fifteen Feet Tall: From Abandonment to Belonging, this month.

Abandoned at the age of two and raised through the foster care system in Adelaide's western suburbs, Mr Rankine's childhood was marked by hardship, loss, and uncertainty.

However rather than be defined by his circumstances, the Ngarrindjeri man forged his own path, building a remarkable life and career through determination, courage, and an unwavering belief in himself.

Mr Rankine wrote Fifteen Feet Tall to provide insight into his personal journey and the broader social and cultural circumstances that shaped his early years.

"My displacement wasn't part of the Stolen Generations but rather displacement and abandonment because of societal and cultural legacy following the cessation of the White Australia Policy," Mr Rankine said.

"It was driven by familial shame and guilt at having an Aboriginal mixed-race child within a predominantly white family."

Mr Rankine's memoir offers an honest and confronting account of his search for identity and belonging.

While writing the book was an enjoyable process, Mr Rankine said revisiting the experiences that shaped his childhood proved far more challenging.

As part of his research, he returned to the homes he once lived in and read through his state case files for the first time.

Those files, which feature prominently in the book, document his childhood through the formal language of government systems and authorities.

"It's one thing to recount my own thoughts, emotions and memories of what I endured as a small boy," Mr Rankine said.

"It's a whole other reality to see those files and understand the formality and procedural reality of how my life was in the hands of authority most children never experience.

"I also knew that if all these years later I still find those documents confronting, then I'm sure others will be challenged by them."

Fifteen Feet Tall, which is in its second print run, has resonated with readers through its themes of courage, identity, healing, and transformation.

City of Mount Gambier Community Development Coordinator, Kristi Brooks, said the event would appeal to anyone interested in authentic stories of perseverance and personal growth.

"Warren's story is both powerful and deeply moving," Ms Brooks said. "His willingness to share his experiences offers an opportunity for reflection, understanding, and meaningful conversation about resilience, identity, and belonging."

Mr Rankine said he hopes readers find something within his story that helps them navigate their own challenges.

"I hope that anyone reading this book can resonate with or identify something that may help them move forward through whatever challenges they may be facing," he said.

The free event will be held will be held at the Mount Gambier Library on Wednesday 23 September at 6:30pm.

Registration for the event can be made online.