Some of the descriptive writing is amazing - wasted on a children's book! Maybe a bit harsh, but it's great. I had started to take a dislike to our main character as she seemed a bit rude but I think I'm coming to understand her a bit more.
There are some minor inconsistencies which are hard to believe - why would she take her Dad's rucksack to school and not even look inside?! The dialogue is also a bit clunky in places but that can be forgiven. I'm also surprised about the attitudes portrayed about cancer - it seems like there's a lot more shame attached to it, but that might just be a cultural difference. It just surprised me that Tanyaradzwa had lost friends over it.
Despite these criticisms, I am enjoying it and I'm learning about a political climate I never even knew existed! it's your traditional boarding school story with a cultural and political twist.
This is a great book as it deals with some really big topics; grief, illness, political unrest, even murder, in a sensitive and approachable way. These difficult issues are made easy to understand - helpful even for adults! I would love to read a more in depth story set at this time in Zimbabwe as I feel there's so much more I want to learn about.
There are some minor inconsistencies which are hard to believe - why would she take her Dad's rucksack to school and not even look inside?! The dialogue is also a bit clunky in places but that can be forgiven. I'm also surprised about the attitudes portrayed about cancer - it seems like there's a lot more shame attached to it, but that might just be a cultural difference. It just surprised me that Tanyaradzwa had lost friends over it.
Despite these criticisms, I am enjoying it and I'm learning about a political climate I never even knew existed! it's your traditional boarding school story with a cultural and political twist.
This is a great book as it deals with some really big topics; grief, illness, political unrest, even murder, in a sensitive and approachable way. These difficult issues are made easy to understand - helpful even for adults! I would love to read a more in depth story set at this time in Zimbabwe as I feel there's so much more I want to learn about.