Allan Stratton recently returned from Africa where he met the people who inspired this book. He is past Head of Drama at an arts school in Toronto and a former member of New York's The Actors' Studio. His earlier young adult novel, "Leslie's Journal," earned numerous accolades, including a place on the American Library Association's "Best Books for Young Adults" list.
[Starred review: ] neither sentimental nor graphics close the
personal struggle... The message about overcoming ignorance and
shame and confronting the facts is ever-present, but the tense
story and the realistic characters -- caring, mean, funny, angry,
kind and cruel -- will keep kids reading and break the silence
about the tragedy.--Hazel Rochman"Booklist" (07/01/2004)
[Starred Review: ] Smart and determined, Chanda is a character whom
readers come to care for and believe in, in spite of her almost
impossible situation. The details of sub-Saharan African life are
convincing and smoothly woven into this moving story of poverty and
courage, but the real insight for readers will be the appalling
treatment of the AIDS victims. Strong language and frank
description are appropriate to the subject matter.--Kathleen
Isaacs"School Library Journal" (07/01/2004)
Chanda is a likeable and well-written character... A great choice
for learning about other cultures and about the AIDS
crisis.--Rebecca Vnuk"VOYA" (12/01/2004)
It brings to life Africa's problem with AIDS and poverty -- a story
the world needs to know.--Barbara Jo McKee"Library Media
Connection" (11/15/2004)
It is about death and dying and survivors -- those who are left to
cope with the vast loss of losing loved ones... Through all the
adversity, Chanda never lacks hope, and she never stops
dreaming.--KaaVonia Hinton"KLIATT" (07/15/2004)
Stratton brings the despair, overwhelming poverty and the impact of
AIDS/HIV to life while at the same time depicting the strength of
human character when faced with adversity.--Anne Hatcher"Resource
Links" (06/01/2004)
A searing book on an important subject... there is not a maudlin
moment in the novel, just genuine grief and understanding as the
epidemic assumes some of its many human faces. The strong,
respectful writing makes this crucial and broadly relevant story
unfailingly human.
American Library Association Book Pick for 2005: selected as one of
the Best Books for Young Adults. Starred Selection 2009
By focusing on Chanda's personal struggle with what Stephen Lewis,
UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, calls a "sinister,
invisible poison," the novel demonstrates that love, loyalty,
family, and friendship can flourish in an open and truthful
atmosphere once the destructive influence of secrecy has been
conquered. With well-paced, robust prose and well-cadenced
dialogue, the novel provides valuable insights into the role
religion, superstition, culture and customs play in the daily lives
of Bonangians. Chanda's struggles put a face to the devastating
effects of HIV/AIDS and provide a gripping and heart-wrenching
reading experience designed for mature readers. Younger readers may
need some preparation to deal with the sensitive and complex topics
the novel addresses. Rape, prostitution, adultery, sexual abuse,
HIV/AIDS and other difficult subjects are presented in a
matter-of-fact fashion and lend credibility and honesty to this
discussion of a modern epidemic.
Film adaptation, winner of the Prix Francois Chalais
[Starred review: ] The tense story and the realistic characters...
will keep kids reading and break the silence about the
tragedy.--Hazel Rochman"Booklist" (07/01/2004)
Brings the despair, overwhelming poverty and the impact of AIDS/HIV
to life... strength of human character when faced with
adversity.--Anne Hatcher"Resource Links" (06/01/2004)
Death and dying and survivors... Through all the adversity, Chanda
never lacks hope, and she never stops dreaming.--KaaVonia
Hinton"KLIATT" (07/15/2004)
Starred review: A character whom readers come to care for and
believe in, in spite of her almost impossible situation.--Kathleen
Isaacs"School Library Journal" (07/01/2004)
[Starred review:] The tense story and the realistic characters...
will keep kids reading and break the silence about the tragedy. --
Hazel Rochman "Booklist" (07/01/2004)
�Starred review: � The tense story and the realistic characters...
will keep kids reading and break the silence about the tragedy. --
Hazel Rochman "Booklist" (07/01/2004)
The strong, respectful writing makes this crucial and broadly
relevant story unfailingly human.
Well-paced, robust prose... put a face to the devastating effects
of HIV/AIDS and provide a gripping and heart-wrenching reading
experience.
[Starred review: ] neither sentimental nor graphics close the
personal struggle... The message about overcoming ignorance and
shame and confronting the facts is ever-present, but the tense
story and the realistic characters -- caring, mean, funny, angry,
kind and cruel -- will keep kids reading and break the silence
about the tragedy.--Hazel Rochman"Booklist" (07/01/2004)
[Starred Review: ] Smart and determined, Chanda is a character whom
readers come to care for and believe in, in spite of her almost
impossible situation. The details of sub-Saharan African life are
convincing and smoothly woven into this moving story of poverty and
courage, but the real insight for readers will be the appalling
treatment of the AIDS victims. Strong language and frank
description are appropriate to the subject matter.--Kathleen
Isaacs"School Library Journal" (07/01/2004)
Chanda is a likeable and well-written character... A great choice
for learning about other cultures and about the AIDS
crisis.--Rebecca Vnuk"VOYA" (12/01/2004)
It brings to life Africa's problem with AIDS and poverty -- a story
the world needs to know.--Barbara Jo McKee"Library Media
Connection" (11/15/2004)
It is about death and dying and survivors -- those who are left to
cope with the vast loss of losing loved ones... Through all the
adversity, Chanda never lacks hope, and she never stops
dreaming.--KaaVonia Hinton"KLIATT" (07/15/2004)
Stratton brings the despair, overwhelming poverty and the impact of
AIDS/HIV to life while at the same time depicting the strength of
human character when faced with adversity.--Anne Hatcher"Resource
Links" (06/01/2004)
A searing book on an important subject... there is not a maudlin
moment in the novel, just genuine grief and understanding as the
epidemic assumes some of its many human faces. The strong,
respectful writing makes this crucial and broadly relevant story
unfailingly human.
American Library Association Book Pick for 2005: selected as one of
the Best Books for Young Adults. Starred Selection 2009
By focusing on Chanda's personal struggle with what Stephen Lewis,
UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, calls a "sinister,
invisible poison," the novel demonstrates that love, loyalty,
family, and friendship can flourish in an open and truthful
atmosphere once the destructive influence of secrecy has been
conquered. With well-paced, robust prose and well-cadenced
dialogue, the novel provides valuable insights into the role
religion, superstition, culture and customs play in the daily lives
of Bonangians. Chanda's struggles put a face to the devastating
effects of HIV/AIDS and provide a gripping and heart-wrenching
reading experience designed for mature readers. Younger readers may
need some preparation to deal with the sensitive and complex topics
the novel addresses. Rape, prostitution, adultery, sexual abuse,
HIV/AIDS and other difficult subjects are presented in a
matter-of-fact fashion and lend credibility and honesty to this
discussion of a modern epidemic.
Film adaptation, winner of the Prix Francois Chalais
[Starred review: ] The tense story and the realistic characters...
will keep kids reading and break the silence about the
tragedy.--Hazel Rochman"Booklist" (07/01/2004)
Brings the despair, overwhelming poverty and the impact of AIDS/HIV
to life... strength of human character when faced with
adversity.--Anne Hatcher"Resource Links" (06/01/2004)
Death and dying and survivors... Through all the adversity, Chanda
never lacks hope, and she never stops dreaming.--KaaVonia
Hinton"KLIATT" (07/15/2004)
Starred review: A character whom readers come to care for and
believe in, in spite of her almost impossible situation.--Kathleen
Isaacs"School Library Journal" (07/01/2004)
[Starred review:] The tense story and the realistic characters...
will keep kids reading and break the silence about the tragedy. --
Hazel Rochman "Booklist" (07/01/2004)
YStarred review: The tense story and the realistic characters...
will keep kids reading and break the silence about the tragedy. --
Hazel Rochman "Booklist" (07/01/2004)
The strong, respectful writing makes this crucial and broadly
relevant story unfailingly human.
Well-paced, robust prose... put a face to the devastating effects
of HIV/AIDS and provide a gripping and heart-wrenching reading
experience.
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