If you are looking for a change of pace from the plethora of fantasy tales, this contemporary story is a fast read with a likeable and realistic teen girl trying to find her way in life South Africa. Amandle is the 15-year-old, first-person narrator, and is of mixed race; her mother is a blonde white woman and her father whom she does not know was a Zulu man. Their home is in the “Sugar Town” slum area, a one-room place which would probably be considered a shanty. Mother (Annalisa) is honest with daughter Amandle that her grandparents basically disowned Annalisa because of Amandle’s father.
She is very curious about her family history and talks about it a great deal with her friend Lil Bit. The mother is so secretive that it drives Amandle to snoop and play detective.
The book realistically incorporates some acts of violence, but the books is not a thriller or inappropriate for its intended age group. Crimes happen everywhere, and this book does not pretend that everyone is happy despite being poor or totally depressed because of the poverty. It is what it is, and the characters in this book deal with it. I think people will enjoy this book a great deal – as I did.
She is very curious about her family history and talks about it a great deal with her friend Lil Bit. The mother is so secretive that it drives Amandle to snoop and play detective.
The book realistically incorporates some acts of violence, but the books is not a thriller or inappropriate for its intended age group. Crimes happen everywhere, and this book does not pretend that everyone is happy despite being poor or totally depressed because of the poverty. It is what it is, and the characters in this book deal with it. I think people will enjoy this book a great deal – as I did.