Child of Dandelions - Hardcover

Nanji, Shenaaz

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1932425934 ISBN 13: 9781932425932

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2008

Synopsis

A breathtaking account of one girl's determination to triumph over a devastating historical event. In Uganda in 1972, President Idi Amin, also known as the Last King of Scotland, announces that foreign Indians must be "weeded" out of Uganda in ninety days. Fifteen-year-old Sabine's life is changed forever. The president's message, broadcast on the radio every day, becomes Sabine's "countdown monster," and it follows her through days of terror. Sabine's father is convinced that, as Ugandan citizens, their family will be unaffected, but her mother insists it's too dangerous to stay. When her beloved uncle disappears and her best friend abandons her, Sabine begins to understand her mother's fears. She becomes desperate to leave, but Bapa, her grandfather, refuses to accompany her. How can she leave him, and where will her family go to begin a new life?

About this title

About the Author:

Shenaaz Nanji was born in Kenya and grew up among a fusion of cultures: Bantu-Swahili, Arabic, and East Indian. She was in Uganda when Idi Amin seized power. Her family became refugees. She graduated from a university in Kenya and lived in the United States for a time. A graduate of the Vermont College MFA Program in Writing for Children and Young Adults, she now lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

From AudioFile:

In the summer of 1972, Idi Amin proclaimed that Indian residents were to be "weeded out" of Uganda within 90 days. Set against that dark time line, this story illuminates the confusion and despair that Ugandan citizens of Indian descent experienced. Vaishali Sharma offers a compelling portrait of 15-year-old Sabine. Through Sabine's eyes, listeners witness a personalized, sobering picture of the loss of civil liberties (often better suited to slightly older listeners). Sharma's voice is sweet and girlish, and her Indian inflection and pacing create a fully dimensional portrait of Sabine with an authenticity that increases the story's grip. As chapters relentlessly log the passing time ("Day 63"), listeners will share a sense of the increasing fear and desperation of Sabine and her family. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1932425934
• ISBN 13: 9781932425932
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208