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Starred Review on September 1, 2011 | Audio
Gr 8 Up—Chanda, 16, knows loss. First her father and brothers die in a mine explosion, then she's sexually abused, and now her 18-month-old sister, ill since birth, dies in her mother's arms. It's not all sadness though. Her mother is kind, her half brother and sister are usually good company, and even though her best friend Esther is barely surviving as a prostitute, they keep in touch. Allan Straton's novel (Annick Press, 2004) is set in an African community riddled with HIV/AIDS and plagued by denial, fear, and misconceptions. Despite these challenges, Chand...Log In or Sign Up to Read More