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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very interesting story and quite intense. I loved Kweli.
I don't know that I even have words for how gripping a read this was... This is one of those rare books that created an entirely different world, demanded that I keep reading, and that has stayed with me since I closed the book. Engrossing. Disquieting. Powerful.
That would be 5 stars times 2. This would be a 10 star book for me. Perhaps I should give less 5s and then a 5 would have more meaning. If reading a book was sinful then this book was tempting 24/7 until it was finished. So the question is why such a compelling read? There are some personal reading preferences factors:
Adventure/Survival is one of my favorite genres
Africa intrigues me as a setting
But what would this book mean for others?
Let's start with raising awareness of injustice. In this life we have horrific examples both historically and currently of human cruelty through discrimination, violence, torture and murder. Coming to understand where humans continue inhumane behavior can compel the reader to action. For me, this will be to support some of the organizations listed at the end of the book.
Secondly, Tara Sullivan has crafted a main character who is real and captures the reader's sympathy and admiration. Human beings at their best have clay feet in steel boots, and this is who Habo becomes in this story.
Finally is a plot worth savoring. As a reader a plot must grab me and keep me reading with pacing that doesn't leave me constantly breathless or cause me to yawn. The "Golden Boy" plot creates events that kept me turning pages but not exhausted. Events were plausible. The rise to the climax and denouement presented a realistic solution to the problem at the same time creating a spine tingling twist followed by a beautiful conclusion.
I will leave others to write a summary. I will endeavor to write a book talk for my students and I will be recommending this book to many. And then I will beg Tara Sullivan to give up her day job and write 24/7.
BOOK TALK: They are hunted for their body parts. The lack of pigment in the skin is thought to bring good luck and certainly a nice price. Habo is a human albino without pigment in his skin. He has never seen another person who looks like him. His father deserted the family right after Habo was born and Habo isn’t sure the rest of the family cares about him. And then Habo becomes the hunted. Most parts of his country accept this practice, but he has heard there is a city where he might be accepted. As he travels he hopes he has left his hunter behind, but it is only a hope. What he does hope for is acceptance, something he has never experienced and isn’t sure he is even worthy to experience.
Adventure/Survival is one of my favorite genres
Africa intrigues me as a setting
But what would this book mean for others?
Let's start with raising awareness of injustice. In this life we have horrific examples both historically and currently of human cruelty through discrimination, violence, torture and murder. Coming to understand where humans continue inhumane behavior can compel the reader to action. For me, this will be to support some of the organizations listed at the end of the book.
Secondly, Tara Sullivan has crafted a main character who is real and captures the reader's sympathy and admiration. Human beings at their best have clay feet in steel boots, and this is who Habo becomes in this story.
Finally is a plot worth savoring. As a reader a plot must grab me and keep me reading with pacing that doesn't leave me constantly breathless or cause me to yawn. The "Golden Boy" plot creates events that kept me turning pages but not exhausted. Events were plausible. The rise to the climax and denouement presented a realistic solution to the problem at the same time creating a spine tingling twist followed by a beautiful conclusion.
I will leave others to write a summary. I will endeavor to write a book talk for my students and I will be recommending this book to many. And then I will beg Tara Sullivan to give up her day job and write 24/7.
BOOK TALK: They are hunted for their body parts. The lack of pigment in the skin is thought to bring good luck and certainly a nice price. Habo is a human albino without pigment in his skin. He has never seen another person who looks like him. His father deserted the family right after Habo was born and Habo isn’t sure the rest of the family cares about him. And then Habo becomes the hunted. Most parts of his country accept this practice, but he has heard there is a city where he might be accepted. As he travels he hopes he has left his hunter behind, but it is only a hope. What he does hope for is acceptance, something he has never experienced and isn’t sure he is even worthy to experience.
I really enjoyed this - the writing is fairly straight-forward, but there's a lot of great character development and the story itself is really interesting (and sad).
Although this book was amazing, it was stressful to read. I had to put it down and stop reading several times because I worried about Habo, who is albino and lives in Tanzania where albinos are killed because they are considered good luck. Fiction but based on real life.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
At the beginning of this story Habo, an albino African, and his family are evicted from their farm and must travel to stay with an aunt far away. They are very poor and can only afford to ride the bus halfway, leaving them at the Serengeti National Park where they are picked up by a park worker.
He offers them a ride as far as he is going, but when they reach his camp, something happens to cause him to give them a ride all the way to the aunt's house. He turns out to be a mercenary of the worst sort and they can't get away from him quick enough. Unfortunately, he is an excellent tracker.
I was aware about the problems that face albinos in Africa, but it was still shocking to read about. I want to thank the author for her ending. It was just what I needed.
He offers them a ride as far as he is going, but when they reach his camp, something happens to cause him to give them a ride all the way to the aunt's house. He turns out to be a mercenary of the worst sort and they can't get away from him quick enough. Unfortunately, he is an excellent tracker.
I was aware about the problems that face albinos in Africa, but it was still shocking to read about. I want to thank the author for her ending. It was just what I needed.
Really 4 1/2 stars because I read it in one day. Interesting read. Should be easy to sell to students.