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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Wow, can we just take a minute to appreciate these amazing 340(ish) pages full of heartbreaking sadness and betrayal, but also happiness and forgiveness that are golden boy? This is one of the few books that I have read that I had no hesitation to rating a 5/5- 10/10,for so many reasons. I will admit, starting this book was very hard for me. I got this book probably 2 or 3 years ago and quit after the first chapter. Also, DO NOT LET THE SUMMARY OF THIS BOOK MAKE YOU THINK THAT IT WILL BE BORING AND BAD, BECAUSE I AM TELLING YOU IT IS GREAT. This is a book I would recommend everyone should read in their life, and one that I will probably read over and over. This book follows a boy named "Habo" who is "all the wrong colors"(what we know as albino), and lives in a small farmhouse in Mwanza, Tanzania with his sister, mother, and 2 brothers. In the first chapter is tells how his sister is the only one who truly loves him. As it says in the summary, he is being hunted for his body parts, which give "good luck" to the struggling people of Mwanza. I promise you that the whole book is not him being hunted by some psycho killer with a knife. ANYWAYS, I am not good at writing reviews so all I will say is, I feel this book has taught me so much, and I think everyone should read it (or at least try the first FEW chapters) because I think you will be pulled in to the gripping story of Habo, the golden boy. 10/10 would read again
***Book club spoilers*** This book was a quick read about a culture I heretofore did not know very much about. The narrative is compelling - the story of a young albino boy in Tanzania who is running for his life from murder and prejudice. However, I felt off after reading the afterward - while the (white, American) author did research and even visited Tanzania I didn't get the sense that she interviewed any African albino people. And the phenomenon of white Western authors telling African stories without at least the *in depth-involvment* of their subjects leaves me feeling icky, like it is vaguely exploitative. On the other hand this book does bring an issue to light that many Westerners knew nothing about - that is, prejudice and violence against African albino people. So, mixed feelings on this one. Overall a very entertaining narrative though.
I love the messages in this book. The human rights issue is important for YA, and Golden Boy is great avenue for learning. Although the story is fictional, the killings of those with Albinism is real and happening in 2015. I also appreciated that the novel connects art as a way to cope and learn. There's much to gain by reading this book and I'm excited to recommend this book and talk to my friends and students about it.
A perfect book to teach middle school age children about a world outside their own. Habo is a thirteen year old boy with Albinism, living in a small village in Tanzania. Children who read this book will absorb cultural differences as Tara Sullivan does a wonderful job weaving the culture of Tanzania into Habo's story. Habo encounters true evil for the first time when he witnesses the poaching of an elephant for its ivory, which foreshadows Habo being hunted for his body parts. Albinos in Tanzania are hunted for their white skin which are believed to bring luck and magical properties. The idea is shocking enough and Sullivan tells Habo's story without too much disturbing graphics and simple yet beautiful writing, making it perfect for this age group.
My only criticism is the book is a bit slow to start. This was fine for me, but younger readers may lose interest. If they stick with it, there is enough active plot to hold them for sure :)
My only criticism is the book is a bit slow to start. This was fine for me, but younger readers may lose interest. If they stick with it, there is enough active plot to hold them for sure :)
More YA. This was so depressing in the beginning (being a 13 y.o. albino in Tanzania=rough) but once things started to look up, I couldn't put it down. That's one of the great things about YA.
Wow! Who knew this was happening to albinos! Great story.
Very interesting story and quite intense. I loved Kweli.
A well-told and completely satisfying story of an albino boy growing up in Tanzania. Habo is forced to flee for his life to the capital as he tries to escape an amulet hunter who pursues him for the believed wealth-conferring properties of his body parts. The book highlights a very real threat to albino people in east-Africa. Though the topic is horrific, the book is not gruesome and as a librarian I have seen that it has been a great success with a range of readers from middle school through adulthood who appreciate insightful international reads.
What a heartbreaking and beautiful story!
If you want to step into a world that is most likely completely different from your own and understand those hardships, read this book! I
If you want to step into a world that is most likely completely different from your own and understand those hardships, read this book! I