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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
What I Liked
Sullivan nails the East African culture in this book. The language, the way that people communicate with each other, and the general lifestyle of the people here are portrayed so realistically. I so appreciate the work Sullivan had to do to get to know this culture and this way of living. I also appreciate the story of Habo. Albinism is a serious danger for many people living in Tanzania, even today, and it's worth sharing with the world.
What I Didn't Like
While I do realize that Habo's story was one of finding his place in a broken world, as an adult and as a human, and not just about being hunted for the color of his skin... the plot does lag at points.
This was one of those stories where you know exactly how it will unfold. You know what will happen to whom and how everything will piece together by the end. There really aren't any surprises here.
Sullivan nails the East African culture in this book. The language, the way that people communicate with each other, and the general lifestyle of the people here are portrayed so realistically. I so appreciate the work Sullivan had to do to get to know this culture and this way of living. I also appreciate the story of Habo. Albinism is a serious danger for many people living in Tanzania, even today, and it's worth sharing with the world.
What I Didn't Like
While I do realize that Habo's story was one of finding his place in a broken world, as an adult and as a human, and not just about being hunted for the color of his skin... the plot does lag at points.
This was one of those stories where you know exactly how it will unfold. You know what will happen to whom and how everything will piece together by the end. There really aren't any surprises here.
Fascinating fiction book - but based on real events - set in current day Tanzania. Habo is an albino boy of about 13. Because of his condition, he is not able to help the family with outside work, cannot read well (because of his eyes) and is considered bad luck to the family, so his father leaves and many other members shun him. Eventually the family must leave their village for a larger town where an aunt live. There Habo is hunted because body parts of albinos are used in traditional medicine - well, not really medicine, more like black magic. Because he is putting his family in danger once again, Habo escapes to Dar Es Salaam, where he hears albinos are not hunted. He befriends an elderly blind sculptor who makes a huge difference in his life.
This story was fast-paced enough to draw in YA readers. It also conveys a lot of information about a little known subject. I had no idea about the movement for albino rights in eastern Africa. I also had no idea about the problems they face. I thought that the number of albinos mentioned in the story seemed unrealistic, especially two albino MPs in Tanzania's Parliament. It wasn't until I reached the end of the book that I learned that the MPs are real people and that albinism is 5 times more prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa than in Europe.
The author lists lots of links and information about organizations involved in the issue at the end of the book.
This story was fast-paced enough to draw in YA readers. It also conveys a lot of information about a little known subject. I had no idea about the movement for albino rights in eastern Africa. I also had no idea about the problems they face. I thought that the number of albinos mentioned in the story seemed unrealistic, especially two albino MPs in Tanzania's Parliament. It wasn't until I reached the end of the book that I learned that the MPs are real people and that albinism is 5 times more prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa than in Europe.
The author lists lots of links and information about organizations involved in the issue at the end of the book.
Sullivan simultaneously shows people at their best and at their worst. This is both a wonderful story, well told, and a spotlight on a critical human rights issue.
A disturbing book about the hunting of people (specifically albinos) in Africa because their body parts bring "luck". There are all manner of superstitions about luck charms out there, from four-leaf clovers to rabbit's feet to rhino horns to this one, apparently prevalent in Tanzania. Life's not difficult enough for Habo as an albino (living in Africa with a body unsuited to that much sun and poor vision in addition to poverty) in his village - his family is evicted from their home and they trek to Mwanza, where his mother's sister lives. It's there he learns that albinos are more than merely odd: they bring good luck, particularly their hands and legs. Fleeing for his life, he ends up in Dar es Salaam, living with a blind sculptor and starting to make friends with the sculptor's great-niece. Of course, trouble follows him there.
For me, the problem was the one of the Issue (albino hunting) being squashed into the story. That rarely leads to a good story being told, as the Issue has to continually be referenced and railed against, sometimes to the detriment of the plot. That's not as bad here as it's been in other books, because Habo does stand out as a person. Still, it did intrude enough to drop this from what could have been a higher rating.
ARC provided by publisher.
For me, the problem was the one of the Issue (albino hunting) being squashed into the story. That rarely leads to a good story being told, as the Issue has to continually be referenced and railed against, sometimes to the detriment of the plot. That's not as bad here as it's been in other books, because Habo does stand out as a person. Still, it did intrude enough to drop this from what could have been a higher rating.
ARC provided by publisher.
An accessible novel about an important human rights issue that gets minimal popular attention. Both an engaging read and a call to action.
This is an accessible novel with a compelling plot that will interest kids and may inspire them to learn more about the plight of albinos in Tanzania and what they can do to help.
Shocking tale - good discussion book for 6 grade and up
dark
sad
medium-paced
Great adventure story with a unique setting and a real-life crisis at its heart. Habo lives in a village in Tanzania, where, because of his albinism, he has always stayed hidden from most of the villagers; he goes to school but has a tough time of it as a real visible outcast. But circumstances force he and his mother, brother and sister to travel a long distance across the Serengeti to move in with Habo's aunt and cousins, whom he has never met, and on the journey he'll come face to face with a nasty elephant poacher who, as if that's not bad enough, ends up being a major villain. In the aunt's town, Habo learns that people like him are hunted and killed just because of their skin condition, because of a stupid superstitious belief that albino body parts will bring good luck or other magical occurrences. (Horrible to say, but this is true and really going on in Tanzania today.) So Habo must go on the run, and use all of his wits--as an innocent farm kid who's never been outside his village before, never even seen a television, someone who believes the best in everyone--to stay alive and try to get to a safe place where he can live without fear of capture. There are great characters in this book, starting with Habo, and a wonderful blind sculptor, and Habo's sister. I found this a fascinating book, with vividly depicted details about the countryside and the language and customs of Tanzania--there are lots of words in Swahili, defined in context and given in the glossary--, as well as a suspenseful story with lots of danger and action. Great middle school book. Author's note at the end gives further facts about albinos in Africa and lists websites for more information and how to help.
fast-paced