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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm obviously an adult reading a middle grade, so please take my thoughts with that in mind. This was also a reread for me and I remembered more than I normally do for rereads.
This is a riveting tale of Sade and Femi, two children from Nigera. Their mother is killed because their father is an outspoken journalist, and they must travel to England to seek asylum.
This faces incredibly complex issues surrounding asylum, laws surrounding that, and fostering. Honestly, it definitely reads a little heavy for a middle grade, but I suppose that is the nature of the topics - they are not light and they are things that we need to be making children aware of. Not every country is safe, those who move suddenly are often dealing with issues we can't comprehend.
It also lightly touches on racism and bullying, as well as different coping mechanisms for grief, which I think is fantastic things for middle graders to read about because life is not simple.
I highly recommend this for all ages alike, you'll support and care so much about Sade and Femi and their family, and want the best for them. I also think the ending is incredibly fitting and I like that there are still uncertainties at the end.
This is a riveting tale of Sade and Femi, two children from Nigera. Their mother is killed because their father is an outspoken journalist, and they must travel to England to seek asylum.
This faces incredibly complex issues surrounding asylum, laws surrounding that, and fostering. Honestly, it definitely reads a little heavy for a middle grade, but I suppose that is the nature of the topics - they are not light and they are things that we need to be making children aware of. Not every country is safe, those who move suddenly are often dealing with issues we can't comprehend.
It also lightly touches on racism and bullying, as well as different coping mechanisms for grief, which I think is fantastic things for middle graders to read about because life is not simple.
I highly recommend this for all ages alike, you'll support and care so much about Sade and Femi and their family, and want the best for them. I also think the ending is incredibly fitting and I like that there are still uncertainties at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Deportation
This book, winner of the Carnegie Medal is a very appropriate YA novel. Sade and her brother Femi become refugees overnight and are completely cut off from life and family as they knew it. It is not easy for them to acclimate to the London weather, nor the bullies they face at school. When Sade's father needs help, will she be able to help him in time?
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Sade's father is an bold journalist speaking against the corrupt Nigerian government. There are many people who want him silenced. After their mother is murdered, Sade and her brother, Femi, are smuggling to Britain. Nothing goes as planned. Sade finds herself struggling to find the right path in a new country. Will she ever see Papa again?
This is a fast paced story about refugees. Well worth reading.
This is a fast paced story about refugees. Well worth reading.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lying is not in your nature. Mama and I always brought you up to respect the truth. But you have both been thrown into a situation that has forced you to act secretly. Remember that it was your Uncle Tunde and I who sent you out of the country. No child should have to go through what you two have. But the dishonesty and rottenness of those who have power in our country have now gone very deep. You know how much I hate cheating and doing things underhand. Yet I myself used another man's passport.
- The other side of truth by Beverley Naidoo
.
.
There are 2 things that reader need to know before reading this book. The first one is the story of Sade and Femi occurred right after the execution of Nigerian Writer Ken-Saro Wiwa. While this were categorised as fiction, at that time in Nigeria, many writers / journalists were being hunted, killed - simply because of they are critical towards the Nigeria’s Military Regime. The second one, Bevery Naido herself were forced to exile to England after being involved in the Anti Apartheid Movement. Thus, this story were built loosely around the real event and were written by the political refugee herself. It could not get more real than that. The story started with Mr. Folarin Solaja’s wife were being shot and died on the spot. In the early chapter, the story has set up that Mr. Folarin has been the loudest and the most outspoken critics towards the Nigeria government at that time. His wife constantly reminded him that his critics is too extreme but she never stopped him from writing (at least this is what i got from the memory of Sade and Femi of their late mother). Fearing that his kids and his other family members will face the same fate, He decided to leave the country illegally as their passport has been confiscated before. He send the kids first and he will join the journey afterwards. Little did he knew that Sade and Femi will be reported missing, detained by Police, held temporarily as the refugess status were unclear, shifted from one home to another and not to mention the trauma and culture shock of being moved away without any reliable guardian in London. I strongly believe that the story intended to educate us readers what its truly like for the kids to get caught a crossfire for the things that their parents did or the cause that their parents fighting on. While i understand that their father will always stand strong for his principles, i also wondered whether he thought of the repercussion of his action. As what uncle Tunde said to his father : “ Look, Folarin, we all know how brave you are. Braver than most of us. But are you wise? You say our country must have writers to tell the truth. But, tell me, what can you write from the grave? “ Overall, this is an engaging story and definitely not what i expected. My only complaint is there are some part of the story that were not concluded adequately.
.
- The other side of truth by Beverley Naidoo
.
.
There are 2 things that reader need to know before reading this book. The first one is the story of Sade and Femi occurred right after the execution of Nigerian Writer Ken-Saro Wiwa. While this were categorised as fiction, at that time in Nigeria, many writers / journalists were being hunted, killed - simply because of they are critical towards the Nigeria’s Military Regime. The second one, Bevery Naido herself were forced to exile to England after being involved in the Anti Apartheid Movement. Thus, this story were built loosely around the real event and were written by the political refugee herself. It could not get more real than that. The story started with Mr. Folarin Solaja’s wife were being shot and died on the spot. In the early chapter, the story has set up that Mr. Folarin has been the loudest and the most outspoken critics towards the Nigeria government at that time. His wife constantly reminded him that his critics is too extreme but she never stopped him from writing (at least this is what i got from the memory of Sade and Femi of their late mother). Fearing that his kids and his other family members will face the same fate, He decided to leave the country illegally as their passport has been confiscated before. He send the kids first and he will join the journey afterwards. Little did he knew that Sade and Femi will be reported missing, detained by Police, held temporarily as the refugess status were unclear, shifted from one home to another and not to mention the trauma and culture shock of being moved away without any reliable guardian in London. I strongly believe that the story intended to educate us readers what its truly like for the kids to get caught a crossfire for the things that their parents did or the cause that their parents fighting on. While i understand that their father will always stand strong for his principles, i also wondered whether he thought of the repercussion of his action. As what uncle Tunde said to his father : “ Look, Folarin, we all know how brave you are. Braver than most of us. But are you wise? You say our country must have writers to tell the truth. But, tell me, what can you write from the grave? “ Overall, this is an engaging story and definitely not what i expected. My only complaint is there are some part of the story that were not concluded adequately.
.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Another YA fiction. This tells the story of 2 young children from Nigeria who have to flee their country. Although total fiction it just makes you think what horrors some people have to go through.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I give up! Halfway through and I couldn't take it anymore. These kids never get a break, too too depressing. I knew teens want to sometimes be scared or depressed by books, but do kids???