Far from Home

Gr 8 Up—Part one of this novel takes place in 1964; 14-year-old Tariro, the daughter of the chief of the Karanga people in what is now Zimbabwe, spends her days helping her mother care for her family, dreaming of marriage to a boy she has known for years, and listening to stories of her ancestors, who have lived in the area for generations. All of her dreams are shattered when the white settlers force them to leave their homes and relocate to the Native Reserves, land with few resources and little hope. The years go by, marked by drought, suffering, and hunger, until Tariro joins the rebels who are fighting to take back their land. In part two, set in 2000, 14-year-old Katie, the daughter of a white farmer, is caught in this rebellion, and she, too, is forced to leave the land she has grown to love. The violent history of Zimbabwe is told through events surrounding Tariro and Katie as they are caught in the middle of racial tensions and rebellion, uprooted from their homes, and forever bound by a terrible secret, which is exposed in the final section. Strong characters and vivid descriptions combine to provide readers with a glimpse of the pain involved on both sides of political issues. Although the novel tackles a difficult subject, the story clarifies traumatic events surrounding rebellion from conflict to healing.—Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD