A Girl Named Disaster (Orchard Classics)
by Nancy Farmer
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 289)
Read in May, 2008
(CIP) While journeying to Zimbabwe, eleven-year-old Nhamo struggles to escape drowning and starvation and in so doing comes close to the luminous world of the African spirits
Review: This substantial, well-researched novel begins in a Mozambiquan village and surrounding settlements, where an engaging plot—involving the 11-year-old protagonist, Nhamo, and a cast of reasonably well-drawn supporting characters—begins to unfold. When Nhamo runs away to escape an unwanted marriage, she enter...more
Review: This substantial, well-researched novel begins in a Mozambiquan village and surrounding settlements, where an engaging plot—involving the 11-year-old protagonist, Nhamo, and a cast of reasonably well-drawn supporting characters—begins to unfold. When Nhamo runs away to escape an unwanted marriage, she enter...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
This book is about a girl who grew up in a poverty-stricken tribe in Mozambique, Africa. She is a misfit in her family, her name, Nhamo, means disaster in the Shona language. Her mother was killed by a leopard and her father deserted her when she was young. The only love she knew was from her grandmother. But when Grandmother's life is threatened, Nhamo has no more protection from her supersticious relatives. They try to marry her off to a horrible man with three wives already. Her Grandmother s...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This was the best book that I read this year because I loved thet the young women lived in a primate village wear it seemed like they lived in the 1800's but she really lived in the 1980's. They were like Indians they never learned anything, they sold women to menm who beat and aboused the women,(which was awful). But the best thing about this book was, that since they lived in Africa they spoke all different languges and I loved to try and find out what each word meant. I would definitely recom...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in November, 2006
A survival story in the tradition of Island of the Blue Dolphins. When twelve-year-old Nhamo learns that her family has arranged for her to marry a cruel man who already has three wives, she flees her village by boat in the hopes of finding sanctuary with her father’s family in Zimbabwe. I loved the rich, vivid details of Farmer’s writing; Farmer does a wonderful job of putting the reader in a setting that is most likely entirely unfamiliar to them. I also appreciated how Farmer included a g...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2004
Every time I read this book, I think Nancy Farmer did an amazing job. This is a complex novel that explores the internal spiritual landscape of a young African woman who escapes a polygamous marriage and ends up stranded on an island populated with predators. It is a story of survival in the face of enormous odds. But even more than that, it explores the tension between modernity and tradition, between science and faith, between “savagery” and “civilization,” and exposes readers to their...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
I know that this is a children's book but it is a wonderful story about a brave, spirited young woman in Mozambique. The author provides a beautiful narration into the world of a culture I know very little about. I recommend this book for anyone willing to venture into a world unlike our own. I do have to add that it is very much like the book "Hatchet" in that the majority of the story revolves around the survival of the main character in the wilderness.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
anyone who can read a LONG and never ending book
i personally hated this book. although i read it with a class i truely hated it. i think even if i read it by myself i still would not have liked it. its not that the writing is bad its just that it goes on forever and you just get tired of it.
Like this review?
yes
(2 people liked it)
2 comments
Read in July, 2008
recommended to Michelle by:
Heather and Sierrarecommends it for: mom, M, Amber, Hillary, Alexis
This book was really quite good. It was pretty serious the whole time ... not any humor. I became attached to the main character very quickly - and my heart really went out to her. This book was recommended to me by Sierra (Marissa's best friend) and her Mom. It is Sierra's favorite book - and I am very impressed with that. There is a lot of African culture involved throughout this book, and that was really interesting.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This book by Nancy Farmer is about an African girl's journey to escape the impending doom that comes with her arranged marriage. At her grandmother's insistence she is sent away by herself to travel up the river and find her father's family. Her trials along the way and all of the cultural references make this book an interesting read. The fact that Nancy Farmer lived in Africa for a while makes the book more authentic.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
Jesse,Christan
This book is the best book I have ever read! I will let anyone borrow it if they want to read it because I have a copy. This is my favorite book ever! I would say that I think Jesse and Christan should read it. It has a lot of scary moments where you think she would die or get hurt, but it is not a sad book, other than the fact that her mother is dead, and the last picture of her got burnt to ashes, yeah, good book.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
recommends it for:
book clubs, early teens
I listened to this book on CD while I was painting. The reader has such a beautiful voice, and her pronuciation of the African language in the book was very authenic. It made me feel as if I were really there, watching the stuggles of an 11 year old village girl. This book did remind me of such books as "Islands of the Blue Dolphins", the fight for survival and all. It was a fun read.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
A very interesting look at Africa and traditions of African people from the viewpoint of a young African girl. Seemed like the book dragged on sometimes, though. She could have perhaps cut out some sections and still kept the sense of the story. Also an interesting look at what the mind will do when a person is alone for so long. Reminded me of Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
I read this a whil back but I remember I loved it! I don't remember all of the details, but I do know it's about a girl named Nhamo and at her coming of age, she's forced into a marriage with a man that lives on the other side of the large river between Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It was great, and reminded me of Island of the Blue dOlphins, too, ^.^
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
This is the story of a young girl, Nhamo, escaping to Zimbabwe from an arranged marriage. It reveals the hardships she has to endure on her way. It also reveals a unique aspect of her culture as she tell stories/legends of her culture to keep herself occupied. Very good.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone who liked Huckleberry Finn, Camel Rider, or Island of the Blue Dolphins
Fantastic! Adventure, survival, spiritualism, self-discovery, and just enough humor. Nhamo's daring voyage up the river to find her father's family in Zimbabwe is a tale of excitement, danger, despair, and triumph. I heart Nancy Farmer.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
A great coming of age story-The protaginist is becoming a young woman and supposed to marry a much older man who already has 3 wives. Her grandmother gives her advice to escape. The book has a lot of information about African beliefs.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2006
Nhamo, an African girl, flees her town for Zimbabwe. This book chronicles her struggles and self-discovery.
When you're not reading, check in with me at my blog:
http://www.bellyacrefarm.blogs...
When you're not reading, check in with me at my blog:
http://www.bellyacrefarm.blogs...
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
Oh, that girl is a real Disaster (Nhamo). I disliked her, I disliked the whole story.
It took me forever to finish it and lucky me, I finally did.
Ps. Thanks Dr.
It took me forever to finish it and lucky me, I finally did.
Ps. Thanks Dr.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
It is hard to imagine this story took place in the present. The life views seem so archaic to me. A survival book with a unique, cultural twist.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
This took me forever to read. I don't know why? I guess I wasn't reading 20 minutes everyday. Oh well. But, it is a really good book. Interesting.
Like this review?
yes
5 comments
