This book aimed at 10-12 year olds gives a positive outlook on the subject although it is too old to mention ARVs. My first impression is pretty white...moreThis book aimed at 10-12 year olds gives a positive outlook on the subject although it is too old to mention ARVs. My first impression is pretty white even though the cover shows a black child as well as a white child. Photos and diagrams are used to explain viruses in general and HIV in particular. A basic diagram of the sexual organs is included with an account of how HIV passes sexually, but no mention of homosexuality. Condoms are discussed without mention of abstinence as an option.(less)
Answers simple questions about where AIDS started and how people get it. Page 10 mentions that the most common wasy are having sex and suing drugs, bu...moreAnswers simple questions about where AIDS started and how people get it. Page 10 mentions that the most common wasy are having sex and suing drugs, but it does not get into specifics or discuss issues of morality.(less)
The pictures are American, but the ideas are not inappropriate to Africa: Learn the facts so you can stay safe; teach others so they can stay safe; he...moreThe pictures are American, but the ideas are not inappropriate to Africa: Learn the facts so you can stay safe; teach others so they can stay safe; help people who have HIV or AIDS. Statistics are from the mid-1990s.(less)
Simple, honest answers in 10 chapters with large print, pronunciations and large color pictures that show children of a variety of races. Settings and...moreSimple, honest answers in 10 chapters with large print, pronunciations and large color pictures that show children of a variety of races. Settings and statistics are from the US, but it doesn't assume the person with AIDS fits the North American profile. There is not a lot of detail on how HIV works, and the book is too old to include ARVs.(less)
Fifteen-year-old Leyla begins to see HIV in a new way when she learns that her sixteen-year-old cousin, Emma, is infected. The Beat Goes On deals wit...moreFifteen-year-old Leyla begins to see HIV in a new way when she learns that her sixteen-year-old cousin, Emma, is infected. The Beat Goes On deals with an important subject: Teens need to know that it isn’t just “those people” who get HIV. It can affect anyone and even with modern medications, there is no escaping the impact on your life.
The book portrays stigma in the UK and the loneliness of having something so overwhelming going on in your life that you can’t talk about. It shows a teen standing against the tide to reach out to others who aren’t all that different from her. I was moved by the ending and hint of resolution of family relationships.
The setting is English—probably too English for most American readers with its contemporary British slang. I was frustrated by the slow pace produced by a first person narrator that too often told us about the people and events (for 7 pages at the beginning!) rather than using scene to let us experience the story along with the characters. The editor in me wanted to cut the places where dialog sounded designed to convey the information in the pamphlets the girls were reading, rather than reflect the way teens would actually talk. The author could have added to the impact by showing what happened to the girl who got tested at the same time, but never went to find out the results, and the boy who had infected Emma. The book assumes that sexual activity is a normal part of a healthy relationship even for fifteen-year-olds, and the message to condomize is as loud as that to not stigmatize. (less)
Where some of the Sara comic books have rather disjointed plots in order to show various aspects of a contemporary African problem, this one moves mor...moreWhere some of the Sara comic books have rather disjointed plots in order to show various aspects of a contemporary African problem, this one moves more in a straight line. Amina needs money to stay in school and is tempted by truck drivers to go with them to the city. After rescuing her friend, Sara finds a solution that uses Amina's math skills and helps her friend Juma's brother in his business. In a satisfying ending the community realizes that they need to look for ways to help orphans.(less)
The story exposes some of the dangers of female genital mutilation (FGM) and suggests that a girl has the right to decide for herself. The facilitator...moreThe story exposes some of the dangers of female genital mutilation (FGM) and suggests that a girl has the right to decide for herself. The facilitator’s notes at the end point out that mutilating any part of a woman’s/girl’s body is considered a violation of human rights, including child rights.
This book is very important in cultures that practice FGM, but I can imagine it drawing lots of giggles from cultures that don’t. (less)
It’s probably a bit dangerous for the kids to take matters into their own hands, and a shame that Sara doesn’t feel free to tell her uncle, although i...moreIt’s probably a bit dangerous for the kids to take matters into their own hands, and a shame that Sara doesn’t feel free to tell her uncle, although it is implied that she would have told her mother, but she was away. The shop keeper is exposed and made to look foolish and his former ‘girlfriends’ throw his presents at him. The series uses the word ‘rape’ a bit more freely than I am used to, but it’s probably good to be blunt. Euphemisms slide over the seriousness of an offense and imply that it isn’t really that bad.(less)
I found several of the characters in this graphic story a bit harder to tell apart, including Sara, who had changed her hairstyle. The hairstyle chang...moreI found several of the characters in this graphic story a bit harder to tell apart, including Sara, who had changed her hairstyle. The hairstyle change and new outfit are necessary to the story when Sara is blamed for attracting her attempted rapist. Reporting a rape or attempted rape is only one of the issues raised here. The affects of alcohol on judgment is another and of course, the foolishness of peer pressure that says a boy is not a man until he has sex. This series is done by UNESCO so the philosophy is that it is your life and you are free to make your own choices. Condoms are discussed, but abstinence is still presented as the recommended, highly effective protection against pregnancy and diseases
The user’s guide in this issue is presented in a much more lively way than in the early issues of the series. I can easily imagine a student reading it on his own for further information even if there is no discussion facilitator around. (less)
The Sara comics are lively and popular with young people. This story emphasizes the difficulty of resisting peer pressure that insists you aren’t a re...moreThe Sara comics are lively and popular with young people. This story emphasizes the difficulty of resisting peer pressure that insists you aren’t a real man until you sleep with a woman and the importance of both parties taking responsibility for a pregnancy. It demonstrates traditional African ways of handling the problem and insists on the importance of a girl returning to school if she is to have a future. The more didactic portions when the teacher explains the danger of premature pregnancy and tells a fable are brief and relevant to the story. The ending refers back to the fable of animals so excited about a party that they waste all their energy and are asleep when the real party begins. (less)
The author is a grief councilor in KwaZuluNatal, the area of South Africa most affected by the AIDS epidemic. Her story is better suited to a counseli...moreThe author is a grief councilor in KwaZuluNatal, the area of South Africa most affected by the AIDS epidemic. Her story is better suited to a counseling situation and use in play therapy one page at a time than as a book to read aloud in group situations. Although Felix is theoretically a cat, he doesn't behave as a cat in any way. I suspect that is a device to remove the situation a bit from the child who is being counseled to make the issues easier to talk about, and because it is easier to draw a cat than a person.(less)
This brief brochure is designed for giving to children who have experienced some kind of trauma such as loosing their home or death of a parent. The c...moreThis brief brochure is designed for giving to children who have experienced some kind of trauma such as loosing their home or death of a parent. The content is well-done, simple and appropriate for children. It takes the pain seriously while offering spiritual solutions. Although the illustrations attempt to be multicultural, the setting is clearly some highly developed place like America or Europe and the child on the cover is white. The illustrations would need to be redone if it is to be effectively used among Africa's millions of traumatized AIDS orphans.(less)
The poignant cover picture made me think the would be about the fear of going to a children’s home and have a happy ending of new friends. But the fea...moreThe poignant cover picture made me think the would be about the fear of going to a children’s home and have a happy ending of new friends. But the fear is being left alone in a coffin when she dies just like her parents. Despite the short chapters, simple language, and readable font, this book is more for AIDS awareness than for children. Simple line drawings.(less)
This account is unique for having a basically happy two parent home before HIV. It touches on relatives who strip the family of possessions, separatio...moreThis account is unique for having a basically happy two parent home before HIV. It touches on relatives who strip the family of possessions, separation of siblings and adoption. Although none of the books in this series work as literature, short chapters, simple language, and large font make the book readable for upper primary students. Simple line drawings.(less)
More engrossing than some of the other books in the series, this one deals with abuse and alcoholism as well as HIV. Short chapters, simple language,...moreMore engrossing than some of the other books in the series, this one deals with abuse and alcoholism as well as HIV. Short chapters, simple language, and large font make the book readable for upper primary students. Simple line drawings.(less)
There is nothing here in the way of plot, but one scene makes a good comparison between the fear some people have of children with HIV and the fear of...moreThere is nothing here in the way of plot, but one scene makes a good comparison between the fear some people have of children with HIV and the fear of spiders. The more accurate information you have, the less you will be afraid. The title makes readers curious to find out why she likes her life. Short chapters, simple language, and large font make the book readable for upper primary students. Simple line drawings.(less)
This book is more suited to healthy children being made aware of the problem and what they can do to reach out than to children actually affected by H...moreThis book is more suited to healthy children being made aware of the problem and what they can do to reach out than to children actually affected by HIV. None of the books in this series is great literature and I found myself skimming a lot of this one.
Simply illustrated with occasional line drawings, Grandma, Please Tell Me the Truth expresses the desire of many older children affected by HIV. When...moreSimply illustrated with occasional line drawings, Grandma, Please Tell Me the Truth expresses the desire of many older children affected by HIV. When Lillian hears that HIV can be passed by love she worries that her mother made her sick by loving her. Her grandmother explains very simply (and without details) that sex is not the same as love and like their cooking fire can be used for good or cause great pain.
The books in this series are not great literature. There is a lot more telling and explaining than showing in effective scenes, but the language is simple, and I see the kids at the centers where I take books reading them. (less)
The sports action will appeal to older boys although 140 pages with no pictures will be more than many township children can handle. It is available i...moreThe sports action will appeal to older boys although 140 pages with no pictures will be more than many township children can handle. It is available in some African languages. Many of Themba's experiences with HIV are typical. I did think his sporting prowess was a bit hard to believe when he didn't start out particularly athletic, but, hey! it's fiction, and we all like our hero to be the best. I don't think that will bother boys who have the same dreams for themselves.(less)
“No one knows who killed her.” Jenny Robson grabs the reader with her first line. And of course, by the end of the book, the reader knows who killed t...more“No one knows who killed her.” Jenny Robson grabs the reader with her first line. And of course, by the end of the book, the reader knows who killed the teacher whose body was found on the waste ground on page one, but it is the shocking retribution the killer receives that makes this young adult novel about HIV unforgettable.
In my opinion, Jenny Robson is the most accomplished writer for young people in Southern Africa after Nancy Farmer. She won a well-deserved Sanlam prize in 2005 for her novel Savannah 2116 AD and repeated the honor in 2006 with Praise Song. Savannah 2116 AD shook up the children’s literature establishment with its ambiguous ending as much as its confrontation of issues of environmentalism and human cloning. But such ambiguity is exactly what gets young people talking, and Savannah 2116 AD had plenty to talk about.
So does Praise Song. In a community that takes “Keep our town AIDS free” as the motto of their International AIDS Day commemoration, you can imagine a lot of denial. That doesn’t mean there is no AIDS in the community, and narrator, Gaone, is worried about her younger sister’s infatuation with an older boy who is obviously sleeping around. Precious can’t remember the horror of their mother’s death from AIDS, which she was told was something else, or the humiliation of coming to live with their politically-active aunt, all of which is gradually revealed as Gaone reviews events before and after the murder.
Questions of honesty, responsibility, witchcraft, and submission to community mores of what is and is not appropriate to talk about are raised.
The prose in Praise Song is not as evenly polished as my memory of Savannah 2116 AD. Perhaps the publishers rushed the book to press, knowing they had a sure winner. I found the jumps back in forth in time confusing. I would have preferred a chronological telling, framed by the finding of the body and the revelation of the murderer’s fate. Inexperienced readers are likely to find the jumps even more confusing that I did. In my opinion there was plenty of rising tension in the chronology without the disconcerting breaks.
Nevertheless Praise Song is a well-written, intriguing story about issues that strongly impact South African communities. I highly recommend it along with other books by this author. (less)
Set in Malawi, the book accurately depicts typical experiences of African AIDS orphans. It puts a face on the statistics and helps us to see each of t...moreSet in Malawi, the book accurately depicts typical experiences of African AIDS orphans. It puts a face on the statistics and helps us to see each of the now more than 12 million African orphans as an individual. The writing is excellent and the agenda of informing the world is never allowed to overwhelm a good story.
The longer novel format with no internal pictures is more sophisticated than most child readers with English as a second (or third)language will be able to handle, but those who can will identify closely with Binti's experiences.(less)
Some stories are better than others. Several make good read-alouds. All are intended for teaching and so necessarily somewhat didactic, but some more...moreSome stories are better than others. Several make good read-alouds. All are intended for teaching and so necessarily somewhat didactic, but some more than others. A different illustrator is used for each story, making the book an attractive anthology. The pages for parents do not assume any prior experience reading and discussing with children. Discussion questions are given. Applications to HIV issues are included. (less)
A lot of telling and explaining rather than story, but the book models positive attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and commitment to making ARVs work. The chil...moreA lot of telling and explaining rather than story, but the book models positive attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and commitment to making ARVs work. The children come home from the clinic chanting, "The same pills, the same time, every day for the rest of my life. The same pills, the same time, every day for the rest of my life." Attractive illustrations.(less)
Wame’s feelings are hurt when her teacher uses white latex gloves to help her with a cut finger. Does Miss Kgosi thinks Wame is dirty? But the teacher...moreWame’s feelings are hurt when her teacher uses white latex gloves to help her with a cut finger. Does Miss Kgosi thinks Wame is dirty? But the teacher explains that white gloves are a way of showing that we care. “I just want to keep us both safe… We don’t know who has the sickness, because that is private.” Wame uses white gloves to show she cares when her cousin is hurt. The illustrations are not as strong as some of the other books in the series.(less)
Busi is young and strong, and Grandfather has the knowledge of gardening. Together they make a vegetable garden to feed their family. Soft colored pen...moreBusi is young and strong, and Grandfather has the knowledge of gardening. Together they make a vegetable garden to feed their family. Soft colored pencil illustrations add information and include more words to practice reading. There is no direct mention of HIV, but Grandfather is sick and healthy food will make him strong.(less)
Rosie has a rag doll from her mother in a memory box with a dress made from a scrap of her mother’s dress and a piece of blanket cut from her mother’s...moreRosie has a rag doll from her mother in a memory box with a dress made from a scrap of her mother’s dress and a piece of blanket cut from her mother’s blanket. When Rosie’s mother dies, Miss Muffy, the doll, goes with Rosie to her mother’s sister’s in another village. Death isn’t mentioned as such, but “there was only Miss Muffy” and the people in the picture are wearing black. Both story and illustrations are sweet and gentle.(less)
The story of Mercy’s fear that people will find out her parents died of AIDS feels like nothing more than a jumping off point for Loveness Khumalo to...moreThe story of Mercy’s fear that people will find out her parents died of AIDS feels like nothing more than a jumping off point for Loveness Khumalo to speak. I would have preferred a real story of Loveness Khumalo. (less)
**spoiler alert** Beethoven’s experience of deafness is presented as an example of the stages of grief and overcoming suffering. Jenny Robson is one o...more**spoiler alert** Beethoven’s experience of deafness is presented as an example of the stages of grief and overcoming suffering. Jenny Robson is one of my favorite writers from southern Africa, but this is not her best writing. I found the style contrived, condescending and preachy—a shame when Paddy Bouma’s period illustrations are so gorgeous.(less)
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