Child of Dandelions

by Shenaaz Nanji Narrated by Vaishali Sharma

Overview

“This is a gripping drama about a fascinating fragment of time in history - the expulsion of Indians from Uganda in 1972. Fifteen-year-old Sabine poignantly straddles two worlds - those of the landed Indian gentry and of the native Ugandans amid wrenching turmoil. Quietly and crisply written, all of Nanji's characters are beautifully realized, morally nuanced and compellingly crafted.”

-Governor General's Literary Awards - Canada Council for the Arts.

In August 1972, President Idi Amin declares that a message from God has come to him in a dream: all foreign Indians must be “weeded out” of Uganda in the next ninety days. Fifteen-year-old Sabine and her father, a successful businessman, are confident that their family will not be affected, since they are Ugandan citizens, but Sabine's fearful mother is certain that they will have to leave.

As the ninety days tick by, the President's message - the “countdown monster,” as Sabine calls it - is broadcast every day on the radio, and life becomes more difficult for her family and other Indians in Uganda. Sabine tries to hold on to her optimism, counting on her best friend, Zena, and her grandfather, Bapa, to keep her spirits up, but after her beloved uncle Zulfiqar disappears and Zena turns against her, Sabine begins to share her mother's fears. When a new law is declared on the radio - all Indians must leave - Sabine and her family have a hard decision to make. Should they stay and defend their rights, or should they go? And how will they begin a new life in a different land?

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9- Fifteen-year-old Sabine lives a life of luxury with her wealthy Indian family in Kampala, Uganda. Then Idi Amin comes to power and things change quickly. All British Indians are expelled from the country. Sabine's father thinks they will be safe because they are Ugandan citizens, but they soon discover that they are in serious danger. Sabine's beloved uncle disappears, and her friend Zena, who is African, turns against her because Zena's military uncle has convinced her that the Ugandan Indians have exploited the African populace. The book effectively portrays the rising terror and violence in 1972 as Sabine struggles to deal with a world falling apart. Prejudices are clearly delineated, and the thin veneer of civilization crumbles as the chilling background beat of the radio relentlessly counts down the days left before all British Indians must leave the country. Sabine is a mature, intelligent character amid the chaos, and the political situation is well realized through her eyes. Secondary characters add depth to the story, and Sabine's star-crossed crush on Zena's older brother makes her a realistic adolescent. Nail-biting suspense is maintained to the end as Sabine must make the agonizing decision to leave her grandfather behind to save the rest of the family. Excellent historical fiction about a timely yet sadly universal subject.-Quinby Frank, Green Acres School, Rockville, MD

Kirkus Reviews

Drawn in part from the veteran author's own experiences, this deeply felt tale takes readers to 1972 Uganda where, shortly after coming to power, Idi Amin gave all Indians and citizens of Indian descent just 90 days to leave the country. As the countdown progresses, 15-year-old Sabine witnesses a rising tide of hostility against her generally prosperous community, manifested not just in glances and silences, but riots and public beatings too. Profoundly disturbed by the disappearance of her beloved uncle, the sudden distance of her darker-skinned best friend and the arguments between her fearful mother and stubborn father, she is torn between her attachment to the only life she has ever known and the desire to flee the terror, the swaggering soldiers and the widespread violence. In the end, Sabine and most of her family survive the harassment and worse to make a suspenseful escape. Readers will feel her inner conflict sharply, admire her resilience and quick thinking-and come away shocked themselves by the brutality she encounters during this little-known historical episode. (Fiction. 12-15)

Quill & Quire

A stirring coming-of-age novel.

EFTO VOICE

This is a revealing story about the devastation that occurred during the dictatorship of Idi Amin and the resulting political upheaval...This book screams the question: “Does history repeat itself?” There are so many parallels to the Holocaust, they are impossible to ignore. There are references to the Jewish plight in the book, which should prompt some emotional discussion among students who have been exposed to the dark events of the Holocaust. They won’t be able to help but ask themselves how these events could have happened in Uganda only three decades later... Female Intermediate students are especially likely to identify with the main character, Sabine, who is of South Asian descent...I feel a rating of 4 stars is warranted.

Seattlepi

As I do for all books that concern other cultures/countries than our own, curious reader, I highly recommend this for your next read. Though carry a packet of tissues when you do.

Jeunesse: Young People

Readers are not only invited to experience the vivid sights of Kampala in the early 1970s, and to experience it as home for Sabine, but also to follow her through the ordeal of sudden displacement based on ethnic and class conflicts...a story that delves into the consequences of sudden cultural displacement that many Canadians experience prior to their arrival in this country.

Booklist

A gripping story of a remarkable teen who helps her family face impossible loss.

CM Magazine

A gripping narrative that immerses readers in Sabine's thoughts so that they intimately experience her loss of naivety.

Desi Life Magazine

A fascinating coming-of-age story...Nanji does not end the book as a tragedy, but with a feeling of hope. As Sabine and her younger brother sit on a plane on their way to Canada, Sabine makes a plan: "The best way to avenge the injustice, she decided, would be to live well and be happy." "The refugees came with just their shirts on their backs," Nanji points out. "Hey, we are resilient."...Told in a steady, rhythmic tone that initially belies the horror - and then makes it seem all the worse - Child of Dandelions is beautifully written. It evokes the terror and disbelief of the time. It reveals the strengths and shames of a culture that crashed from privilege to devastation in three short months.

MAY 2009 - AudioFile

In the summer of 1972, Idi Amin proclaimed that Indian residents were to be "weeded out" of Uganda within 90 days. Set against that dark time line, this story illuminates the confusion and despair that Ugandan citizens of Indian descent experienced. Vaishali Sharma offers a compelling portrait of 15-year-old Sabine. Through Sabine's eyes, listeners witness a personalized, sobering picture of the loss of civil liberties (often better suited to slightly older listeners). Sharma's voice is sweet and girlish, and her Indian inflection and pacing create a fully dimensional portrait of Sabine with an authenticity that increases the story's grip. As chapters relentlessly log the passing time ("Day 63"), listeners will share a sense of the increasing fear and desperation of Sabine and her family. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173964212
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	12/20/2008
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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