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Chanda's Secrets
Contributor(s): Stratton, Allan (Author), Klassen, Karen (Illustrator), Lemay, Katy (Illustrator)
ISBN: 155037835X     ISBN-13: 9781550378351
Publisher: Annick Press
OUR PRICE:   $17.96  
Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats
Published: February 2004
* Not available - Not in print at this time *Annotation: "A girl's struggle amid the African AIDS pandemic."

""As soon as I get back from the shabeen, I go next door to see Mrs. Tafa. I have to ask to use her phone to let our relatives know about Sara. I'm nervous. Mrs. Tafa would like to run the world. Since she can't run the world she's decided to run our neighborhood.""

So speaks sixteen-year-old Chanda, an astonishingly perceptive girl living in the small city of Bonang, a fictional city in Southern Africa.

While Mrs. Tafa's hijinks are often amusing, the fact is that Chanda's world is profoundly difficult. When her youngest sister dies, the first hint of HIV/AIDS emerges.

In this sensitive, swiftly-paced story readers will find echoes of "To Kill a Mockingbird" as Chanda must confront undercurrents of shame and stigma. Not afraid to explore the horrific realities of AIDS, Chanda's Secrets also captures the enduring strength of loyalty, friendship and family ties. Above all, it is a story about the corrosive nature of secrets and the healing power of truth.

Through the artful style of acclaimed author Stratton, the determination and resilience Chanda embodies will live on in readers' minds.

Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Juvenile Fiction | People & Places - Africa
Dewey: FIC
LCCN: 2005357522
Lexile Measure: 590
Physical Information: 0.84" H x 5" W x 7.25" (0.63 lbs) 200 pages
Themes:
- Cultural Region - Southern Africa
- Topical - AIDS
- Topical - Death/Dying
- Cultural Region - African
Accelerated Reader Info
Quiz #: 77818
Reading Level: 3.7   Interest Level: Upper Grades   Point Value: 7.0
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:
Chanda's mother is not herself, her younger sister is acting out, and her best friend needs help. A powerful story set amid the African HIV/AIDS pandemic. In this sensitive, swiftly paced story, readers will find echoes of To Kill a Mockingbird as Chanda, a 16-year-old, astonishingly perceptive girl living in the small city of Bonang in Africa, must confront the undercurrents of shame and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. Through his artful style and dramatic storytelling, Allan Stratton captures the enduring strength of loyalty, the profound impact of loss, and a fearlessness that is powered by the heart. Above all, it is a story about living with truth. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to support organizations working to better the lives of Africans living with HIV/AIDS.