Chanda's Secrets - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1741144523 ISBN 13: 9781741144529

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Review

Well-paced, robust prose... put a face to the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS and provide a gripping and heart-wrenching reading experience.

The strong, respectful writing makes this crucial and broadly relevant story unfailingly human.

İStarred review: ¨ The tense story and the realistic characters... will keep kids reading and break the silence about the tragedy. -- Hazel Rochman "Booklist" (07/01/2004)

[Starred review:] The tense story and the realistic characters... will keep kids reading and break the silence about the tragedy. -- Hazel Rochman "Booklist" (07/01/2004)

[Starred review: ] The tense story and the realistic characters... will keep kids reading and break the silence about the tragedy.--Hazel Rochman"Booklist" (07/01/2004)

Death and dying and survivors... Through all the adversity, Chanda never lacks hope, and she never stops dreaming.--KaaVonia Hinton"KLIATT" (07/15/2004)

Starred review: A character whom readers come to care for and believe in, in spite of her almost impossible situation.--Kathleen Isaacs"School Library Journal" (07/01/2004)

Brings the despair, overwhelming poverty and the impact of AIDS/HIV to life... strength of human character when faced with adversity.--Anne Hatcher"Resource Links" (06/01/2004)

Film adaptation, winner of the Prix Francois Chalais

A searing book on an important subject... there is not a maudlin moment in the novel, just genuine grief and understanding as the epidemic assumes some of its many human faces. The strong, respectful writing makes this crucial and broadly relevant story unfailingly human.

About the Author

Allan Stratton recently returned from Africa where he met the people who inspired this book. He is past Head of Drama at an arts school in Toronto and a former member of New York's The Actors' Studio. His earlier young adult novel, "Leslie's Journal," earned numerous accolades, including a place on the American Library Association's "Best Books for Young Adults" list.

Edition details

• ISBN 10: 1741144523
• ISBN 13: 9781741144529
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English