A Girl Named Disaster

Nhamo is the remarkable twelve-year-old heroine in this engrossing book who bravely sets out to escape an arranged marriage to a cruel man. Summoning uncommon courage, she builds a raft and launches it upon an enormous lake where she must war against enemies both seen and unseen as well as the threat of drowning and starvation. Mystical African beliefs come alive in this book written by a white woman who is deeply versed in the culture and customs of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Skillfully rendered, it is often cited as a classic adventure story for young people and was one of… show more.

I’ve been to Zimbabwe and have a soft spot for a variety of places and people on the African continent that are evoked by this Newbery Honor book. It’s about a thrilling adventure for an engaging teen who we can’t help but love, and it gives readers a glimpse at a wonderful land (and culture) they might not otherwise know much about. Plus haven’t we all felt at some point that our middle names, if not our first names, must be “Disaster”?