I described this book to a co-worker as "Bummer, bummer, bummer, sappy, sappy, sappy," but that's probably too harsh. Author Shana Burg is a decent writer and the story has some interesting parts. I liked the pidgin English spoken by the Malawian characters (when I was in Namibia we called their version of English "Namblish"), the details of life in the Malawi bush, and the friendship that forms between Clare, a 13-year-old American girl and Memory, a her new classmate in Malawi.

But the bummers are piled high in this book. Clare's mom is recently deceased and Clare aches from the loss. Both of Memory's parents have died. And that's just the deaths you get up front. There are more in the story. We are often in Clare's head and she struggles to overcome the pain of her mother's absence. Harsh. Angsty. Emo.

And then the conclusion. It wasn't overly contrived or convenient, but it was heavy with lessons learned and feel-good-ness.

So, if you're in the mood for a quiet read about a sad white girl discovering Africa, this will fit the bill. Not especially recommended otherwise. ( )

Clare is grieving over her mother’s death when her father takes her along on a medical trip to Malawi. New friends teach her how to deal with loss and find joy in small things. Author’s Note, Glossary.

Heard as audiobook. Average story: self-centered teen learns to cope with the death of her mother after she & her father go on a medical mission trip to Africa. Seeing how the local teens go about life under difficult conditions helps, as does sharing her knowledge to help the community. ( )

This book was fun once I got into it, but sad towards the end. I loved how the main character changed throughout the novel even if it was a drastic change, it was still a good one. ( )

The portrait of thirteen-year-old Clare shows a typical north-American teen concerned with friends, clothes, school. To go through the agonizing despair of losing her mother was as much as she could bear, but then she finds she must live with her dad during his stint as a doctor in Malawi and attend school there. The story not only shows how Clare adapts and accepts the changes but provides a good description of life in contemporary Malawi. A book adults as well as young readers will appreciate. ( )