About BC Books Online
BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Description
Twelve-year-old Astrid has come to Ghana with her family in 1979 so that her father can help oversee Ghana’s first democratic election. Astrid and her brother, Gordo, were told it would be a great family adventure, but they soon find out that everything about Ghana is difficult—the heat, the food, the threat of disease, the soldiers on the roads, the schools. Gordo fits in more easily than Astrid, who is often left to look after her baby sister, Piper, as their mother begins to fall apart under the strain of living in Ghana. When the government is overthrown, Gordo comes down with malaria and a soldier threatens her family, Astrid is surprised to discover how protective she has become of her new home.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 9 to 12
- Grade:
- 4 to 7
- Reading age:
- 9 to 12
Awards
- Short-listed, Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award
- Commended, Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection
- Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
Editorial Reviews
"[A] thought-provoking historical fiction novel...Astrid demonstrates kindness and courage in the face of the political and social backdrop surrounding the Ghanaian community."
— The Dragon Lode
"Scenes filled with tension, including one in which a soldier takes away their mother’s purse, make the story gripping to middle grade readers. This is a great book for understanding another culture and the struggles of a nation."
— Reading Today Online
"Astrid is a strong and courageous female character who takes on the role of being a responsible and caring older sibling to Gordo and Piper...Jones’ story provides readers with an emotionally captivating look into a family’s anxieties as the unit transitions to life in a new country... [and] richly depicts Astrid’s strength and commitment to her family as they endure stress and battle sickness and fear...The book educates readers about a family’s emotional situation and social conditions surrounding life in 1979 in Ghana...[and] provides educators the opportunity to have active discussions with their students about the integral role which government, elections, democracy, and freedom play in society. Highly Recommended."
— CM Magazine
"The social backdrop of the story provides an interesting counterpoint to this coming-of-age story...The sights and sounds of the city are vividly conveyed and the expatriate experience is thoughtfully rendered."
— The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
"Astrid, her younger brother, and her friend Thema are well-developed young characters, and the relationships Ghanaians have with each other and Astrid’s family are compelling. Astrid’s first-person narration is appropriately childlike, and her youthful perspective is a concise, honest glimpse into an event relatively unknown in the U.S."
— Booklist
"The political context for the story would be of interest to students learning about African history, or for anyone wanting to learn about recent changes in countries in Africa. Astrid is an interesting character because of how strong she is in the face of difficulties at home with her mother, and managing her siblings and friends. There are multiple ways of looking at and enjoying this book."
— Resource Links
"A convincing example of how social fear can invade the home—no matter where that home might be."
— BC BookLook
"Astrid is an honorable character for whom readers will root."
— School Library Journal
"A thought-provoking study of a family caught up in both political and domestic crises in a foreign land."
— Kirkus Reviews
