Chanda's Secrets

VOYA ratings: 4Q, 5P
"Chandra's Secret" is a compelling story of the effects of AIDS on the family and community structure in Africa. Chandra takes on the societal norms and taboos as she refuses to let silence control her. Admitting that her family is the victim of AIDS, and taking the steps to gain control and knowledge, Chandra creates a change that is inspiring for all.

Quote:
"Mama said I should save my anger to fight injustice. Well, I know what’s unjust. The ignorance about AIDS. The shame. The stigma. The silence. The secrets that keep us hiding behind the curtain. The Welcome Center throws back that curtain. It lets in the fresh air and light." (193)

The value of this book is that it takes the unfamiliar and makes it familiar. Many American teens may not think that they could identify with someone from a different culture or someone for who HIV/AIDs is an everyday reality. These things become accessible through Chanda. She is a young girl with dreams about her future, bratty siblings, a mother and friends she loves. She is an admirable heroine-she speaks her mind and remains loyal to those she loves, no matter what. Through her, readers gain an understanding of life in an impoverished culture and of the fear and hysteria surrounding the AIDS/HIV epidemic. I gave this book a 5Q because it is beautifully rendered-little details like the excitement of a flushing toilet and Mr. Chilume's "degrees" make the author's world come alive. I gave it a 4P because while I feel that everyone should read it, some will be uncomfortable with the subject matter.

5Q 4P
A quick, engaging, thought-provoking read. I thought Chanda's Secrets was very well-written, and loved it for the character of Chanda. Chanda is bright, brave, compassionate, loyal, and strong as the head of her family in a society where people spread AIDS and rumors like wildfire and a cloud of stigma prevents any open, honest conversation - even between family members. Sex is a recurring topic, but it isn't graphic and I found it very easy to deal with. The story has a theme of AIDS education (Chanda frequently mentions some form of knowledge on the topic, asking her friend if she uses protection during sex and noting how the disease spreads) but it is not overpowering for the sake of the story. There are multiple occasions where female characters are raped, and Chanda's reaction is extremely relevant to readers who are real-life victims of sexual abuse/assault. However, the way rape is treated in the book seems like it was meant to encourage victims to speak out, or at least show to the reader that it was not that character's fault, just as it is/was not the reader's fault and I thought that was extremely important to see. ( )

Sixteen-year-old Chanda must take on the harrowing responsibility of planning her baby sister's funeral, nursing her sick mama, mothering her little siblings, and sheltering her abused best friend--not to mention trying to keep up with school. Compounding her struggles are an obnoxious busybody of a neighbor and an oppressive aura of secrecy and shame surrounding the family. Ultimately Chanda must overcome her own fear of AIDS before bravely confronting the superstitions of her community. With vivid first-person narration portraying the complex emotions of an adolescent, Stratton effectively evokes a fictional Sub-Saharan Africa and chronicles the action of the story at an intense pace.

My VOYA ratings: 4Q ("Better than most, marred by occasional lapses") and 4P ("Broad general or genre YA appeal"). This is a well-written, absorbing book that addresses many serious issues--first among them the AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, but also sexual abuse, prostitution, alcoholism, and the death of parents and siblings. The narrator's point of view will surely resonate with young adults from all walks of life, and the gripping plot will keep many glued to the page.

My me rating: 2-1/2 stars ("It was okay, I guess"). I was excited to read CHANDA'S SECRETS, because I have been seeking out fiction set in Africa and did not yet have young adult books on my radar. My expectations were probably way too high. The same narration that may well appeal to many readers just did not work for me: I wanted a wider view of Chanda's world, with less inner monologue. (THE HUNGER GAMES irked me for the same reason.) I also wish the author had set the story in a real place and adopted a more authentic style of language. Perhaps I would be less fussy if my reading had not come on the heels of THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN (set in real towns near Spokane, with an utterly convincing adolescent narrator) and THE NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY (set in real Botswana, with a female protagonist my own age). Or perhaps not: I was hooked by the first part of the book, which intimately depicts Chanda's experience planning and attending her sister's funeral and tells the heartbreaking history of her family, but I felt betrayed by the Spielbergian climax and ending. ( )

VOYA 4Q, 4P. This story really highlights the tragedy of HIV/AIDS and the way that an uneducated and prideful society deal with it. Ultimately, the story was about hope. As Chanda begins to learn more about the disease, and she sees her friends, neighbors and loved-ones effected, she is determined to try and make a difference and take away the shame and stigma of HIV/AIDS.

I think that this would be a great book for (older) young adults as a way to not only teach them about HIV/AIDS but as a way to show how an uneducated and ignorant society reacts to trial and tragedy, and how knowledge, understanding, and acceptance can lead to positive change and hope. ( )