Tina Athaide

What an amazing book! I’m taken aback by how powerful a middle grade children’s book could be. I wasn’t expecting the depth but simplicity of this important story. Set in 1972 in Entebbe, Uganda, it alternates point-of-view between best friends Asha and Yesofu. The two have been inseparable for as long as they can remember, the only problem is she is Indian and he is African. On the 4th August 1972, President Idi Amin announces that the country's Indians with British citizenship have 90 days to leave. He later expands this to include all of Uganda’s 80 thousand Indians. He expounds a policy of “Africa for the Africans.” Yesofu finds himself conflicted by the events. He hopes that Idi Amin’s promises for jobs, land and houses for the Africans will help his family, who struggle to make ends meet with his father cutting sugar cane, and his mother housekeeping for Asha’s family. On the other hand he values his friendship with his Indian neighbours. His Ugandan friend Akello, and many of the locals, welcome the changes with open arms, despite knowing that many of the Indian families had been in Uganda since 1895, brought in by the British as labour. The announcement suddenly ushers in a period of fear and uncertainty. Idi Amin’s reign is characterized by terror and ruthlessness, with anyone perceived to be opposing him being slaughtered. It is estimated 500,000 people were killed during his 8 year reign. Asha’s family is suddenly in danger but she is determined to stay in her homeland. She begins to see more clearly the divide of privilege between her family and Yesofu’s, despite their closeness. Yesofu finds Amin’s promises do not pan out as expected, with the schools closing due to the expulsion of all the Indian teachers, empty shelves in the shops as the shopkeepers have been forced to leave, and the cane cutters losing work as the plantation owners are gone. This was a gripping, insightful story. The author’s family left Uganda when Idi Amin came to power, and many of her relatives lived through these troubled times, so the story is obviously close to her heart and personal. 5 stars for me.… (more)

Let me start with the things I love: the subject of this book is Uganda’s expulsion of Asian Indians under Idi Amin (1972), which is not something I've read much about. It does a fabulous job of illustrating the deep fury that is the legacy of colonialism, and the tension and sorrow of the unintentionally privileged as well. The alternating viewpoints between 12 year olds Yesofu and Asha, friends on both sides of the conflict, are effective and illuminating. Overall, great storytelling.

However, to be honest, this book is a downer -- legitimately so, but be aware that it's not a feel good, hope for the future kind of book. It's an honest portrayal of a land in conflict and the consequences of taking a stand in that kind of scenario. There's also a certain amount of brutality that the main characters have to face. I would recommend it for tweens with care and thoughtfulness, but probably suggest a teen audience.

Advanced Reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.… (more)

In 1972 Uganda, Idi Amin decrees that all Indians must leave the country within 90 days. Best friends, Asha and Yesofu alternate chapters in this book that counts down the days wehn Asha's family will be forced to leave. The country gets more and more violent and the friends must examine their assumptions about each other and themselves. Asha, born in Uganda and of Indian descent, lives a life of privilege with Yesofu's parents working for her family. Yesofu, a boy who is loyal and longs for the opportunity to go to college through a scholarship, sees the injustice but multiple times stands up despite danger for his friend and what he thinks is right.
An eye opening look at a history of which I was unaware.… (more)