Chanda's Secrets

Sixteen year old Chanda lives in a small village in Africa. When her mother turns ill and vanishes to retrieve treatment, Chanda's in charge of her two younger siblings as well as best friend who might have contracted AIDS. She carefully balances providing an honorable life for her loved ones with standing up for what she believes in, regardless of what others think. The book was an extremely powerful read - dark and deep - that I definitely enjoyed. Chanda is a great character for young adults to read about. She's determined, responsible and incredibly aware.

I know that the recommended grade level is 9-12, but I would only use it for very mature 11th and 12th graders. There is lots of sexual content; Chanda's mother has several partners through her life, Chanda is molested, and there are instances of prostitution. With that being said, this book will explain the problems of dealing with the treatment of AIDS in Africa. There is no communication about the disease, no one wants to be seen going into the clinic to be tested for it, anything. It really opened my eyes to the problems these people have to face everyday, horrific to say the least. One of the reviews on the back of the book sums up my feelings "This powerful story hits home with its harsh truths, its pain, and its hard-won hopefulness. No-One can read Chanda's Secrets and remain untouched by the young people who are caught in the AIDS pandemic" (Written by Stephen Lewis, a worker for the UN). I gave it 5 stars because I learned so much about AIDS, and I became emotionally attached to Chanda. I wanted her to have a good life, and for something to go right for her. And as we all know, making a connection with a character is what keeps people reading! Just keep in mind that because of the adult content, young readers need to be mature, and culturally aware.

Great book for a teen, I brought this book for my daughter and she loved it. There is a second novel titled "Chanda's War" that I am going to order for her.

Chanda's Secret is about a 16-year-old girl named Chanda Kabelo who is growing up in Africa. She loves school and is very smart. She would like to win a scholarship one day, but as most of us know one of the biggest problems in Africa is how to deal with aids. Many people in Africa have aids and so do the many people around Chanda, not only friends but family too. Allan Stratton captures the meaning of a young girl growing up in Africa trying to help her family in the best way she knows how. She tries to make her family proud and at the same time help her mother out as much as she can. She fights to be the best she can be and lives each day with more questions and answers. I would recommend this meaningful book to anyone going into high school or older. This book is a very good example of what a young teenager does to help everyone before herself, no matter what rumors are going around.

Sixteen-year-old Chanda Kabelo is a true hero. She puts her family and friendship first above herself and what the "neighbors" think. Allan Stratton's story of Chanda's family and community draws a vivid picture of what the AID's epidemic is doing to Africa. Extremely powerful, don't miss it!