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My newest YA novel, called TROUBLE IN TIMBUKTU, now in bookstores, was an interesting challenge because I find my setting of Timbuktu is as a much a character as the main characters Ahmed and Ayisha. It’s definitely a challenge writing about the Sahara while living in the Caribbean, but fortunately I have detailed journals about my 3 trips to Timbuktu to bring the place alive on the page.
My next book will be Animal Party, a book about group names for different animals. Keep checking my website for more updates.
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With my books for kids I have a personal writing agenda, which is to get the good news out about Africa.
ONE NIGHT celebrates the Tuareg culture of Niger, ALL THE KING’S ANIMALS tells a little-known African conservation success story, and KONTE CHAMELEON, FINE, FINE, FINE! re-tells a folktale from West Africa about why the chameleon never hurries.
My first Young Adult novel, NO CONDITION IS PERMANENT, is the first time I have written something that questions an aspect of African life – female circumcision - while simultaneously celebrating rural African life. It’s a book about cross-cultural friendships, harmful traditional practices and, discovering where to draw the line personally in what you can do to help a friend.
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER’S GOURD is set in Sudan and tells the story of modern technology replacing traditional ways, and ultimately the wisdom of combining the old and the new. It’s based on a true event, and shares the universal theme of "Don’t mess with my grandmother", and family loyalty.
JUBELA is set in Swaziland and is a survival story about rhino poaching. It also is based on a true story about a baby rhino that was adopted by an old matriarch rhino when his mother was killed by poachers.
OUR SECRET, SIRI AANG, is set in Maasailand in Kenya and is about a culture facing change, rhino poaching and bush survival. It was released in October, 2004.
In THE BEST BEEKEEPER OF LALIBELA, a young girl strives to produce the best honey in her Ethiopian town.
TROUBLE IN TIMBUKTU is a contemporary adventure story set in Timbuktu, Mali. Bella twins, Ahmed and Ayisha, set out to save ancient manuscripts from being stolen by two foreigners. To do so, Ayisha must challenge tradition that guides a young Muslim girl’s life. |
