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by Katie Quirk
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
5 Stars
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Back Cover: Thirteen-year-old Shida, whose name means “problem” in Swahili, certainly has a lot of problems in her life—her father is dead, her depressed mother is rumored to be a witch, and everyone in her rural Tanzanian village expects her to marry rather than pursue her dream of becoming a healer. So when the village’s elders make a controversial decision to move their people to a nearby village, Shida welcomes the change. Surely the opportunity to go to school and learn from a nurse can only mean good things. However, after a series of puzzling misfortunes plague the new village, Shida must prove to her people that moving was the right decision, and that they can have a better life in their new home.
First 2 Sentences: Tum, tum, tum, ratta, tum, tum, tum. The village’s talking drums cut through the humid air.
Synopsis
In 1967 Tanzania, President Nyerere urges the people to work and live as an extended family, sharing more resources so more can have those resources. The village of Litongo, where Shida and her mother live, has no medical clinic. They rely on healers and medicine men. Explore your options, read the post here. Shida’s is a healer in her village and wants to pursue this as a career. When the leaders choose to follow President Nyerere’s plan, they move the village of Litongo, save a few families, to New Njia Panda. There the two communities will share a medical clinic, a school for both boys and girls, food and other resources.
Shida is excited, especially when she sees a woman dressed head-to-toe in white and, realizing she is a nurse, hopes she can be the nurse’s apprentice. Shida’s mother has no plans to move. She has been in a deep depression since Shida was born and her father died. She blames Shida for his death, hence her name. After much encouragement, The two pack their things and make the long walk to New Njia Panda.
In New Njia Panda, they find a new school, a medical clinic, and water from a pump. But their farmland is now hours from their home, making it all but impossible to plant. The community garden will feed them, but her mother sees this as a curse. In fact, everything that goes wrong in this new life, she considers a curse. Shida views everything as a blessing and enjoys her new life, despite the bully at school, and the problems her people face, such as someone letting all their cattle run free. It will take an awful disease, two determined women, and a beloved grandfather to bring the entire village home.
Opinion
I really liked A Girl called Problem. Though Shida’s culture was new to me, I found it all fascinating, mostly because of the stark difference between her life in 1967 and mine. I cannot image harvesting all the family’s food, living in a one room home—let alone a hut made of mud and cow dung—not being allowed to attend school, and being expected to learn chores in anticipation of a marriage where the man ruled. Litongo is a very patriarchal society and Shida does not fit in. That is the problem, not that Shida is the problem.
Shida sees all of this as normal but wants to change. She wants to learn, to become a great healer, and to have a career before she has a family. Luckily, Shida has someone to look up to in Nurse Goldfilda. When things get bad, especially with two bullies, Shida hangs tough and helps her cousins do the same. I like her determination and spunk. When provoked, I think she has a fiery temper that can help change occur.
Shida is a good role model for young girls. She is living in a society where women are second-class citizens with limited opportunities, yet she goes after what she wants, unwilling to give up her dreams. A Girl Called Problem is about Shida’s life, her determination in odds that stack against her. It is an extended family’s trial and triumphs in a new land. This extended family cares for each other in a way not often seen today. I think kids will be impressed with the way all these family members stay together.
A Girl Called Problem is a story both boys and girls will enjoy. I think adults will love this story, as did I. The author based her story on the real Tanzania, the Sukuma people, and her time in Africa. A Girl Called Problem is a middle grade novel kids will learn much from and enjoy. The villagers speak two languages, Swahili and Sukuma—glossary in back—live in an age of witches and curses, and are building a country from the ground up. Not yet born, middle grade kids may think the stark African conditions of 1967 were normal “for so long ago.” This is a perfect book for school libraries and the study of cultures.
A Girl Called Problem is an uplifting story of hope and possibility. It will keep you mesmerized until the very end. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry. Mostly, it will make you think. A Girl called Problem is one of those stories that will stay with you long after you’ve read the last word.
A Girl Called Problem
by Katie Quirk website blog facebook twitter Eerdmans Books for Young Readers website blog facebook twitter Released April 19, 2013 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5404-9 256 Pages Ages: 9 and up . © 2013 Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Text: Copyright © 2013 by Katie Quirk
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DONATED TO LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Kids Lit Review 
Sounds like the gritty moments really hit home with this one. It’s nice that there’s a real sense of realism in the book, that gives me the sense that I could learn something from this one. I don’t like reading autobiographies, but fiction based in reality is something I like to read. 🙂
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I learned a lot from this book and, not to blow my horn, I do consider myself well educated and well versed on many things, yet there was so much of this I was not understanding correctly or knew nothing about. One of the reasons I really like this book. It is real and it will make you think. I like that also in a book. It is nice to see you here. Thanks for hopping over. Maybe I will see you in the next hop, if not sooner.
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This reminds me of Nancy Farmer’s “A Girl Named Disaster”, which also tells about an African girl coming of age. This one sounds more realistic, though, and maybe geared for a slightly younger audience?
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I have not read “a Girl Named Disaster” and I think it’s odd that those two titles are so similar. Of course, from the way naming your child is explained in “A Girl Named Problem” it is probably not unusual at all. The book above is for middle graders ages 8 to 14. Thanks for commenting and stopping by.
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Sounds like an eye opener for many children around the world who are more fortunate. Great lessons and role models to be had in this book.
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This is a great book about the treatment of girls and women and how far we really have not come, at least world wide. A good book for a social studies class and discussion. Teachers should pick this one up. Thanks for stopping by. I will visit you shortly.
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When I saw the title of the link and saw who posted it, I couldn’lt help but snicker just a bit! Ok, in all seriousness…it does sound like a really great read. Thanks for linking it into the Kid Lit Blog Hop. Heh, are you still a hostess? 😉
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Yeah, this problem girl is still a hostess. I manage to even get to most of the 4 and 5 posts. You did mean number 4 and 5 right? I got to those two. Is there a “Problem?” My posts just are not getting to the top of the list anymore. I think the “problem” is the Head Hostess. (I didn’t say this, though.) 🙂
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LOL I’m afraid I must insist that you always call me Head Hostess from now on. No, wait… MS. Head Hostess. Yes, that’s better! It is a problem that you are not in the top links. I also have a problem with that and I am fully committed to solving that problem. That problem will NOT happen again! 😉
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Sure it will, Miss Head Hostess cupcake. But it matters none. What matters, Miss H. H., is that the kid lit blog hop happens every other Wednesday (most months). Who is first, or second, or seventy-second matters little. The big problem is actually caused by my procrastination, of which I have excelled at for much of my life. Why stop now, I ask? 😆
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Love the message in the book. I hope we see more of such books in reading lists for kids.
-Reshama
http://www.stackingbooks.com
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This is a good book to open the eyes of kids who do not know all kids don’t live as they do. I agree, I would love to see more books like this, too. Thanks for stopping by.
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What a great book. I’ve read a lot by and about children in Africa, and this one shares in 1st person the life of young girls that would open up the eyes of many young girls in the US. Thanks so much for sharing on the Kid Lit Blog Hop. Cheryl, Hop Hostess. PS. Definitely going on my To Read List.
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I learned a lot from this. Didn’t realize how uneducated I was about some of this. I’d like to find out how it has changed since 1970’s.
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This book sounds wonderful thanks for such a great and thorough review – will definitely have to share this with my daughters.
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This is a great book for girls to read. Gives them an insight into how lucky they are to be able to go to school harassment free (about girls in school). I hope you and your girls enjoys this. Thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing!
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It is very interesting. Nice to “see” you again! 🙂
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I like Shida. She’s positive, spunky and determined. She reminds me of many girls this age I have met while doing several dental missionary trips to Central America. The lifestyle is real, even in present day, and it is a hard life. This makes Shida’s story so much more poignant. What a great story!
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Life in Central America is comparable to Africa? Which countries? None of them are completely modernized, but I did not think they were like Africa in the 1970’s. Wow! 😦
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What a book. I like the message. And the sad thing is, this could be true. 😦
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What could be true, Erik?
Is school out now? I ask because your comments have become so cryptic.
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The whole story could be true! And yes, school is out! 😀
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The sad thing is, kiddo, it is true. The book is based on the life the author saw and participated in while teaching English and writing to the kids living in Tanzania.
Enjoy your summer!!! 😀
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😦
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Certainly a book to make kids think. Wow.
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It really is. It also say a lot about the treatment of women. Thank goodness how women are treated in the world is changing–in most areas of the world.
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