Customer Reviews

Girl Named Disaster

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

The name of my favorite book is "A Girl Named Disaster." I thought that this book should receive a five star rating because it was so dramatic, dangerous, and also very sad. I thought this book is an all-around good book and I wish I had a copy of it. There were very few things I disliked about this book. However, it was very emotional, there were parts I didn't understand, but other than that it was a very good and detailed book. A young girl named Nhamo's, mother was killed when Nhamo was a baby by a leopard and her father had killed someone and left Nhamo with her aunts, Aunt Chipo and Aunt Shuvai. A disease starts to kill people in her village so they go to this man her cousin is supposed to gett married to and he told them that Nhamo was the cause and that she was a witch.When they got back to their village the wedding was a few days later and her Grandmother helped her escape in Crocidile Guts boat. Nhamo meets a lot of animals on her journey but the rest you have to read for yourself. I think people with an average reading level should read this because it is hard to understand and has hard words in it, but other than that I think anyone that likes dangerous, and action filled books should read this great book.

The middle of Farmer's three Newbery Honor books of the last decade, this is different, being historical fiction adventure to the other two's science fiction. Like The Ear, The Eye, and The Arm, this takes place in Africa, giving it an exotic touch. Nhamo (Disaster in her native Shona language) is an orphan of sorts, with a deceased mother and absent father, living traditionally in a tribal village in southern Africa. Through circumstances beyond her own making, she is put in a position of fleeing her home, a not uncommon Newbery theme (see Crispin The Cross of Lead) For this reader, she partakes in the adventure of a strong, bright, observant, resourceful girl/young woman reminding me of Miyax (Julie of the Wolves), Omakayas (The Birchbark House) and Karana (Island of the Blue Dolphins), high company, indeed. Nhamo leads a fascinating life, both in the village and after leaving it, including spending significant amounts of time fending for herself. This is thoroughly enjoyable on many counts, the intriguing cultures, countrysides, and relationships, some touches of spiritualism, the ideas of how to maintain oneself emotionally and physically when isolated, the ideas of perseverance in the face of what appear to be insurmountable obstacles, and flexibility and teaching oneself what's necessary when it's necessary. Well suited for secondary grades, a very strong reading fifth or sixth grader could enjoy it, too.

A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer, Puffin Publishing co.

"The journey will be the hardest thing you'll ever do, but it will be worth it", her grandmother said. When a Shona girl named Nhamo is forced into an arranged marriage to save her village in Southern Africa, her grandmother thinks the opposite. Grandmother tells her to runaway from Mozambique to Zimbabwe, to find her father and be safe. After going countless days all alone on a lake she comes across an inhabited island with baboons. After resting , she finds Zimbabwe and a few other friends. A scary part in the book is when Nhamo gets possessed by a witch. That is part of the rising action and leads to the conclusion.
Nhamo and Ambuya (Nhamo's grandmother), Mastiva and Nhamo mother are the main characters in this book. To describe Nhamo, she was quiet and obedient. She got bossed around by her aunt and other women in the village. Most of the work around the village was done by Nhamo with rarely any help. She liked hiding away and not being found when her aunt sent her to get wood. As Nhamo goes on to Zimbabwe, she gains muscle and becomes brave. Ambuya is a strong, wise village elder. Nhamo is one of Ambuya's favorites. Ambuya enjoys telling folk tales and is good at giving advice. Mastiva is Nhamo's cousin and gets to sit all day and do nothing while Nhamo has to do all the work. The reason why Mastiva doesn't have to do work is because Mastiva's mother holds a grudge at Nhamo's Mother who is dead. Nhamo is important to this story because she's the strongest. She is the main character because she goes through the most and learns very quickly.

Yes, I would recommend this book to girls age 12-16, because I learned a lot from it. It made me think about what I would do in Nhamo' situation. I liked the adventure in it because I was never sure what will happen next. If you read this book, you'll learn a lot about Shona culture and many of its words. You'll love this fiction book because it has many unexpected, funny and scary moments throughout Nhamo's voyage. I rate this book 5 stars!

I read this book out of curiosity; having read the author's other outstanding books such as "House of the Scorpion" and "The Sea of Trolls". I must say that I'm truly enchanted and my perspective with other culture was enriched upon finishing the book. It is a commitment to read the said novel; one must be willing to explore Zimbabwe's and Mozambique's folklore and ethnography. But with the craftsmanship of Nancy Farmer's storytelling, reading the book will not be a chore. And it's not "cheap thrill" too. I'm glad, authors like Farmer really do the task of painstaking research. Now I know her style/poetics--(1) use of folklore like songs, epics, tales, superstitions, (2) re-creating a cosmology, (3) use of mythic/physical/metaphorical journey to highlight the hero's/ heroine's coming-of-age, (4) heroism of the character like exploring his or her talents and capabilities; the search for his/her roots; and the struggle for a better situation in a fictional/ metaphorical society; (5) use of short but vivid chapters to make the seemingly epic novel readable for young readers. Nancy Farmer respects the kids by not "writing down" to them. Also, with her splendid prose, she truly loved her craft and her audience. Bravo!

Imagine your mother is dead and your dad is a murder. You have no parents and you live in a village with the rest of your family from your moms side. You feel lonely there is no one to turn to. No one likes you. Then A Girl named Disaster by Nancy Farmer is a book for you. A Girl named Disaster takes place in a village near Zimbabwe. In this story Nhamos mother and father are gone. She lives with a whole bunch of her aunts, uncles, grandma's, etc. Nhamo is not wanted anywhere. She always has to do chores and and take care of people. Nhamo is very jealous of her cousin Masvita. One day an illness came all throughout the village. Almost everyone died over the sickness. Masvita turned so skinny you could just about see through her skin. Nhamo was told to care for her. The villagers decieded to go see the muvuki at bthe trading post. The family took off early in the morning because it was miles away. As they arrived Nhamo saw many things she hadn't before. If you like adventurous books or Newbory honor award books. Grab A Girl Named Disaster off the shelftoday. Once you start reading it you wont put it down. You'll love it.

This book was very good! I loved it! Nacy Farmer did a wonderful job putting so much detail in this book. It captured the African customes at their best. This book takes you into a whole new world filled with imagination.

It's about a girl whose people think she is a witch, all because a deadly disease is speading around her village. The girl's name is Nhamo, meaning disaster. She runs away in a stolen boat she stole from a man named Crocodile Guts. Then she sets sail to find her father in Zimbabwe. But she gets deserted on an island surrounded by baboons. You're going to have to read this book to really understand its meaning. When I read it, I think the best part was when her grandmother told her stories that were so exciting and filled with imagination. This book was truly exciting and riveting. A masterpiece in the making.

(. . .)A Girl Named Disaster is about a girl named Nhamo, who lives in a remote Mozambique village. In her spoken language of the Shona, Nhamo means disaster. She endures a very hard life. She is a young African girl who has a missing father, who may be a murderer, and a mother killed by a leopard. She is an orphan living with her mother's sisters and her grandmother. When the she is forced to marry a cruel man with two wives to save her village from evil spirits, she takes matters into her own hands. She runs away, survives almost certain death, and becomes a woman on her journey to Zimbabwe. She meets two scientists who generously bring her into their home. Through her journey, she faces many of her fears, but yet is determined to strive for a better life.
One of the best things about this book were the descriptions of Africa and their beliefs. It showed how the elements of life and the spirit world were both so active and real to Nhamo and her people. The book was full of these mysterious spirits and they affected Nhamo's life. Nhamo had to fight hunger and darkness and being out in the wild. Nhamo did have some exciting adventures, like when her mother told her to close the door at the Portuguese traders' home, and Nhamo thinking Long Teats would pop out.. Although I thought she was afraid of so many things, like the leopard, she was still brave, but also maybe desperate enough to go on. I also question whether Nhamo is running from her fears or facing them.
The language in the story with the foreign words made it both interesting and sometimes hard to read. Although I mostly liked the foreign language in the story and it made me feel more like I was there in Africa.
I felt that the plot was trite. I think the idea of the usual British story, as children being orphans, living with their elders and having to find their way in life is predictable. There is no surprise that the story is about finding yourself maturing into an adult.
I did not like that the story seemed long and repetitive. I got tired of reading about Nhamo going back and forth to the islands repeatedly. Sometimes the descriptions were too long and I wanted the story just to move forward. It was also repetitive that a lot of the chapters ended as cliffhangers. That really did not make me want to continue to reading or make it more exciting because that was predictable too. Sometimes the action is so unrealistic. For example, when Nhamo goes against the currents in Lake Cabbora Bass, known for its towering 200-foot waterfall. I do not think even the njuzi can push Nhamo up, especially if she cannot even swim.
The story is very feminine and about Nhamo becoming a woman. I think a lot of guys like me find that part of the story hard to relate to. So definitely if you are a person I would think hard before reading this book unless it is for class.
I do not really recommend this book. It is not terrible, but not to my liking either. I like something with a fresh plot and more action. I definitely would not recommend this book to boys.

On the face of it, the story is simple: a 12-year old girl named Nhamo, who has spent much of her life feeling unloved, is suddenly cast out of her rural African village and forced to survive alone in the wild. Of course, what should be a two day trip up Mozambique's Musengezi River to the Zimbabwe border takes a year, as Nhamo becomes lost and soon encounters wild animals, mysterious islands, and battles sickness and starvation.

The complexity of the story lies in the development of Nhamo's beautiful character, as it is Nhamo and Nhamo alone whom we accompany on her solitary, year-long journey. Over this year, readers become Nhamo, and despite a total lack of human contact, we are never lonely. Readers learn, like the ever-resourceful Nhamo, to find a home and family in our surroundings no matter whom or what they may be: a group of hippos blocking the river passage, the mythical njuzu sea snakes, or the spirit of old Crocodile Guts whose boat she has stolen for her journey. Through all of it, Nhamo is funny, full of life, and most of all, resilient.

Nancy Farmer's sophisticated and beautifully written novel offers a glimpse into the daily life of the Shona tribe, including information about their cultural traditions, and the powerful superstitions that led them to send Nhamo away. With excellent pacing and a hefty dose of suspense, A Girl Named Disaster is recommended to all audiences. This story is an unforgettable journey.

This book about a girl named Nhamo, begins where Nhamo has to struggle for her village. She does all the chores for her family. She is always yelled at and pushed around by Aunt Chipo. One day, a terrible disease strikes her village and many people die. Even her cousin gets sick! Luckily, her cousin survives. Her family goes to a doctor and he sets her ambuya or grandmother into a stroke because she insulted him. Nhamo is acused of being the cause of this. An angry spirit, killed by her father, killed her mother when she was a baby, and now he wants her spirit! Her ambuya, tells her to go to Zimbabwe and find her father there. She goes on an adventure you CAN'T forget!

This book is remarkable on several levels: it explores the rich culture and religion of the Shona people in Mozambique; it follows the spiritual journey of the main character, Nhamo, as she struggles to survive; and it presents the amazing dichotomy of Africa - traditional villages versus modern cities. Whether the setting for a story is a small town community, a big city neighborhood, or an African village, there are always those who follow all the rules, stick to the traditions, and don't question the way things have always been. Luckily for Nhamo, her grandmother is not one of those and urges her granddaughter to escape and make a new and better life for herself. Nhamo's courage and resourcefulness on her journey are inspiring, and her conversations with the ghost of her mother and some ever-present spirits help her think things through. Additional bibliographic information, a glossary, and a short section on the Shona religion are available at the back of the book, making it a good choice for expanded study into other resources. Most of all this book was well written and enjoyable...I was anxious to follow Nhamo through each step of her adventure. If you liked Island of the Blue Dolphins, Hatchet, and other stories of young people surviving by their wits and courage, try this one.