Customer Reviews

Zinzi: A Child's Journey to Self-Fulfillment, Giving and Caring

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Zinzi is about an African American girl's family that moves from the busy streets of apartment living to a home in the quiet suburbs. As with all moves comes the task of making new friends. Zinzi being the friendly character that she is does not have problems making friends and befriends a little girl named Carmen who happens to be ill.

Carmen's illness has left her unhappy and depressed, which is why Zinzi's mother is very supportive of her helping Carmen. Zinzi is also reminded that there was a time when she felt "sad and grouchy". After that realization, what Zinzi does to help her friend is what all female friendship should be...to pick a girlfriend up when she is down.

I as the reviewer felt that although the book was a little long in bringing you to its point, Ms. Valasco does an excellent job at stressing the importance of family history and values throughout the book. I especially enjoyed the child friendly recipes included at the back of the book. As we all know, helping a girlfriend deal with a problem is always better over a plate of food.

Reviewed By: Alfreda Owens
Black Butterfly Review

When the Palmers moved from the bustling, energetic city to the quiet, serene suburbs, Zinzi Palmer's world was turned upside down. Normally a curious, happy 10 year old, she became sad and lost some of her zeal. She missed her friends from the city, and the quietness of their new neighborhood irked her. The story begins with Zinzi preparing herself for a boring, insipid summer of uneventful daydreaming.

Life gets interesting for Zinzi when she is tasked with cheering up her ill best friend, Carmen, whose illness depleted her energy, spirit, and motivation. "Zinzi knew she faced a challenge of great importance." It's left up to Zinzi to restore Carmen's normally high spirits. In doing so, Zinzi learns how to be a real friend, to appreciate what she has, and that where there is a will there is a way.

Zinzi's lyrical journey gives valuable African history and moral lessons. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to parents wanting to teach their children how to be selfless, giving, and caring.