Orphaned Sam has to leave behind his affluent life in the city: his computer, his trendy clothing, and his pride, to live with his aunt in his mother's home village, a village at the back of beyond. He has to sleep on the floor in a one-roomed hut, sharing with his aunt , his cousins and other orphans. He misses his mother terribly, but she seems so very far away. How can he adjust? Where does he belong? A penetrating picture of modern Malawi is built up from the perspective of a child, in all its colour and faith and optimism. Leaving Home is a story to challenge anyone's perception of a homogeneous Africa, and the publication is timely when the issues involved - AIDS, orphans and displaced children - are important to many young people. The writing is subtle and evocative and the characters make a strong and lasting impact.

 

There are 192 pages in this book. This book was published 2008 by Andersen Press Ltd .

Born in the Yorkshire Dales, Jan Michael spent an idyllic childhood there and in the Seychelles, also living in Lesotho and Pakistan. Since university, she has worked as an editor and literary agent in London, Amsterdam and Yorkshire. She has written thirteen books which have been published in several languages, including the children's novels Hill of Darkness, The Rock Boy (also performed as children's opera in Germany), Just Joshua (winner: Dutch Vlag en Wimpel prize), Leaving Home (winner: Dutch Silver Slate Pencil and the Jenny Smelik-IBBY Prize) and Moorside Boy.