Dawn C. Thomas

In Kai's tribe, women are not allowed to learn sculpting, but she secretly watches the sculptors and learns their secrets. When the tribe's yam crop is blighted, Kai's grandmother sends her and her sister to travel to another village to get help. It is a dangerous journey across Yourbaland, part of modern day Nigeria, and the sisters often do not get along. Like the other Girlhood Journeys books there is a surprise at the end that makes the young girl's dream possible. The book is poorly paced at times. The journey to the other village seems to take no time at all. Additionally, a description of some boy's behavior as "like clowns" jars the reader out of the book's setting. Given the flaws and lack of demand for this series, this books is unnecessary for collections. Still, historical fiction, or fiction in general that takes place in Africa is few and far between in children's literature, which might warrant not weeding this book.… (meer)