I can see why this book was nominated for awards as it has a very engaging central character Figgy and deals with Ghana, poverty and the innocence of childhood.
Figgy is concerned as her Grandmother is ill and needs money that can only be found in America. So, she decides to leave her remote village with her pet goat Kwame to bring back the cure. On the way, Figgy meets Nana, a boy running from his violent father, who is 10 months older that Figgy and has a gift for languages taught to him by tourists.
Nana decides to accompany Figgy on her quest - on the way they are chased by drummers, steal from orphanages, spend a lot of time starving and talking about The World. Eventually, after a terrible accident kills the goat, Nana and Figgy find themselves in the company of Kofi ( a wealthy businessman) and his daughter Mia, and everything seems that it is going to be ok, until they overhear them talking about putting the 2 kids in an orphanage. Soon Nana is in a hospital and everything seems hopeless. ( )