All That It Ever Meant
1st Edition
Published on 7. November 2023
192 pages
978-1-0359-0249-1 (ISBN)
Description
WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S AFRICANA BOOK AWARDS 2024
SHORTLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR WRITING 2025
KIRKUS BEST YA BOOKS OF THE CENTURY (SO FAR)
OBSERVER BEST BOOKS OF 2023
IRISH TIMES BEST BOOKS OF 2023
SUNDAY TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK
An outstanding YA novel of family love, loss, and life lived between two cultures, by an astonishing, super-stylish new voice.
'I'm going to tell you exactly how everything happened. Baba always says, Mati mwana'ngu, I love a good story but I don't have time for a long one, so make it short.'
When Mati and her two siblings travel from London to Zimbabwe with their father, they are forced to confront the knotty family dynamics caused by the loss of their mother. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit - or ghost? or imaginary friend? - who only Mati can see and talk to.
Guided by Meticais's enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of a life lived between two cultures, while her family learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother. This is distinctive, stylish, powerful writing by a vital new voice.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR WRITING 2025
KIRKUS BEST YA BOOKS OF THE CENTURY (SO FAR)
OBSERVER BEST BOOKS OF 2023
IRISH TIMES BEST BOOKS OF 2023
SUNDAY TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK
An outstanding YA novel of family love, loss, and life lived between two cultures, by an astonishing, super-stylish new voice.
'I'm going to tell you exactly how everything happened. Baba always says, Mati mwana'ngu, I love a good story but I don't have time for a long one, so make it short.'
When Mati and her two siblings travel from London to Zimbabwe with their father, they are forced to confront the knotty family dynamics caused by the loss of their mother. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit - or ghost? or imaginary friend? - who only Mati can see and talk to.
Guided by Meticais's enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of a life lived between two cultures, while her family learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother. This is distinctive, stylish, powerful writing by a vital new voice.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 12 years
ISBN-13
978-1-0359-0249-1 (9781035902491)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Blessing Musariri is an award-winning author of short stories, children's stories, radio and screenplays, and contemporary adult fiction. Her work has also been published by the Guardian, Granta, and Poetry International. Blessing lives in Harare, Zimbabwe.
