All That It Ever Meant
-
- $9.99
-
- $9.99
Publisher Description
Family, grief, ghosts, and a mystery: this clever and compelling young adult novel heralds a masterful new voice from Zimbabwe.
Mati’s family is reeling from the death of Mati’s mother. Her Baba has drawn into himself, her sister Chichi is rebelling, and her young brother Tana is desperate for love and normalcy.When Chichi pulls her worst stunt yet, Baba uproots the family from their home in England for an extended camping holiday in their native Zimbabwe. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit—or ghost? or imaginary friend?—who only Mati can see and converse with. Guided by Meticais’s enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of living between two cultures, while the family must learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother.Full of captivating characters and stunning plot twists, All That It Ever Meant delivers a nuanced and unforgettable story of grief, love, and family.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fourteen-year-old Matiponesa Mufanani must navigate tense familial relationships following her mother's death in Musariri's moving tale. Mati's family is imploding under the weight of her mother's absence: her father, Baba, has withdrawn emotionally; her older sister Chichi, 17, has grown increasingly rebellious; her younger brother Tana, 10 and constantly caught in the middle of Chichi and Baba's arguments, yearns for stability; and Mati often feels invisible amid the turmoil. When Baba suddenly decides to take Mati and her siblings on an extended camping trip to visit family in their native Zimbabwe, each sibling must confront their grief while stuck in close quarters. Despite the forced bonding time, Mati finds the most comfort in pipe-smoking Meticais, a gender-neutral figure with locs who is visible only to her. Meticais imparts wisdom, helping Mati navigate her mercurial interpersonal relationships and feelings of grief. Though a reserved protagonist, Mati's emotions are palpable and portrayed with complexity. Employing an ethereal atmosphere and intimate-feeling prose, Musariri explores belonging, grief, and love in this powerful homage to family set against an intricately detailed backdrop. Ages 13–up.
