- Mass Market Paperback: 112 pages
- Publisher: Puffin USA; Reprint edition (Nov 16 1994)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0140369465
- ISBN-13: 978-0140369465
- Product Dimensions: 19.7 x 12.9 x 0.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 136 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,904,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Uncle Zeke comes to live with Tapiwa's family in Zimbabwe in this impressive first book; in a starred review, PW praised Farmer for her "astute ear for dialogue, deft hand with plot twists and keen dry wit." Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 3-5-- When Uncle Zeka comes to live with nine-year-old Tapiwa's middle-class family in Harare, Zimbabwe, he regales the child with stories of prospecting for gold and living by his wits and his knowledge of nature. Unfortunately, his activities in his new home lead to mishaps, as he eats poisoned caterpillars, sets the grass on fire, and unleashes a swarm of bees. His exploits amuse and sometimes embarrass Tapiwa, but his self-confidence and his devotion to her help her to stand up for herself at school. Other family members also learn humility and understanding as they come to terms with their village relative. Universal themes such as the differences between country and city, between traditional and modern ways, and among the social classes are central to this novel. Uncle Zeka is a variation of the trickster hero who appears frequently in the folklore of southern Africa. Humor is used effectively, with the illustrations reinforcing the story at key points. The novel is not without flaws, however, the most critical being the author's reliance upon caricatures rather than full characterizations. Tapiwa's Aunt Rudo, the wife of a government minister, is the most striking example; there is nothing redeeming in this selfish, unattractive villainess. Her husband, a chronic speechmaker, is no more sympathetic, nor are any of Tapiwa's wealthy schoolmates. Readers at the lower end of the book's age range will probably enjoy Uncle Zeka and Tapiwa's struggle against the "sophisticated" bad guys in their lives, but older readers will want a more complex story. --Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Siena College Library, Loudonville, NY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love it.,
By
This review is from: Do You Know Me (Mass Market Paperback)
Brilliant, hilarious, quick and easy to read, but full of delightful depths. I chuckle just to think of it.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Do You Know Me?,
By a teacher (London, KY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Do You Know Me (Mass Market Paperback)
The story, Do You Know Me?, takes place in Africa where one brother living in a more modern community tries to help his older brother who has had to survive in the bush with only his wits to help him. Their ways of doing things clash and that's when the fun begins. Uncle Zeka and his antics had me laughing out loud! The characters in this story are ones you'll never forget. My favorite, Tapiwa, is a shy, intelligent girl who learns that the most valuable lessons are not always learned at school. This is an excellent book to read with your class, teachers!
2.0 out of 5 stars
Do You Know Me?,
By Libby Horn (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Do You Know Me (Mass Market Paperback)
I recently had the opportunity to read the paperback version of Do You Know Me? After completing the story, I have very mixed feelings! I really enjoyed the character, Uncle Zeka. He was in my opinion, the strongest character in the book. His unintentional and well meaning antics kept the book interesting. I also liked the character Tapiwa and felt a great deal of empathy for her situation. These were in my opinion the strong points of the book. My disappointment comes within the remainder of the plot. I felt that there was an overuse of characters which made the book quite hard to follow and as a result I lost interest very quickly. I would have been unable to complete the book had it not been for Uncle Zeka and Tapiwa.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
