In this timely story, friendship is tested by war and social customs. Ruby Tanya is a brave girl in a most unsettling crisis. Her friend, Asra, is one of a group of asylum-seekers from an eastern European country who is now locked away in a detention camp because of a bomb that went off in Ruby's school. In an alternating narration, each girl tells her side of the story. Mina Anwar's characterization and accent perfectly capture the hurt and denial of the girls. Anwar's ability to switch between Asra's Eastern European accent and Ruby Tanya's British English is remarkable and lends much realism to the story. As the fate of each of the girls is decided, readers are left with a strong sense of how war affects innocent victims. D.L.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine--
Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
--Ce texte provient de la
Audio Cassette
édition.
Review
'Provides a gently persuasive argument for doing the right thing even if that leads you into conflict with your family.' - TES; 'This is a brave and successful attempt to help readers understand a complex, topical situation in our real world.' - The Bookseller; 'This is an exciting, fast-moving story of topical interest...and Swindells confidently handles the build-up of racial tensions in the community, tempering his story with humour as well.' - Booktrusted News; 'The subject is very relevant today and Swindell's approach for younger readers is superbly formed.' - Independent On Sunday; 'The book opens with an explosion and maintains its pace throughout' - The Observer