From Publishers Weekly
First-time novelist Farmer serves up a genial family tale with an out-of-the-ordinary setting: Zimbabwe. Fleeing bandits in his Mozambique village, Tapiwa's Uncle Zeka has come to stay. Bush-savvy but unversed in city ways, this unusual gentleman proves just the breath of fresh air the nine-year-old needs to spice up her lonely routine--middle-class Tapiwa attends an elite girls' school and is roundly ignored by her snooty classmates. Uncle Zeka is gleefully unpredictable, naive to the point of being marginally dangerous and brimming with wild schemes. He's also thoroughly devoted to Tapiwa, and she to him. With his niece in tow, Uncle Zeka commits a string of social faux pas and gets into one scrape after another, from termite-hunting and impersonating beggars to a (literally) smashing finale in which Zeka outsmarts Tapiwa's insufferable Aunt Rudo and ends up driving her Mercedes into a mine shaft (he emerges intact and triumphant). Jackson's spirited black-and-white illustrations exhibit a distinctive personality of their own while adding zest to this pair's adventures. Farmer, who spent 17 years in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is clearly a born storyteller--in this impressive first book she displays an astute ear for dialogue, a deft hand with plot twists and a keen, dry wit. Tapiwa could be the girl next door; she is also a most interesting window on a culture seldom seen in children's books. Ages 8-10.
Copyright 1993 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.
