What do you think?
Rate this book
Follow Me to Africa
Historical fiction inspired by the story of groundbreaking paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey, FOLLOW ME TO AFRICA is a sweeping, dual-timeline story of intergenerational friendship, a meditation on the beauty of the natural world, and a celebration of the women who pave the way for those to come.
It's 1983 and seventeen-year-old Grace Clark has just lost her mother when she begrudgingly accompanies her estranged father to an archeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Here, seventy-year-old Mary Leakey enlists Grace to sort and pack her fifty years of work and memories.
Their interaction reminds Mary how she pursued her ambitions of becoming an archeologist in the 1930s by sneaking into lectures and working on excavations. When well-known paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey commissions her to illustrate a book, she's not at all expecting to fall in love with the older married man. Mary then follows Louis to East Africa, where she falls in love for a second time, this time with the Olduvai Gorge, where her work defines her as a great scientist and allows her to step out of Louis's shadow.
In time, Mary and Grace learn they are more alike than they thought, which eventually leads them to the secret that connects them. They also discover a mutual deep love for animals, and when Lisa, an injured cheetah, appears at camp, Mary and Grace work together to save her. On the morning Grace is due to leave, the girl—and the cheetah—are nowhere to be found, and it becomes a race against time to rescue Grace before the African bush claims her.
From the acclaimed author of The Invincible Miss Cust and The Woman at Wheel comes an adventurous, dual timeline tale that explores the consequences of our choices, wisdom that comes with retrospection, and relationships that make us who we are, based on the extraordinary real life of Mary Leakey.
It's 1983 and seventeen-year-old Grace Clark has just lost her mother when she begrudgingly accompanies her estranged father to an archeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Here, seventy-year-old Mary Leakey enlists Grace to sort and pack her fifty years of work and memories.
Their interaction reminds Mary how she pursued her ambitions of becoming an archeologist in the 1930s by sneaking into lectures and working on excavations. When well-known paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey commissions her to illustrate a book, she's not at all expecting to fall in love with the older married man. Mary then follows Louis to East Africa, where she falls in love for a second time, this time with the Olduvai Gorge, where her work defines her as a great scientist and allows her to step out of Louis's shadow.
In time, Mary and Grace learn they are more alike than they thought, which eventually leads them to the secret that connects them. They also discover a mutual deep love for animals, and when Lisa, an injured cheetah, appears at camp, Mary and Grace work together to save her. On the morning Grace is due to leave, the girl—and the cheetah—are nowhere to be found, and it becomes a race against time to rescue Grace before the African bush claims her.
From the acclaimed author of The Invincible Miss Cust and The Woman at Wheel comes an adventurous, dual timeline tale that explores the consequences of our choices, wisdom that comes with retrospection, and relationships that make us who we are, based on the extraordinary real life of Mary Leakey.
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2025
276 people are currently reading
8150 people want to read
About the author
Penny Haw
7 books246 followersPenny Haw was the recipient of the 2024 Philida Literary Award for her “oeuvre of literary excellence” and won the 2022 Women's Fiction Writers Association Star Award.
Her books feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for animals and nature, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things.
Penny’s works of biographical historical fiction are published by Sourcebooks Landmark and include The Invincible Miss Cust (2022), The Woman at the Wheel (2023), Follow Me to Africa (2025) and The Woman and Her Stars (2026). Her other books include The Wilderness Between Us (2021), which is contemporary fiction while Nicko (2017) is a children’s book.
Penny lives in Hout Bay near Cape Town, South Africa with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.
Her books feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for animals and nature, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things.
Penny’s works of biographical historical fiction are published by Sourcebooks Landmark and include The Invincible Miss Cust (2022), The Woman at the Wheel (2023), Follow Me to Africa (2025) and The Woman and Her Stars (2026). Her other books include The Wilderness Between Us (2021), which is contemporary fiction while Nicko (2017) is a children’s book.
Penny lives in Hout Bay near Cape Town, South Africa with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
January 13, 2025
Follow Me to Africa by Penny Haw
Synopsis /
Historical fiction inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, who carved her own path to become one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists.
It's 1983 and seventeen-year-old Grace Clark has just lost her mother when she begrudgingly accompanies her estranged father to an archaeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Here, seventy-year-old Mary Leakey enlists Grace to sort and pack her fifty years of work and memories.
Their interaction reminds Mary how she pursued her ambitions of becoming an archaeologist in the 1930s by sneaking into lectures and working on excavations. When well-known paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey commissions her to illustrate a book, she's not at all expecting to fall in love with the older married man. Mary then follows Louis to East Africa, where she falls in love for a second time, this time with the Olduvai Gorge, where her work defines her as a great scientist and allows her to step out of Louis's shadow.
In time, Mary and Grace learn they are more alike than they thought, which eventually leads them to the secret that connects them. They also discover a mutual deep love for animals, and when Lisa, an injured cheetah, appears at camp, Mary and Grace work together to save her. On the morning Grace is due to leave, the girl—and the cheetah—are nowhere to be found, and it becomes a race against time to rescue Grace before the African bush claims her.
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publishers Sourcebooks Landmark and author, Penny Haw for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for February 25, 2025.
A mixture of both non-fiction and fiction, author Penny Haw has melded these two elements brilliantly.
Born in London, England on February 6, 1913; Mary Douglas Nicol (later to marry husband, Louis Leakey) was a girl with a talent for drawing and a keen interest in archaeology. Mary's father, Erskine Edward Nicol was a painter and for most of the year, the family travelled the Continent - to locations in the United States, Italy and Egypt where he painted watercolours and brought them back to London to sell during the English Summer. It was during this time, exposed to the wonders of Ancient Egypt that Mary first developed her enthusiasm for Egyptology.
The story has a dual-timeline, one set in the 1930s, and the other is set in 1983 when Mary is now seventy years young.
Aside from Mary's character, the author has written in another female lead – that of 17-year-old, Grace Clark. When Grace's mother passed away, she had little choice but to accompany her estranged father, George to Tanzania, where he was working on an archaeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti Plains with renown archaeologist and anthropologist, Mary Leakey. Her father had told her it was only for 10 days, but, as the reader will discover, a lot can unfold in ten days.
With alternating POVs the reader learns about both Mary and Grace's history and how Mary came to be who she is now.
This is another case of 'don't judge a book by its cover'; and by that I mean, when you first meet Mary Leakey your first impressions might not be altogether correct. As the story gains momentum, the reader learns more about Mary's character, more about Africa, and more about the sciences and palaeontology than one would have expected.
The author's descriptive imagery manages to evoke the smells, colours, sounds and shapes of the Serengeti and its inhabitants. The characters are fully fleshed out and at times, vulnerably raw; but are at all times - engaging.
The passion, love, dedication, drive and belief Mary Leakey had for her work is unparalleled.
Louis and Mary Leakey were monumental figures in the field of palaeoanthropology and their groundbreaking discoveries helped shape our understanding of human origins. Now, the Leakey family is synonymous with the study of human evolution, with three generations making important contributions to science.
Mary Leakey passed away in Nairobi, Kenya in 1996, aged 83.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Sourcebooks Landmark for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Synopsis /
Historical fiction inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, who carved her own path to become one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists.
It's 1983 and seventeen-year-old Grace Clark has just lost her mother when she begrudgingly accompanies her estranged father to an archaeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Here, seventy-year-old Mary Leakey enlists Grace to sort and pack her fifty years of work and memories.
Their interaction reminds Mary how she pursued her ambitions of becoming an archaeologist in the 1930s by sneaking into lectures and working on excavations. When well-known paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey commissions her to illustrate a book, she's not at all expecting to fall in love with the older married man. Mary then follows Louis to East Africa, where she falls in love for a second time, this time with the Olduvai Gorge, where her work defines her as a great scientist and allows her to step out of Louis's shadow.
In time, Mary and Grace learn they are more alike than they thought, which eventually leads them to the secret that connects them. They also discover a mutual deep love for animals, and when Lisa, an injured cheetah, appears at camp, Mary and Grace work together to save her. On the morning Grace is due to leave, the girl—and the cheetah—are nowhere to be found, and it becomes a race against time to rescue Grace before the African bush claims her.
My Thoughts /
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, publishers Sourcebooks Landmark and author, Penny Haw for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for February 25, 2025.
A mixture of both non-fiction and fiction, author Penny Haw has melded these two elements brilliantly.
Born in London, England on February 6, 1913; Mary Douglas Nicol (later to marry husband, Louis Leakey) was a girl with a talent for drawing and a keen interest in archaeology. Mary's father, Erskine Edward Nicol was a painter and for most of the year, the family travelled the Continent - to locations in the United States, Italy and Egypt where he painted watercolours and brought them back to London to sell during the English Summer. It was during this time, exposed to the wonders of Ancient Egypt that Mary first developed her enthusiasm for Egyptology.
The story has a dual-timeline, one set in the 1930s, and the other is set in 1983 when Mary is now seventy years young.
Aside from Mary's character, the author has written in another female lead – that of 17-year-old, Grace Clark. When Grace's mother passed away, she had little choice but to accompany her estranged father, George to Tanzania, where he was working on an archaeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti Plains with renown archaeologist and anthropologist, Mary Leakey. Her father had told her it was only for 10 days, but, as the reader will discover, a lot can unfold in ten days.
With alternating POVs the reader learns about both Mary and Grace's history and how Mary came to be who she is now.
This is another case of 'don't judge a book by its cover'; and by that I mean, when you first meet Mary Leakey your first impressions might not be altogether correct. As the story gains momentum, the reader learns more about Mary's character, more about Africa, and more about the sciences and palaeontology than one would have expected.
The author's descriptive imagery manages to evoke the smells, colours, sounds and shapes of the Serengeti and its inhabitants. The characters are fully fleshed out and at times, vulnerably raw; but are at all times - engaging.
The passion, love, dedication, drive and belief Mary Leakey had for her work is unparalleled.
Louis and Mary Leakey were monumental figures in the field of palaeoanthropology and their groundbreaking discoveries helped shape our understanding of human origins. Now, the Leakey family is synonymous with the study of human evolution, with three generations making important contributions to science.
Mary Leakey passed away in Nairobi, Kenya in 1996, aged 83.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Sourcebooks Landmark for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 2, 2024
In her latest novel author Penny Haw uses a dual timeline to explore the amazing life of Mary Nicol Leakey, the daughter of a watercolour painter who went on to be a famous paleoanthropologist.
1983: Grace Clark is seventeen and her mother has just passed away after a long illness and she has no choice but to accompany her estranged father George on an archaeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Grace is not happy about it, she thinks her dad chose his work before his family and deserted them?
Mary is a seventy years old, she shares with Grace her fifty years of her memories, wisdom and tries to explain to her through her stories how they have a lot in common and Mary’s life started off very similar to hers and in hope of changing her attitude. Mary’s father passed away when she was thirteen years old, her mother Cecilia wasn’t happy with her wanting to be an archaeologist and living like a nomad.
Louis Leakey is a paleoanthropologist and he commissions Mary to illustrate a book, he’s older than her and married. Mary later follows Louis to East Africa, despite the damage it does to her reputation and his career, and she’s mesmerised by the Serengeti and the Olduvai Gorge. Mary discovered many things as paleoanthropologist, the first fossilises of ancient hominines and hominins and stone tools and she devised her own system of classifying these and I'm not sure what Louis would've thought of his wife's successes and he was a vain man.
As Mary tells Grace her account and tales, they discover they share a love of animals, Lisa an injured cheetah appears at camp, she’s needs help and Mary explains to Grace they must be cautious and careful.
I received a copy of Follow Me to Africa from Edelweiss and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. Penny Haw likes to write historical fiction using extraordinary women as a basis for the narrative and this time it’s about Mary Leakey.
The story is about archaeology and Mary the main character being a paleoanthropologist, and it also covers topics such as estranged relationships and divorce, choices people make both good and bad ones, and life lessons and gaining wisdom and sharing it.
What I got out of the reading this amazing novel was Mary’s love of Africa, the Savanna or the Serengeti and the Olduvai Gorge and the Ngorongora Crater and the variety of animals and birds, the boundless land and skies, freedom and peace and she shares this with Grace and she looks at it from a different perspective and starts to consider what she could achieve.
Five Stars for Follow Me to Africa and if you enjoyed reading The Clouds Beneath the Sun by Mackenzie Ford and I highly recommend adding Penny’s Haw’s book to your want to read list.
1983: Grace Clark is seventeen and her mother has just passed away after a long illness and she has no choice but to accompany her estranged father George on an archaeological dig at Olduvai Gorge on the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Grace is not happy about it, she thinks her dad chose his work before his family and deserted them?
Mary is a seventy years old, she shares with Grace her fifty years of her memories, wisdom and tries to explain to her through her stories how they have a lot in common and Mary’s life started off very similar to hers and in hope of changing her attitude. Mary’s father passed away when she was thirteen years old, her mother Cecilia wasn’t happy with her wanting to be an archaeologist and living like a nomad.
Louis Leakey is a paleoanthropologist and he commissions Mary to illustrate a book, he’s older than her and married. Mary later follows Louis to East Africa, despite the damage it does to her reputation and his career, and she’s mesmerised by the Serengeti and the Olduvai Gorge. Mary discovered many things as paleoanthropologist, the first fossilises of ancient hominines and hominins and stone tools and she devised her own system of classifying these and I'm not sure what Louis would've thought of his wife's successes and he was a vain man.
As Mary tells Grace her account and tales, they discover they share a love of animals, Lisa an injured cheetah appears at camp, she’s needs help and Mary explains to Grace they must be cautious and careful.
I received a copy of Follow Me to Africa from Edelweiss and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. Penny Haw likes to write historical fiction using extraordinary women as a basis for the narrative and this time it’s about Mary Leakey.
The story is about archaeology and Mary the main character being a paleoanthropologist, and it also covers topics such as estranged relationships and divorce, choices people make both good and bad ones, and life lessons and gaining wisdom and sharing it.
What I got out of the reading this amazing novel was Mary’s love of Africa, the Savanna or the Serengeti and the Olduvai Gorge and the Ngorongora Crater and the variety of animals and birds, the boundless land and skies, freedom and peace and she shares this with Grace and she looks at it from a different perspective and starts to consider what she could achieve.
Five Stars for Follow Me to Africa and if you enjoyed reading The Clouds Beneath the Sun by Mackenzie Ford and I highly recommend adding Penny’s Haw’s book to your want to read list.
October 27, 2025
Follow Me to Africa is a historical fiction that details Mary Leakey’s life. Starting as an illustrator, she developed into one of the foremost paleoanthropologists.
The story is told in the all too common dual timeline format. One half takes place in 1983, when Grace is forced to follow her father to the Olduvai Gorge where 70 year old Mary is still working. Grace forms an unlikely friendship with Mary, based on a hurt cheetah they seek to help.
In both storylines, Haw does an excellent job of giving the reader a firm sense of place. I felt I was there in Africa. I was less impressed with one of her characters, especially Grace, who is the typical disgruntled teen, unsure of herself. She is used as a device to make Mary remember how insecure she was initially but how she grew into herself.
I will admit that I struggled with the romance in the story. Louis Leakey was married with one child and another on the way when he and Mary started their affair. I grew up with the phrase “ a leopard doesn’t change its spots”. Unfortunately for Mary, she comes to realize the adage is true.
In the Author’s Note, Haw talks about the responsibility of writing biographical fiction and the amount of research required. She states that she truly just highlighted some of Mary’s accomplishments. I would have preferred a deeper dive. I would have liked more about her actual work and discoveries that she and her husband made. The book missed being a strong historical fiction for me because it was light on educational facts.
I listened to this and I was less than impressed with Amy Scanlon as the narrator. Mary’s voice came across as an old woman’s voice no matter the time period, plus she consistently sounded older than 70.
The story is told in the all too common dual timeline format. One half takes place in 1983, when Grace is forced to follow her father to the Olduvai Gorge where 70 year old Mary is still working. Grace forms an unlikely friendship with Mary, based on a hurt cheetah they seek to help.
In both storylines, Haw does an excellent job of giving the reader a firm sense of place. I felt I was there in Africa. I was less impressed with one of her characters, especially Grace, who is the typical disgruntled teen, unsure of herself. She is used as a device to make Mary remember how insecure she was initially but how she grew into herself.
I will admit that I struggled with the romance in the story. Louis Leakey was married with one child and another on the way when he and Mary started their affair. I grew up with the phrase “ a leopard doesn’t change its spots”. Unfortunately for Mary, she comes to realize the adage is true.
In the Author’s Note, Haw talks about the responsibility of writing biographical fiction and the amount of research required. She states that she truly just highlighted some of Mary’s accomplishments. I would have preferred a deeper dive. I would have liked more about her actual work and discoveries that she and her husband made. The book missed being a strong historical fiction for me because it was light on educational facts.
I listened to this and I was less than impressed with Amy Scanlon as the narrator. Mary’s voice came across as an old woman’s voice no matter the time period, plus she consistently sounded older than 70.
January 21, 2025
Follow Me to Africa imagines real story of Mary Leakey who became one of the world’s most distinguished paleoanthropologists despite not having formal education. Her passion, determination, curiosity and hard work earned her numerous prestigious awards and four honorary doctorate degrees.
Her story runs alongside a fictional character which purpose was to question “What would you tell your younger self?”
The story begins in 1983 when Grace arrives in Tanzania at Olduvai George where she feels unwelcomed by Dr. Mary Leakey. When Grace arrives at the archeological dig’s camp with her father from England, she is still in a state of sorrow after losing her mother.
When Mary lost her father at a young age, she found her strength in following her passion for archeology. Thus, Mary, knowing that Grace lost her mother, recognizes the need for mentorship for Grace who is lost in her sorrow and doesn’t have any goals in her life. When a cheetah in a dire state approaches the camp, she creates a bond between Mary and Grace as they care for the animal.
With dual timeline, the story goes back to 1930s London and reveals how Mary’s father had a big influence on her; and how she set her heart on archeology; how her passion led her toward the right people assisting her in her growth; and further leading her to meeting her husband, and their common interest on finding evidence of early hominids in East Africa.
The narrative is thoughtfully imagined with backstories beautifully building the dimensions to the characters. Mary’s archeological accomplishments make this biographical fiction very rich in historical background. The personal growth is caringly woven into this story, touching upon themes of parental influence, mentorship of others, setting goals, being passionate about one’s pursuits, challenging one’s believes, and influence of experiencing certain place.
Follow Me to Africa, a story of two strong female characters, is set against the wild African nature and bringing out the dimensions of the setting through vital ecosystem and animal conservation. Further showing how thoughtfully the story is imagined. The dimensions of this story are superb.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Her story runs alongside a fictional character which purpose was to question “What would you tell your younger self?”
The story begins in 1983 when Grace arrives in Tanzania at Olduvai George where she feels unwelcomed by Dr. Mary Leakey. When Grace arrives at the archeological dig’s camp with her father from England, she is still in a state of sorrow after losing her mother.
When Mary lost her father at a young age, she found her strength in following her passion for archeology. Thus, Mary, knowing that Grace lost her mother, recognizes the need for mentorship for Grace who is lost in her sorrow and doesn’t have any goals in her life. When a cheetah in a dire state approaches the camp, she creates a bond between Mary and Grace as they care for the animal.
With dual timeline, the story goes back to 1930s London and reveals how Mary’s father had a big influence on her; and how she set her heart on archeology; how her passion led her toward the right people assisting her in her growth; and further leading her to meeting her husband, and their common interest on finding evidence of early hominids in East Africa.
The narrative is thoughtfully imagined with backstories beautifully building the dimensions to the characters. Mary’s archeological accomplishments make this biographical fiction very rich in historical background. The personal growth is caringly woven into this story, touching upon themes of parental influence, mentorship of others, setting goals, being passionate about one’s pursuits, challenging one’s believes, and influence of experiencing certain place.
Follow Me to Africa, a story of two strong female characters, is set against the wild African nature and bringing out the dimensions of the setting through vital ecosystem and animal conservation. Further showing how thoughtfully the story is imagined. The dimensions of this story are superb.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2025
Inspired by British paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey, who discovered the first fossilized Proconsul skull, an extinct genus of primates from the Miocene, and fifteen other new species of animals, this historical fiction novel is told in dual timelines. The latter timeline follows seventeen-year-old Grace Clark as she travels with her father to Africa after the death of her mother to an archeological dig in Tanzania headed by Mary Leakey. The former timeline follows Mary Nicol as a young woman interested in archeology, but not in academics, as she follows her passions and becomes an illustrator for the well-known paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey, an older man with a wife and baby. Despite the circumstances, Mary follows Leakey to East Africa where she flourishes as a scientist.
I am always fascinated to learn more about female pioneers of science, which attracted me to this book, especially since I vaguely remembered Mary Leakey from my anthropology classes in university. This is the second book in a row that I’ve read inspired by a historical female pioneer in her field that was also involved with a married man. I admit that I found this story a little more enjoyable due to the latter timeline that portrays the heroine at age seventy looking back over her life with less emphasis on the man in question, and from the point of view of another young woman, while fictional, also making observances about the woman at the center of the story.
Affair and academics aside, I related well to Mary’s priorities as a young woman in the 1930s rebelling against her mother’s social strictures, more interested in studying archeology and learning from more mature people experienced in the field rather than in school, boys and making friends with girls her own age. I was much the same. I really enjoyed the relationship that the fictional Grace developed with Mary in later years as they bonded over a cheetah that wanders near their camp in poor condition and their various strategies about how to help the animal and Grace’s realization of what she would like her own future to hold.
I read and listened to this book in parts. The audiobook is narrated by Amy Scanlon, a favorite narrator of mine. She did a great job with the story, smoothly transitioning between the timelines and the characters even as they aged.
Recommended to readers interested in strong female characters inspired by history and a bit about living on a dig site in the wilds of Africa.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy provided for an honest review.
I am always fascinated to learn more about female pioneers of science, which attracted me to this book, especially since I vaguely remembered Mary Leakey from my anthropology classes in university. This is the second book in a row that I’ve read inspired by a historical female pioneer in her field that was also involved with a married man. I admit that I found this story a little more enjoyable due to the latter timeline that portrays the heroine at age seventy looking back over her life with less emphasis on the man in question, and from the point of view of another young woman, while fictional, also making observances about the woman at the center of the story.
Affair and academics aside, I related well to Mary’s priorities as a young woman in the 1930s rebelling against her mother’s social strictures, more interested in studying archeology and learning from more mature people experienced in the field rather than in school, boys and making friends with girls her own age. I was much the same. I really enjoyed the relationship that the fictional Grace developed with Mary in later years as they bonded over a cheetah that wanders near their camp in poor condition and their various strategies about how to help the animal and Grace’s realization of what she would like her own future to hold.
I read and listened to this book in parts. The audiobook is narrated by Amy Scanlon, a favorite narrator of mine. She did a great job with the story, smoothly transitioning between the timelines and the characters even as they aged.
Recommended to readers interested in strong female characters inspired by history and a bit about living on a dig site in the wilds of Africa.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy provided for an honest review.
February 1, 2025
“We all want to be worth something, do our bit, matter somehow. Work it out, girl, for yourself - before someone else does it for you and you find yourself stuck in a life you don’t want.”
Pack your suitcase ~ you’re heading to the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, and hanging out with world-renowned paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey!
Known for her exploration of remarkable women achieving extraordinary things, author Penny Haw shares Mary Leakey’s story in a compelling dual timeline story through 17-year-old Grace’s perspective and through that of 70-year-old Mary.
The story is built around this question:
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟?
Grace Clark has come to Tanzania to spend time with her father; she doesn’t want to be there and she dreads the 10-day ‘bonding’ experience. Things take a 180-degree turn when she meets Mary and Lisa.
Mary has so much to share with Grace. She’s spent 48 years in the wildest, remotest Africa and has learned to become fearless, unwaveringly confident and competent. Mary encourages Grace to be more confident in her abilities, to talk about her feelings, and to let go of things to “make space for new things to happen”. Her professional advice and life lessons help change Grace’s outlook and soon she doesn’t want to leave.
The writing had a wonderful flow and echo and the emotional pull both in 1930s and 1980s added to the plot. I loved learning more about this completely original woman, who disregarded expectations and blazed her own trail. As a teacher, I’m always intrigued by those who didn’t receive a typical education yet found other ways of amassing the knowledge and skills to pursue their dreams.
I highly recommend this story!
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Pack your suitcase ~ you’re heading to the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, and hanging out with world-renowned paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey!
Known for her exploration of remarkable women achieving extraordinary things, author Penny Haw shares Mary Leakey’s story in a compelling dual timeline story through 17-year-old Grace’s perspective and through that of 70-year-old Mary.
The story is built around this question:
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟?
Grace Clark has come to Tanzania to spend time with her father; she doesn’t want to be there and she dreads the 10-day ‘bonding’ experience. Things take a 180-degree turn when she meets Mary and Lisa.
Mary has so much to share with Grace. She’s spent 48 years in the wildest, remotest Africa and has learned to become fearless, unwaveringly confident and competent. Mary encourages Grace to be more confident in her abilities, to talk about her feelings, and to let go of things to “make space for new things to happen”. Her professional advice and life lessons help change Grace’s outlook and soon she doesn’t want to leave.
The writing had a wonderful flow and echo and the emotional pull both in 1930s and 1980s added to the plot. I loved learning more about this completely original woman, who disregarded expectations and blazed her own trail. As a teacher, I’m always intrigued by those who didn’t receive a typical education yet found other ways of amassing the knowledge and skills to pursue their dreams.
I highly recommend this story!
I was gifted this copy by Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 16, 2025
Follow Me to Africa is such a perfect title, as this is exactly what it does. It sweeps you into the savanna, wildlife, flora and fauna. The surroundings literally jump off of the page.
We follow the story of Dr. Mary Leakey, a British paleoanthropologist and her incredible life, both personal and professional. With little schooling, she followed her dreams and where her passions lay. This was very interesting on where her life took her and how she found love with her husband but ultimately you quickly realize that her first love was Africa.
The second perspective of the story is fiction and we follow a young girl, Grace, who has been estranged from her father, George. After the death of her mother, Grace accompanies her father who is an archeologist, to a 10 day excursion to Africa where she is introduced to Dr. Leakey. The two bond over a cheetah, Lisa, who is tame but lost from her original owners. Lisa, the cheetah is a character in herself and loved this part of the story. Dr. Leakey can see that Grace has a love and connection for animals and they explore both of their interests hand in hand. Dr. Leakey, who is 70, offers a 17 year old girl advice; as she too was in a similar position when she was in her teens.
At times, I found this book a wee bit cumbersome. There is a lot of commentary on the archeological world to the point where it did read like a textbook in some areas rather than a story. I did take a way a few quotes that were very lovely though and ultimately I think most readers will be able to overlook this and enjoy the majesty of the story in itself.
4 stars
'We all want to be worth something, do our bit, matter somehow. Work it out, girl, for yourself - before someone else does it for you and you find yourself stuck in a life you don’t want.”
We follow the story of Dr. Mary Leakey, a British paleoanthropologist and her incredible life, both personal and professional. With little schooling, she followed her dreams and where her passions lay. This was very interesting on where her life took her and how she found love with her husband but ultimately you quickly realize that her first love was Africa.
The second perspective of the story is fiction and we follow a young girl, Grace, who has been estranged from her father, George. After the death of her mother, Grace accompanies her father who is an archeologist, to a 10 day excursion to Africa where she is introduced to Dr. Leakey. The two bond over a cheetah, Lisa, who is tame but lost from her original owners. Lisa, the cheetah is a character in herself and loved this part of the story. Dr. Leakey can see that Grace has a love and connection for animals and they explore both of their interests hand in hand. Dr. Leakey, who is 70, offers a 17 year old girl advice; as she too was in a similar position when she was in her teens.
At times, I found this book a wee bit cumbersome. There is a lot of commentary on the archeological world to the point where it did read like a textbook in some areas rather than a story. I did take a way a few quotes that were very lovely though and ultimately I think most readers will be able to overlook this and enjoy the majesty of the story in itself.
4 stars
'We all want to be worth something, do our bit, matter somehow. Work it out, girl, for yourself - before someone else does it for you and you find yourself stuck in a life you don’t want.”
March 23, 2025
Excellent. Inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists. Penny Haw has taken the facts and impressively woven fiction into the life of Mary to create quite an entertaining and immersive narrative. The setting of the African savannah was written in such a vivid, atmospheric way that I felt transported to a different time and place. This book is told in a dual timeline, and in the later 1980’s timeline has Mary mentoring 17-year-old Grace Clark. Both have this special understanding of animals, especially towards an injured cheetah given the name Lisa. The book brings to life not only these remarkable two women + an endearing endangered animal, but also the secondary characters. Follow Me To Africa is a poignant tale of love, marriage, friendships and of choices made, those good and those with consequences. I highly recommend it. 5 stars — Pub. 2/25/25
May 27, 2025
Enjoyed reading this, going back and forth from Mary Leaky's life to the fictional teen, Grace, in later years.
July 28, 2025
I liked the fact the author alternated between a young Mary Leaky and an older Mary Leaky. Interesting mix of historical information and fiction to tell the story of two different women learning to be confident in a world set up and controlled by men. The intelligence of Mary and how she shares it with a young teenager, Grace. the added stories of two dogs and a leopard really helped to keep my interest. the background being in Nairobi and Tanzania really has me wanting to go back to Kenya!8
February 11, 2025
My expectations were high for Follow Me To Africa. I love Africa as a setting and was looking forward to discovering more about Mary Leakey"s life and times. There is a duo timeline in the novel. Mary's begins in the 1930's, much of the focus is on her romance with Louis Leakey. The second character is seventeen year old Grace, the timeline is 1983.
Unfortunately Mary's character didn't really come alive for me until the last quarter of the book, the romance and disappointment with her husband Louis felt a little tired, it seemed like there was much more to know about the young woman who became a world renowned paleoanthropologist.
Grace visits Africa with her estranged father after her mothers death. The story became interesting as she interacted with Mary Leakey and a cheetah who visits the camp and is in need of help. As an animal lover, I found the story of Lisa the cheetah the best part of the book.
While I liked the book, I wasn't completely drawn in. The writing is straight forward, more journalistic than poetic. I would have enjoyed a bit more poetry.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an advance copy to read and review.
Unfortunately Mary's character didn't really come alive for me until the last quarter of the book, the romance and disappointment with her husband Louis felt a little tired, it seemed like there was much more to know about the young woman who became a world renowned paleoanthropologist.
Grace visits Africa with her estranged father after her mothers death. The story became interesting as she interacted with Mary Leakey and a cheetah who visits the camp and is in need of help. As an animal lover, I found the story of Lisa the cheetah the best part of the book.
While I liked the book, I wasn't completely drawn in. The writing is straight forward, more journalistic than poetic. I would have enjoyed a bit more poetry.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an advance copy to read and review.
February 5, 2025
I've absolutely adored Peggy Haw's past books (The Invincible Miss Cust and The Woman at the Wheel) and was so excited to see another biographical fiction about an influential, and perhaps lesser-known, historical woman. Follow Me to Africa explores the life of Mary Leakey, a woman who didn't let her lack of formal education stop her from striving for her goals and becoming a world-renowned paleoanthropologist.
Follow Me to Africa is a dual-timeline novel. The first timeline is told entirely from the perspective of Mary Leakey, and it was fascinating to see her drive, ambition, and passion for archeology. She was a trailblazer who did things her own way (even though some of those decisions came with great heartbreak and pain.)
This 1930s+ timeline was a little slower but it felt well-researched. Peggy Haw does an exceptional job at bringing real-world individuals to life on the page, and (as someone who reads a lot of biographical historical fiction) I know that's tricky to do. While fictionalized, the book feels informative and authentic, and the conversations, motivations, and emotions felt entirely plausible.
The second timeline is set in the 1980s and features the teenage character, Grace. While Grace is an entirely fictional character, this young teen mirrors Mary's life and emotional experiences in many ways. Grace was a great foil for the older Mary, highlighting the many lessons learned along the way. The 1980s timeline also features the fantastic Lisa the Cheetah (which may have been my favourite plot point of the novel!) It was a beautiful element to the story, and you can see the characters' (and author's!) deep love for animals.
My one picky note (which has nothing to do with the story and everything to do with marketing) is that the blurb for the book says, "On the morning Grace is due to leave, the girl—and the cheetah—are nowhere to be found, and it becomes a race against time to rescue Grace before the African bush claims her." Given the emphasis on this in the book's description, I kept expecting
Overall, I found this to be a really interesting story exploring the life of a woman that I'd never heard of before. I love that Haw highlights incredible women and gives readers the opportunity to "meet" and cheer on these historical trailblazers. With its gorgeous, transportive setting and remarkable characters, this historical novel is one to watch for!
Thanks to the publisher for my advance e-read!
Follow Me to Africa is a dual-timeline novel. The first timeline is told entirely from the perspective of Mary Leakey, and it was fascinating to see her drive, ambition, and passion for archeology. She was a trailblazer who did things her own way (even though some of those decisions came with great heartbreak and pain.)
This 1930s+ timeline was a little slower but it felt well-researched. Peggy Haw does an exceptional job at bringing real-world individuals to life on the page, and (as someone who reads a lot of biographical historical fiction) I know that's tricky to do. While fictionalized, the book feels informative and authentic, and the conversations, motivations, and emotions felt entirely plausible.
The second timeline is set in the 1980s and features the teenage character, Grace. While Grace is an entirely fictional character, this young teen mirrors Mary's life and emotional experiences in many ways. Grace was a great foil for the older Mary, highlighting the many lessons learned along the way. The 1980s timeline also features the fantastic Lisa the Cheetah (which may have been my favourite plot point of the novel!) It was a beautiful element to the story, and you can see the characters' (and author's!) deep love for animals.
My one picky note (which has nothing to do with the story and everything to do with marketing) is that the blurb for the book says, "On the morning Grace is due to leave, the girl—and the cheetah—are nowhere to be found, and it becomes a race against time to rescue Grace before the African bush claims her." Given the emphasis on this in the book's description, I kept expecting
Overall, I found this to be a really interesting story exploring the life of a woman that I'd never heard of before. I love that Haw highlights incredible women and gives readers the opportunity to "meet" and cheer on these historical trailblazers. With its gorgeous, transportive setting and remarkable characters, this historical novel is one to watch for!
Thanks to the publisher for my advance e-read!
February 25, 2025
Penny Haw has written a wonderful piece of historical fiction inspired by the story of Mary Leakey, a woman who carved her own path to become one of the world's most distinguished paleoanthropologists. This book is a mixture of both nonfiction and fiction and I felt Penny weaved the two together seamlessly. I keen to read previous books written by Penny as she clearly understands these remarkable women who achieved great things and she wants this to be celebrated.
‘For Mary, the untamed Serengeti, with its tremendous wildlife, ancient beds of Olduvai Gorge, and warm embrace of the sun, evoked a primal connection to the world she’d never known. Even when she was alone there - perhaps mostly when she was alone - she experienced an unprecedented sense of composure and peace.’
Follow Me to Africa takes the facts and weaves the fiction into the life of Mary. For someone who had no formal education it is an incredible tale of determination and passion. Her discoveries and hard work earned her prestigious awards and honorary doctorate degrees. I knew of Richard Leakey so it was enlightening to learn more about his mother and her contributions to the origin of species. Penny made this a dual time narrative and has a much older Mary interacting with a young girl in a contemporary (1980s) timeline. The purpose of this was Penny’s desire to imagine what Mary looking back on her life might say to her seventeen-year-old self if she had the opportunity. “What would you tell your younger self?”
Penny’s book was well researched and written. I found both timelines engaging and also the cast of supporting characters. The historical note at the back of the book explains what was fact and what was fiction and Penny’s decisions on what to include. This book not only covers archaeology/palaeontology but also more personal topics such as relationships - marriage, family, friendships - and choices people make with the consequences and lessons learned from that.
‘... what struck her most was how infinite her surroundings were. The only thing grander than the boundless savannah was the inestimable sky. Their combined magnitude made her feel at once insignificant and mighty.’
I, having lived and worked in Africa, feel such an affinity for the continent and love when books really capture the majesty and awe of the place. This book is full of love for Africa as seen through the land, the animals and the people. The courage Mary faced in going against expectations of the time for women and paving a way for women to work and be acknowledged in a field such as this was enthralling.
‘There was no ultimate destination in her work, but a journey fueled by curiosity and driven by science. She owed her success to no one but herself.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
‘For Mary, the untamed Serengeti, with its tremendous wildlife, ancient beds of Olduvai Gorge, and warm embrace of the sun, evoked a primal connection to the world she’d never known. Even when she was alone there - perhaps mostly when she was alone - she experienced an unprecedented sense of composure and peace.’
Follow Me to Africa takes the facts and weaves the fiction into the life of Mary. For someone who had no formal education it is an incredible tale of determination and passion. Her discoveries and hard work earned her prestigious awards and honorary doctorate degrees. I knew of Richard Leakey so it was enlightening to learn more about his mother and her contributions to the origin of species. Penny made this a dual time narrative and has a much older Mary interacting with a young girl in a contemporary (1980s) timeline. The purpose of this was Penny’s desire to imagine what Mary looking back on her life might say to her seventeen-year-old self if she had the opportunity. “What would you tell your younger self?”
Penny’s book was well researched and written. I found both timelines engaging and also the cast of supporting characters. The historical note at the back of the book explains what was fact and what was fiction and Penny’s decisions on what to include. This book not only covers archaeology/palaeontology but also more personal topics such as relationships - marriage, family, friendships - and choices people make with the consequences and lessons learned from that.
‘... what struck her most was how infinite her surroundings were. The only thing grander than the boundless savannah was the inestimable sky. Their combined magnitude made her feel at once insignificant and mighty.’
I, having lived and worked in Africa, feel such an affinity for the continent and love when books really capture the majesty and awe of the place. This book is full of love for Africa as seen through the land, the animals and the people. The courage Mary faced in going against expectations of the time for women and paving a way for women to work and be acknowledged in a field such as this was enthralling.
‘There was no ultimate destination in her work, but a journey fueled by curiosity and driven by science. She owed her success to no one but herself.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
April 13, 2025
Learning about Mary Leakey, a paleoanthropologist, and her extraordinary discoveries was simply amazing. What a life she led. This novel is historical fiction and it celebrates friendships between old and young… Mary is 70 and Grace is 17 when we meet both of them. The dual timeline highlights their intergenerational friendship. This is also a novel that reveals the breathtaking beauty of the natural world and celebrates women who aren’t afraid to persevere as they pursue their life paths. Having been to Africa, I could truly relate to the shock and awe of seeing elephants, zebras, lions and hippos.
January 4, 2026
4.5 stars
December 31, 2024
A dual timeline historical fiction novel that uncovers the story of a woman (Mary Leakey) who defied what was expected of her to forge her path in life & ultimately gave the world one of the most distinguished female paleoanthropologists.
Follow Me to Africa takes readers to Tanzania and England in a novel filled with adventures but also provides a glimpse into the fascinating world of fossils, and the uncovering of the theory that humans originated in Africa.
Want to know more about what I mean? Pick up Follow Me to Africa when it releases February 25, 2025.
Thank you to author and publisher (Sourcebooks Landmarks) for the advanced copy of the novel (physical book).
🇹🇿 🏴 🦏 🦛🐆🐵🦒🦓🦁
Follow Me to Africa takes readers to Tanzania and England in a novel filled with adventures but also provides a glimpse into the fascinating world of fossils, and the uncovering of the theory that humans originated in Africa.
Want to know more about what I mean? Pick up Follow Me to Africa when it releases February 25, 2025.
Thank you to author and publisher (Sourcebooks Landmarks) for the advanced copy of the novel (physical book).
🇹🇿 🏴 🦏 🦛🐆🐵🦒🦓🦁
February 21, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review
I loved the author’s previous book - Woman At The Wheel- and was so excited to see she had a new novel coming out on the life of Mary Leakey ! However, this one didn’t work as well for me . There are two POV - a young Mary Leakey in the early years of her meeting with her husband and her marriage till his death and an older Dr Leakey in Africa with a young girl named Grace and a wild cheetah named Lisa
For the most part , especially the Mary L POv,
I felt like I was being told “facts” ( albeit fictional) most of the time vs being shown these characters and their development and relationships over time .
My fav part of the story was definitely Lisa the cheetah and Grace’s growing love for the wild animal .
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up for 🐆
I loved the author’s previous book - Woman At The Wheel- and was so excited to see she had a new novel coming out on the life of Mary Leakey ! However, this one didn’t work as well for me . There are two POV - a young Mary Leakey in the early years of her meeting with her husband and her marriage till his death and an older Dr Leakey in Africa with a young girl named Grace and a wild cheetah named Lisa
For the most part , especially the Mary L POv,
I felt like I was being told “facts” ( albeit fictional) most of the time vs being shown these characters and their development and relationships over time .
My fav part of the story was definitely Lisa the cheetah and Grace’s growing love for the wild animal .
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up for 🐆
August 11, 2025
I was utterly transported. One of my favorite books of the year—it made me feel like I was right there in Africa, something I didn’t really know I wanted to feel. I so loved learning of Mary Leaky’s story, both her beginning and in her later life. I loved learning of her animals, her finds, her struggles, her successes. And I was swept up in the struggles of the young girl like her who is catapulted into the amazing Serengeti. Wow. This is Haw’s best yet. Not to miss.
June 1, 2025
Great read if you are going on Safari
February 21, 2025
From the Author of ‘Women at the Wheel’. Follow Me to Africa by Penny Haw tells the real life story of Mary Leakey.
The story follows a dual time line set in 1913 England - when Mary Douglas Nicol was born and later marries Louis Leakey. Her Father Erskine Edward Nicol is a watercolour painter and artist. Together they travelled the world visiting the USA, Italy and Egypt working as artists and selling their artwork to make a living.
Mary begins her life also as a drawer and artist. Then at the age of 13 after the death of her father and whilst in Egypt, shows interest and a passion for archeology becoming a famous paleo anthropologist. Her mother is not happy about the life her daughter wants to live but Mary lives the life she is excited about and enjoys.
In 1983 Africa - Mary now aged 70 meets Grace Clarke a 17 year old. Grace whose mother was sick and has passed away is unhappy and believes her father George abandoned his family for work. Grace decides to travel with her estranged Father to the Serengeti Plains Tanzania working on an archaeological dig at Oiluvai Gorge along with Mary.
Mary and Grace become friends and have more in common than they realise. Mary tells Grace her life story, loss of beloved parents, passions in art and archaeology. They soon discover they both share a love of animals. Along comes an injured cheetah named Lisa into the camp and together with great care they assist the cheetah fulfilling their duty of looking after the animals and wildlife surrounding them.
I rate this story 5 stars and thank NetGalley for the opportunity of reading and for writing an honest review of this beautifully written book.
It teaches you a lot about how life is, in a different part of the world. Africa has a great history and a tough terrain that makes you wonder how life can be lived. It has opened my eyes to the way of life and things I was not aware of.
Archeologists have a fascinating career and understanding of how past events and history takes shape from deep spaces and come alive in present times that the common man can only see in museums.
Just like Penny’s other book Women at the Wheel, I love how Penny writes about true real life strong women in moments of history. I am looking forward to reading Penny’s next novel and can’t wait to see who she will write about next.
The story follows a dual time line set in 1913 England - when Mary Douglas Nicol was born and later marries Louis Leakey. Her Father Erskine Edward Nicol is a watercolour painter and artist. Together they travelled the world visiting the USA, Italy and Egypt working as artists and selling their artwork to make a living.
Mary begins her life also as a drawer and artist. Then at the age of 13 after the death of her father and whilst in Egypt, shows interest and a passion for archeology becoming a famous paleo anthropologist. Her mother is not happy about the life her daughter wants to live but Mary lives the life she is excited about and enjoys.
In 1983 Africa - Mary now aged 70 meets Grace Clarke a 17 year old. Grace whose mother was sick and has passed away is unhappy and believes her father George abandoned his family for work. Grace decides to travel with her estranged Father to the Serengeti Plains Tanzania working on an archaeological dig at Oiluvai Gorge along with Mary.
Mary and Grace become friends and have more in common than they realise. Mary tells Grace her life story, loss of beloved parents, passions in art and archaeology. They soon discover they both share a love of animals. Along comes an injured cheetah named Lisa into the camp and together with great care they assist the cheetah fulfilling their duty of looking after the animals and wildlife surrounding them.
I rate this story 5 stars and thank NetGalley for the opportunity of reading and for writing an honest review of this beautifully written book.
It teaches you a lot about how life is, in a different part of the world. Africa has a great history and a tough terrain that makes you wonder how life can be lived. It has opened my eyes to the way of life and things I was not aware of.
Archeologists have a fascinating career and understanding of how past events and history takes shape from deep spaces and come alive in present times that the common man can only see in museums.
Just like Penny’s other book Women at the Wheel, I love how Penny writes about true real life strong women in moments of history. I am looking forward to reading Penny’s next novel and can’t wait to see who she will write about next.
February 25, 2025
Thank you Sourcebooks for my #gifted copy of Follow Me to Africa! #sourcebooks #bookmarked #sourcebookslandmark #FollowMeToAfrica #PennyHaw
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐰
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝟰.𝟱★
Follow Me to Africa is a beautifully written historical fiction novel based on the story of paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey. I will be honest, this is a book I probably would have not picked up on my own, only because the topic is not of interest to me. With that said, I am SO glad I read this book because I LOVED it! Penny Haw has written such a captivating novel the celebrates friendship and the importance’s of breaking barriers to guide the way for others. I was not familiar with Mary Leakey before reading this book, but I found her story to be fascinating. I love how this book combined both non-fiction and fiction, and married the two effortlessly. Told in a dual-timeline format, we meet seventeen-year-old Grace Clark in 1983 after she lost her mother. She has just met Mary Leakey, who is now 70 years old when she enlists Grace to help her pack fifty years of her work and memories. Mary is reminded of how in the 1930s she pursed her dreams of becoming an archeologist. In their time together, Mary and Grace learn they are more alike than they thought, and are connected by a secret. Grace and Mary also learn they both have a mutual love for animals, and work together to save a cheetah before it’s too late.
There is just so much more to this book, and no summary can do it justice. It’s one where you cannot judge a book by its cover…or in this case, topic. I really have no interest in archeology. In fact, there’s a glossary in the front of the book, and when I started to read the terms, I couldn’t even pronounce half of them, but was determined to give this book a chance. So I googled the words I didn’t know, and looked up the pronunciation so it would help me while reading the book. I’m thankful for the glossary, and while I found it intimidating at first, it proved to be helpful for me. While this book was about an amazing paleoanthropologist, it was so much more. If you love historical fiction, give this one a try. I’m really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone with this one!
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐰
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝟰.𝟱★
Follow Me to Africa is a beautifully written historical fiction novel based on the story of paleoanthropologist Mary Leakey. I will be honest, this is a book I probably would have not picked up on my own, only because the topic is not of interest to me. With that said, I am SO glad I read this book because I LOVED it! Penny Haw has written such a captivating novel the celebrates friendship and the importance’s of breaking barriers to guide the way for others. I was not familiar with Mary Leakey before reading this book, but I found her story to be fascinating. I love how this book combined both non-fiction and fiction, and married the two effortlessly. Told in a dual-timeline format, we meet seventeen-year-old Grace Clark in 1983 after she lost her mother. She has just met Mary Leakey, who is now 70 years old when she enlists Grace to help her pack fifty years of her work and memories. Mary is reminded of how in the 1930s she pursed her dreams of becoming an archeologist. In their time together, Mary and Grace learn they are more alike than they thought, and are connected by a secret. Grace and Mary also learn they both have a mutual love for animals, and work together to save a cheetah before it’s too late.
There is just so much more to this book, and no summary can do it justice. It’s one where you cannot judge a book by its cover…or in this case, topic. I really have no interest in archeology. In fact, there’s a glossary in the front of the book, and when I started to read the terms, I couldn’t even pronounce half of them, but was determined to give this book a chance. So I googled the words I didn’t know, and looked up the pronunciation so it would help me while reading the book. I’m thankful for the glossary, and while I found it intimidating at first, it proved to be helpful for me. While this book was about an amazing paleoanthropologist, it was so much more. If you love historical fiction, give this one a try. I’m really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone with this one!
December 5, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read the eARC early! This was one of my most anticipated books of 2025.
I really did enjoy this book and I love when historical fictions take a real life person from history and tell their story with some fictional elements added in.
The main character of this story is mostly Grace, a 17 year old girl who was brought by her father to Africa to work with Mary Leakey, a real life paleoanthropologist and our other main character.
The book is told from two POVs, from Grace's while she is with Mary and the other is Mary's POV as we learn about her history and how she came to be who she was.
I'll be honest. The character I was most invested in was Lisa, a cheetah who was released after being hand reared and came to Leakey's camp because she was struggling with taking care of herself and missed humans. Grace's love for Lisa and her affinity for animals after being a sad, lonely, and abandoned young girl is something I really felt for and could relate to.
There were a couple things I didn't like as much. I previously read The Invincible Miss Cust and the characters/story of that book really made me feel a rollercoaster of emotions in every direction. This book didn't quite get there for me. There were emotional moments that didn't exactly feel as though they dove deep enough. I did almost tear up a little with how Grace was talking about Lisa in one scene, but that was about it.
There were also two things at the end that I didn't vibe with as much.
I really did enjoy this book and I love when historical fictions take a real life person from history and tell their story with some fictional elements added in.
The main character of this story is mostly Grace, a 17 year old girl who was brought by her father to Africa to work with Mary Leakey, a real life paleoanthropologist and our other main character.
The book is told from two POVs, from Grace's while she is with Mary and the other is Mary's POV as we learn about her history and how she came to be who she was.
I'll be honest. The character I was most invested in was Lisa, a cheetah who was released after being hand reared and came to Leakey's camp because she was struggling with taking care of herself and missed humans. Grace's love for Lisa and her affinity for animals after being a sad, lonely, and abandoned young girl is something I really felt for and could relate to.
There were a couple things I didn't like as much. I previously read The Invincible Miss Cust and the characters/story of that book really made me feel a rollercoaster of emotions in every direction. This book didn't quite get there for me. There were emotional moments that didn't exactly feel as though they dove deep enough. I did almost tear up a little with how Grace was talking about Lisa in one scene, but that was about it.
There were also two things at the end that I didn't vibe with as much.
January 27, 2025
A teenage girl follows her estranged father to Africa on an archeological dig. She doesn't want to be there but begins to discover the beauty around her. Her connections with the dig's leader and a cheetah will have her looking deep within herself and reconciling the past.
This is not a story you can speed through. The perspectives bounce from the young teenage girl in the 80s to the leader as a young woman in the 40s. That got confusing in the beginning as I tried to get familiar with the characters. Eventually, I moved in time quite easily.
Overall, I didn't see this story as a plot driven one. It is character driven. Grace is a teenager with a big attitude due to the fact that her father abandoned her before her mother died. She's in Africa where she doesn't want to be. The reader sees her internal struggles as she attempts to come to grips with her perspective of the past and the truth. During that time, she finds a connection with Mary who leads the dig. But Mary has her own past she has had to overcome and helps her connect with Grace.
The chapters that visit Mary's past helps the reader see how much her own life is similar with Grace's in the desire to be her own person yet still not sure of her heart's desire. Africa calls to each of them for different paths but journeys that cross each other's.
A very thought-provoking book that will have the reader discovering they have a vested interest in the characters' decisions. It is not what happens next that pulls the reader in. It is what the characters decide and learn.
This is not a story you can speed through. The perspectives bounce from the young teenage girl in the 80s to the leader as a young woman in the 40s. That got confusing in the beginning as I tried to get familiar with the characters. Eventually, I moved in time quite easily.
Overall, I didn't see this story as a plot driven one. It is character driven. Grace is a teenager with a big attitude due to the fact that her father abandoned her before her mother died. She's in Africa where she doesn't want to be. The reader sees her internal struggles as she attempts to come to grips with her perspective of the past and the truth. During that time, she finds a connection with Mary who leads the dig. But Mary has her own past she has had to overcome and helps her connect with Grace.
The chapters that visit Mary's past helps the reader see how much her own life is similar with Grace's in the desire to be her own person yet still not sure of her heart's desire. Africa calls to each of them for different paths but journeys that cross each other's.
A very thought-provoking book that will have the reader discovering they have a vested interest in the characters' decisions. It is not what happens next that pulls the reader in. It is what the characters decide and learn.
January 3, 2025
Another amazing historical fiction by Penny Haw! This one follows 17 year old Grace when she heads to Africa with her estranged father after her mother's death. It follows her POV as well as the woman she meets while there, Dr. Mary Leakey.
Mary tells her story of becoming an archeologist against all odds. She goes on to become the most accomplished woman paleoanthropologist of her time after very little schooling growing up and no university or college degree. She reflects back on her life during her time with Grace, helping her through her grief of losing her mother.
As is Penny Haw's usual, this book was so well researched and written. I was drawn in so quickly to both Grace and Mary's characters. Even the supporting characters were interesting to learn about. Also included in the book is a historical note at the back explaining what was fact and what was fiction and the author's decisions on what to include. I really enjoy reading about the process of writing the book and how it came to be.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of this book!
Mary tells her story of becoming an archeologist against all odds. She goes on to become the most accomplished woman paleoanthropologist of her time after very little schooling growing up and no university or college degree. She reflects back on her life during her time with Grace, helping her through her grief of losing her mother.
As is Penny Haw's usual, this book was so well researched and written. I was drawn in so quickly to both Grace and Mary's characters. Even the supporting characters were interesting to learn about. Also included in the book is a historical note at the back explaining what was fact and what was fiction and the author's decisions on what to include. I really enjoy reading about the process of writing the book and how it came to be.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of this book!
May 17, 2025
As a child, I eagerly awaited the monthly arrival of National Geographic magazine. It was through the articles and photographs there that I came to identify some of my childhood heroes including Mary (and Louis) Leakey, Jane Goodall, and Dian Fossey. Two trips as an adult to Tanzania and Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge (and the Olduvai Museum) were my childhood dream come true; so when I read about the premise and setting for “Follow Me To Africa”, it was an easy sell. While reading it, I could easily visualize all of the places - Arusha, Ngorongoro Crater, Oldupai, and the Serengeti, as well as feel the vast beauty and peace of that wilderness (like no other) as described by both Mary and Grace in the book.
Haw seems to be the epitome of an excellent historical fiction writer as evidenced by her knowledge of Tanzania and her meticulous research about the Leakeys, especially Mary. I learned so much about her/them that was never a part of the Nat Geo and other anthropology/science articles and publications (I fact checked while reading out of curiosity!). That knowledge has made me respect Mary Leakey even more than I did before. That is the beauty of well done historical fiction.
Haw seems to be the epitome of an excellent historical fiction writer as evidenced by her knowledge of Tanzania and her meticulous research about the Leakeys, especially Mary. I learned so much about her/them that was never a part of the Nat Geo and other anthropology/science articles and publications (I fact checked while reading out of curiosity!). That knowledge has made me respect Mary Leakey even more than I did before. That is the beauty of well done historical fiction.
March 31, 2025
I didn’t expect to like this book I found on Hoopla so much. Definitely a 4.5. I learned so much about Mary Leakey’s life and found it fascinating! I loved all the parts about animals: the wild animals of Africa and their behaviors and the dogs who were pets that were important characters themselves. Most of all I loved the storyline of the sweet cheetah. Mary had quite a bit of life wisdom to impart in this story in addition to all the groundbreaking discoveries she made changing our understanding of evolution and human origins. And as a woman at that!
May 19, 2025
4.5 rounded up
August 11, 2025
Strong 4.5 stars. I think Mary had a lot to say in this book and she reflected well. I know it was historical fiction but I really enjoyed a book that asks the question, What would you tell your younger self? Looking forward to discussing it in bookclub.
October 27, 2025
Author does a wonderful job of “placing” us in Africa! I appreciated learning of early women archeologists!
November 3, 2025
Absorbing novel set in Tanzania, in which a cheetah named Lisa brings together Dr Mary Leakey and the fictional teenager Grace. The chapters about Leakey's earlier life are especially fascinating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews