Beyond the Mango Tree

by Amy Bronwen Zemser

I am here, in the rain, tied to the mango tree. The water leve rises, above my naked feet, past my ankles. I wait ...

It has been this way since Sarina's family moved to Liberia from Boston eight months ago. Her mother ties her to the mango tree in their front yard, terrified of losing her. It's never for long, and Sarina knows her mother doesn't mean to hurt her. But things just seem to get harder the longer her family stays in this country so far from home.

On good days, when Sarina's mother is feeling better, she sets her daughter free. On bad days, Sarina dangles her feet in the puddles and mud until dusk, waiting for someone to rescue her, wishing for the one thing her mother fears most: a friend.

Then one day Sarina meets Boima, a Liberian boy, and he becomes Sarina's cherished secret. He takes her to places outside her dirty yard, and shows her the ocean, the trees, and the people of Liberia. Together they discover what friendship really means ... and that there is a world of joy, hunger, and hope waiting just beyond the mango tree.

2000-2001 Georgia's Picture Storybook Award & Georgia's Children's Book Award Masterlist

Genres: Africa, Young Adult, Liberia, Cultural, Childrens, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Amy Bronwen Zemser is the author of Beyond the Mango Tree, an ALA Booklist Top of the List Editors' Choice and Publishers Weekly Best Book, which the New York Times called "astonishing." She lives in Poughkeepsie, New York, with her partner and their son Raymond.

Reviews

[Cathy]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was the book that i read and finished for the first time other then some tiny little book. I used to hate reading but after i read this book it showed me how fun reading can be. One of the characters name is Sarina she is 12 years old and her mom is diabetic and she does not have a father. In front of her house there is a mango tree and every time she feels lonely she climbs up there to relax. One day Sarina decides to go take a walk to the beach where she also goes to relax and meets a young boy name Boima who then becomes one of her friends. Boima and Sarina always plan when they are going to meet and hang out. Boima is a Liberian boy and becomes Sarina's cherished secret. Boima and Sarina go to the ocean and hang out there for a while and he shows her the true meaning towards the waves and sand, Boima also shows her some Liberian people. Both Boima ans Sarina's friendship is the definition of friendship and Sarina discovers that there is more beyond the mango tree. This was just a little summary of the book and I hope you guys enjoy it the way I did.

[Jonele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the time I wondered what year this was actually set in, and wondering why her mother was written as a person who wasn’t enough of an adult to take care of herself. I think the author was trying to hint that the mom was unhappy in Africa and so depressed she refused to take care of herself. And I’m guessing apartheid was a thing? Because her mother didn’t want her mixing in with the African kids and there were certain clinics “only Americans” were allowed to go. And they acted hateful toward the Africans.

I didn’t like the fact that this was a book really written for younger teens. They’d probably start seeing diabetics as people who can’t take care of themselves, diabetes as the most terrifying disease you could get, and they wouldn’t understand why mom wouldn’t/couldn’t take care of herself, since depression isn’t even mentioned. She just looks and acts like a crazy person. Not a fan.

[Kayna Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Zemser's style of writing. I felt like I was in Liberia talking to actual native Liberians. Sarina moved about a year ago with her family from Boston to Liberia and as their time there lengthens her mother's "reactions" occur more often. When her mother's blood sugar falls she goes into physical reactions and is no longer in her own mind. She ties her Sarina to the mango tree in the front yard for fear that she will lose her daughter. Then later she does not remember what happened or why her daughter is attached to the tree. It is at the tree that Sarina meets Boima and an interesting friendship develops behind her mother's back and 'beyond the mango tree.'
This was a quick read and could have easily been longer with more character development. But overall Zemser did an excellent job of telling the frightful story of this young girl who learns to see more clearly that which is right before her eyes. Zemser's descriptions and analogies were intriguing and added to the feel of the story. I would definitely recommend this novel!

[Amanda Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarina's family has lived in Liberia for a few months, and her mother is sick and wants to keep Sarina close. Sarina is always isolated and all alone, and she longs for a friend. Sarina gets tied to the mango tree one day, and a Boima finds her and cuts her free. They become best friends and tell stories, and go do stuff together.

This is a story of friendship, and how having a friend can change us. I liked the message in this book, about how sometimes, we may feel all alone, and when we least expect it, we will find a light, a friend. I like the way that Sarina changed through the book, her feelings for the other people in her life grew stronger, and she cared for them more.

There are no concerning factors in this book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written book about everyday life in Liberia. It is told through the perspective of twelve-year-old Sarina, who is living in Liberia while her dad works there. She is burdened with responsibility as she is supposed to stay by her mother's side all the time, yet she longs to have fun like all children. She befriends a local boy and it changes her life. What a sad ending to this friendship! The book explores friendship, familial love (or the lack of it), poverty, and the disparity in the quality of life between expats' and locals'.

[Kassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read-aloud for my students in Tanzania. At the time it was one of very few books with the main character, about their age, living overseas. Many parallels were made between their lives and the life of this girl even if it took place in Liberia as opposed to Tanzania. The descriptions of the marketplaces, the colorful garments worn by the women, all struck similar chords to their life.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad tale, but one that is interesting and paints a vivid picture of Liberia and it's tropical landscape and climate. I could use this in a language arts class to supplement the Africa unit for Social Studies. In a social studies class, I could read excerpts from the book that relate to how people are affected by the climate.

[Yeimy G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genre is fantacy because no mother can put their child them tie to a tree till they come back from work.A girl named Sabrina was tied to a mango tree till her mother comes home.Sabrinas mother ties her to a tree because she is her only child and she does not want her to leave her.But once her mom left and a kid next door came and untied her.Then Sabrina hard someone

[Delinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little book about a U.S. girl living in Liberia as her father runs a lumber mill. Girl's family life is a little strange and kind of dark for young reader's novel, but intersting if you are curious about Africa.

[Mika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes you an a journey discovering the roots of Africa and the meaning behind it's culture. A young girl names Sarina has been sheltered her whole life. She meets a young boy who takes it upon himself to show her what it truly means to be free.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that this book gave a unique perspective of a visitor to another culture. I thought that an older elementary student would be able to read the dialect easier than a younger student.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent writing, but too poetic and introspective for most children. The family situation is bizarre. This first novel is told in first person, present tense.

[Jada Spagolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was truly the most wonderful book I have ever read. It tells the story of friendship,that everyone needs a friend.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked after reading the first page. I loved her style of writing and story telling.

[Jasmine Kwong]

READ AROUND THE WORLD

AFRICA

[R. G. Nairam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes profound and sometimes overwrought. Altogether a bit unsatisfying.

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book about a young American girl living in Africa with her educator parents. I've noticed quite a few comments from young readers who are judging this book on the reality of their own lives, when it takes place in the 70's in a different country. The main character is coping with difficult circumstances. The first being an outsider in a country with vastly different culture. The second, that she is forced to be the adult in the family because her father is absent and her mother needs someone to be responsible for taking care of her. Children are resilient and pragmatic, and will try to rise to whatevee challenges are presented to them, sometimes in the most inventive and original ways.

[Christy Carmean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic look into life in Liberia. Difficult subjects of child abuse and neglect, ethics, cross-cultural living, and death combined with Liberian English make this a difficult book to read. Recommend for mature youth or adults only.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for middle schoolers.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Semi-autobiographical? Shorts, seems a bit incomplete? There was certainly a lot going on perhaps I would have liked it better if events were more flushed out.