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Hoe desastreus de gevolgen van aids kunnen zijn, ervaart de jonge Liddy als ze door deze ziekte haar beide ouders verliest. Opeens moet zij ervoor zorgen dat er brood op de plank komt voor haarzelf en haar jongere broertje en zusje. Maar haar moed en doorzettingsvermogen zijn indrukwekkend. Een warm en ontroerend boek dat een heftig onderwerp bespreekbaar maakt voor jonge mensen.

146 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2009

5 people are currently reading
72 people want to read

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Sietske Hoogenboom

6 books1 follower

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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Mehsi.
15.2k reviews456 followers
February 14, 2016
This was a beautiful, but very sad book.

I didn't particularly like all characters, especially the grandma was just plain annoying and mean. She had all the money, a house, everything, and what does she do? Hate her grandchildren, try to steal stuff from them (seriously who does that?) and more. Pathetic woman. :(

Also Jabu was just a creep, he gave me goosebumps every time and I was worried for Lydia.

I cried a few tears at the ending, especially when they got some good news.

In overall, a beautiful book, though it is a bit tough to get through it. Mostly due to the Grandma character.
1 review
December 27, 2020
It is such a heart enriching book and I would love to see more of Grindley's work
Profile Image for Tumelo Motaung.
92 reviews7 followers
Read
September 20, 2021
My niece's seventh grade literature. A bit heavy for the kids, but a grand motivator. Great truths about it.
3 reviews
November 18, 2015
This book is a very heart opening book. It shows you that all around the world there are people who suffer and aren't as lucky as you. It shows how such little kids can survive on their own and how they help each other and get over the struggle everyday. I recommend this book because it teaches you the values of life, the life of others around you, and how something good can always come out of anything even when your in the worst situations. It also shows that there can be people there that you may not know but may try to help. This is one of many of Sally Grindley's books and I think this has a very good story line.


I have read the back of the book and it seems as if the books about child labour. This book looks very interesting. Every day is a struggle for these kids. Their father has left, their mother died when they were very young and at the moment their grandmother is looking after them but is doing no help. They have to look out for themselves and they only have each other. I think this will show how some children actually have to live and that we are very lucky to be where we are. I can’t wait to start the book and see the journey these kids have to go through to survive on their own.

HALF WAY:
Lydia, her younger brother and sister are all orphans, every day is a struggle. They never have enough to eat and they suffer every day. Lydia is determined to help her siblings out whilst their grandmother tries to make every day more difficult for them. Lydia is a very determined character, she never gives up and wants to bring the best life back for her siblings. With every decision she makes she pushes herself to achieve what she wants. Although she doesn’t understand why she is living this life. A poignant, powerful and emotive story of a small family’s love, loss and resourcefulness. So far I found it very interesting and down to heart. This is such an amazing book. I found it interesting through every word the writer arouse my emotions. This was such a wonderful good book I would recommend it to every age group because it has a variety of understandings. I can’t wait to continue reading and seeing the outcomes of the end of the book. I would also like to read another of Sally Gridley’s books, and this is the second one of her books that I have read.

END:
Lydia is growing up, she took responsibility and always looked out for her siblings. I feel upsetting listening to how they had to grow up on their own. Aids struck them and being orphans seems very hard. With everything she did, she referred back to the diary her mother had left behind for her. Throughout the book her mother’s diary helps her survive, gives her ideas and reminds her of the old fun times as a big happy family. I think this was very special having her mum “by her side”. There's something about a storm in the middle of the night that gathers their family close. The storm that Lydia faces is the storm of aids that is attacking their small African community. It has taken away from her forever their mother and father. Lydia must try to bring up Kesi, their little sister. But their mother's voice of love is still there to guide them, in the handwritten diary which she left for them. I have loved reading this book because it teaches us how lucky we are, we live in a safe country, we always have food and it truly shows another perspective of life. It also shows that anyone can be responsible. You have to look out for the people around you and that you will always achieve your hopes and dreams at the end.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Varsha Seshan.
Author 28 books36 followers
November 17, 2012
The sensitive treatment of orphaned children at the mercy of a mercenary, match-making grandmother is tender, but the idea of AIDS victims not being 'bad' is one that could have been better expressed. For children reading about AIDS, perhaps for the first time, confusion about the 'morality' of AIDS is problematic. The writing is beautiful right through, though, and the characters are grand.
Profile Image for Nova.
564 reviews5 followers
April 19, 2009
a moving story of a girl with 2 younger siblings, orphaned by AIDS. In Africa there is no welfare and they have to fend for themselves.
9 reviews
Currently reading
June 12, 2010
it is a book of a girl who survives as an orphan. i like her attitude the most and i want to read many books like this.
Profile Image for Beth Montgomery.
Author 2 books3 followers
February 8, 2013
I really liked this book as it shows the tragic plight of AIDS orphans in Africa with sensitivity and even a sprinkling of humour. A great story for tweens or teenagers.
1 review
March 24, 2015
this is such an amazing book.. i found it interesting through every word the writer arouse my emotions. this was such a wonderfull good book i would like to recommend to every age group
Profile Image for Tumelo Motaung.
14 reviews5 followers
October 31, 2016
My niece's seventh grade literature. A bit heavy for the kids, but a grand motivator. Great truths about it.
Profile Image for L&p.
15 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2012
Amazing. But soooooooooooooo sad. I cried more than once
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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