by Nancy Farmer
First published 1996
Nhamo faces a terrible choice. At eleven years old, she must marry a cruel man her family has selected. She refuses to accept this fate. Instead, she steals a canoe and paddles away from her village into the vast waters of Lake Cabora Bassa in Mozambique. Her goal drives her forward through every danger: finding the father she has never known. The lake stretches endlessly before her, filled with hippos, crocodiles, and storms that could sink her small craft. Nhamo must navigate not only the treacherous waters but also her own fears and the spirits that inhabit this ancient landscape. Her journey becomes a test of courage, resourcefulness, and determination. She discovers strengths she never knew she possessed while facing the wilderness alone. This story captures the fierce will of a young girl who chooses the unknown over a life she cannot bear to live.
Genres: fiction, survival, adventure, coming-of-age, africa
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, survival
Setting: Lake Cabora Bassa, Mozambique
Period: 20th-century
309 pages · Hardcover · Orchard Books