This is an utterly engaging and well-crafted story of
an unorthodox childhood. Robyn Scott has managed to capture a distinct
intersection between a period in her own life and her experience of
Botswana (and Zimbabwe to a lesser degree) in a thought-provoking and
stimulating way.
The endearing and eccentric personalities in
her family alone would make any fiction writer proud of a good day’s
work, so one might say that the opportunity fell into her lap, but
there is a poignancy that weaves through the triumphs and heartbreaks
that is very moving.
Adding interest and colour is some of the
history of Botswana itself, a host of ideas on alternative medicine,
child-raising and education, and Scott’s father’s devastating
experience and insight into treating the early manifestations of the
HIV epidemic that affected Botswana severely.
Altogether, it’s a highly recommended read for
anyone in its own right, but it’s particularly captivating for anyone
who knows and loves this part of the world.
