Chanda's Secrets

A girl's struggle amid the African AIDS pandemic.

"As soon as I get back from the shabeen, I go next door to see Mrs. Tafa. I have to ask to use her phone to let our relatives know about Sara. I'm nervous. Mrs. Tafa would like to run the world. Since she can't run the world she's decided to run our neighborhood."

So speaks sixteen-year-old Chanda, an astonishingly perceptive girl living in the small city of Bonang, a fictional city in Southern Africa.

While Mrs. Tafa's hijinks are often amusing, the fact is that Chanda's world is profoundly difficult. When her youngest sister dies, the first hint of HIV/AIDS emerges.

In this sensitive, swiftly-paced story readers will find echoes of To Kill a Mockingbird as Chanda must confront undercurrents of shame and stigma. Not afraid to explore the horrific realities of AIDS, Chanda's Secrets also captures the enduring strength of loyalty, friendship and family ties. Above all, it is a story about the corrosive nature of secrets and the healing power of truth.

Through the artful style of acclaimed author Stratton, the determination and resilience Chanda embodies will live on in readers' minds.

Sixteen year old Chanda lives in a small village in Africa. When her mother turns ill and vanishes to retrieve treatment, Chanda's in charge of her two younger siblings as well as best friend who might have contracted AIDS. She carefully balances providing an honorable life for her loved ones with standing up for what she believes in, regardless of what others think. The book was an extremely powerful read - dark and deep - that I definitely enjoyed. Chanda is a great character for young adults to read about. She's determined, responsible and incredibly aware.

Stratton, A. (2008). Chanda's Secrets. New York: Annick Press.

1550378341

Set in an imaginary southern African country, Chanda manages preparing the funeral for her youngest sister, helping a best friend about whom rumors circulate, supporting a weakening mother, and watching many deal with a disease that affects many but remains stigmatized and unnamed. Chanda juggles her secrets with a mix of fear, love and denial. At the source of them all is AIDS, the unnamed killer.

This well-written problem novel is penned by a Canadian author, but seems to realistically present the experience of living in southern Africa. This book is emotional engaging and thought provoking.

Chanda's Secrets now has a sequel, Chanda's Wars. Is it necessary? Probably not. But that hasn't stopped many other author from writing a continuation to a successful and award winning book.

Activities to do with the book:

With young adult students, a teacher could emphasize the images and themes of being trapped or in a social prison.

A teacher could supplement parts of this book (particularly chapter 12) with statistics about AIDS internationally. You could start here, here or here.

Favorite Quotes:

"I'm alone in the office of Bateman's Eternal Light Funeral Services. It's early Monday morning and Mr. Bateman is busy with a new shipment of coffins" (p. 1).

"A shock? Sara [Chanda's little sister] was alive two hours ago. She was cranky all night because of her rash. Mama rocked her through dawn, till she stopped whining. At first we thought she'd just fallen asleep. (God, please forgive me for being angry with her last night. I didn't mean what I prayed. Please let this not be my fault.)" (p. 3).

"Save your anger to fight injustice. Forgive the rest" (p. 31).

"The real reason the dead are piling up is because of something else. A disease too scary to name out loud. If people say you have it, you can lose your job. Your family can kick you out. You can die on the street aloud. So you live in silence, hiding behind the curtain. Not just to protect yourself, but to protect the ones you love, and the good name of your ancestors. Dying is awful. But even worse is dying alone in fear and shame with a lie" (p. 35).

I know that the recommended grade level is 9-12, but I would only use it for very mature 11th and 12th graders. There is lots of sexual content; Chanda's mother has several partners through her life, Chanda is molested, and there are instances of prostitution.

With that being said, this book will explain the problems of dealing with the treatment of AIDS in Africa. There is no communication about the disease, no one wants to be seen going into the clinic to be tested for it, anything. It really opened my eyes to the problems these people have to face everyday, horrific to say the least.

One of the reviews on the back of the book sums up my feelings "This powerful story hits home with its harsh truths, its pain, and its hard-won hopefulness. No-One can read Chanda's Secrets and remain untouched by the young people who are caught in the AIDS pandemic" (Written by Stephen Lewis, a worker for the UN).

I gave it 5 stars because I learned so much about AIDS, and I became emotionally attached to Chanda. I wanted her to have a good life, and for something to go right for her. And as we all know, making a connection with a character is what keeps people reading!

Just keep in mind that because of the adult content, young readers need to be mature, and culturally aware.

Great book for a teen, I brought this book for my daughter and she loved it. There is a second novel titled "Chanda's War" that I am going to order for her.

If you are a normal person, you find find this to be a slow and boring book. Yes, it deals with real issues, but who cares. I feel sorry for the characters, but it's not like you can do anything in REAL LIFE.