Far from Home (Street Child): The sisters of Street Child

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It was a definite page turner and I felt so much closure at the end of the book,despite feeling a lot of sadness for the main female characters in the beginning. The Houses are a city within a city: nine acres, more than a thousand residents, and countless stories that never see the light of day.

Katie's story was disturbing in that the white Zimbabweans' beliefs about blacks is so at odds with what I know and my own beliefs.

Katie is not as easy to identify with, possibly because her story is shorter – although no less absorbing - and Robert is less sympathetic towards her. With engaging interactions and thoughtful characters, Ellis weaves a story about waiting for God's timing and discovering that the dreams planted close to home can grow a lasting harvest of hope and love. Imagine now this same polar bear dipping a curious paw in the river water, then leaping in with a joyful splash. With Kitty's input the business is soon thriving - but tragedy lies ahead, and she must endure many trials and tribulations before she can find true happiness. Until disaster strikes, and the family are forced to leave everything and escape to cold, rainy London.

The cruelty of life there is vividly portrayed, before we see evidence of the philanthropy which also existed in Victorian England. There is a small window in the back of the vehicle, and through it I see the city lights flickering off the Hudson, splashing fingers of yellow and orange across the black water. And while Far From Home is different in tone and structure to her previous books, it is still writtten in a very engaging and emotional voice and I fell into the story very easily.This moving tale describes the violent history of Zimbabwe as seen through the eyes of two very different young girls. There, under the keen eyes of the mill owners, the girls are made to work in harsh conditions and any chance of escape is sorely tempting. Summoning up a long-lost part of my past, from adolescent flirtations with the theater, I slip into character. Far From Home also made me think about the realities for some workers today in countries with unscrupulous working practices, and how we in the privileged West can at least try to make purchases from ethical sources.