A chest full of gold pieces and a treasure map; a voyage to tropical waters on a ship packed with secret enemies; a mutiny complete with cannon fire; X marks the spot. It is the very model of a modern major pirate tale*. If you’ve had any pop cultural contact with pirates at all, you know the outline of this story, and all that remains is to fill in the details.
Robert is the ten-year-old son of a Zimbabwean novelist mother and an Italian refugee advocate father. He is living with them in Geneva, together with his fifteen-year-old brother, when his aunt in Zimbabwe disappears after criticising the government. Continue reading Peace and Conflict
A delightfully creepy children’s book from one of the masters of contemporary intelligent sci fi/fantasy. Coraline moves into a new home with her parents and discovers a door leading to another house in which reside…people who are not QUITE her parents. This would have DEFINITELY given me nightmares once upon a time (and might still, for that matter). Continue reading Coraline