FernFolio

This is the story of Maria, a young HIV-positive girl living in the South American country of Suriname. Told in the first person, the book relates the experiences of Maria and her younger sister, Willy, who live with their very sick mother in the home of their uncle, until their mother’s death from AIDS. The girls are then sent to an orphanage, where they are made welcome by Mrs. De Groot and the other children, but, when Maria begins to attend the local school, she is shunned by her fellow pupils, while their parents demand that she be barred from attending. Then Maria is invited to appear on Babbel Box, her favourite TV show. At first, Maria is reluctant to accept, but she is told, “Don’t let people walk through your mind with their dirty feet.” Her appearance on Babbel Box marks a new beginning for this remarkable and courageous girl.
Winner of a 2006 Alberta Book Award, and illustrated by Tara Langlois, The Remarkable Maria can be found in the non-fiction section of our Library. Worth looking for!
FernFolio Editor