Book Review: ‘The Heaven Shop’
Okay, I’m here to blab about a good book (which is a good thing, so don’t fret). The book I’m going to “blab” about is called The Heaven Shop, by Deborah Ellis. In this book, you find out how the children of poorer countries spend their life, if they do survive. See, you and I both hate school (except for the fieldtrips!), but in other parts of the world, children really like to go to school (not because of the fieldtrips), but just can’t go.
In this book, the author writes about a 12-year-old girl named Binti. She lives in Malawi with her dad, brother and sister (Malawi is a country in Africa). Binti’s mother died of AIDS, but she didn’t know that. AIDS is an extremely common disease that leaves many children in Africa parentless. Just imagine having no mother or father! Just the thought of it makes me feel as though I have ants in my pants. Luckily, Binti still has her father or “Bambo.” That’s what the children in Malawi call their dad.
Now, in the start of the book, the story is quite happy and you might think Binti is selfish because she thinks she’s SO important. She’s an actor on the radio, and plays one of the main characters. Her character is a girl named Kettie, and her mom has also died of AIDS. Many people across Malawi listen to it and enjoy it. This makes Binti feel proud, and selfish.
But she won’t feel happy for long, because Binti and her family’s life is about to change. One day her father dies (because he had AIDS as well). After his funeral, Binti and her siblings are all separated and placed into families full of hatred. When you read about them, you just think of them in disgust. Now, the three children are on their own, and are scraping to survive. Yes, it’s that gruesome. That’s all I’m going to tell you.
I would recommend this book to children between the ages of 11-14, but make sure you’re OK with calamities. I don’t want you to have a nightmare, and you be tossing and turning all night! That way, you won’t be scared, and your parents won’t blame me!
I say this book is a 100% worth reading. This book made me read non-stop! I would read 24 hours a day, (well …. not really, but just pretend!), and I couldn’t stop; it was that exciting! The reason why I kept on reading is because I kept on wondering what was going to happen next. Questions would just pop in your head, and you would keep on reading until there’s nothing left to read. You better pick up this book at your library, or the local bookshop! Or else you won’t ever enjoy this good book! Okay, that sounds kind of weird, but hey! It’S true!
Title: The Heaven Shop
Author: Deborah Ellis
Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside
