All That It Ever Meant
Author: Blessing Musariri
While grieving the death of her mother, Matiponesa, 14, shares her story with an invisible spirit guide as the family travels from England to Zimbabwe to mourn.
Our Young Reviewer Says:
“All That It Ever Meant portrays the emotional journey of a young girl dealing with her mother’s death while on a vacation to her home country, Zimbabwe. We learn about her father Baba, her sister Chi Chi, and her brother Tana and how they all cope with their mother’s passing. Her sister chooses to act out; her brother chooses to pretend like it didn’t happen; her father chooses to withdraw from his family. Most interesting of all is our main character, Mati. Instead of engaging with her brother, sister, or father, she spectates and narrates. She is accompanied by Meticais, an ethereal being continuously asking for her to share her story.
The element that makes this book so captivating is the lack of a complete story until the very end. As the book progresses, many seemingly random flashbacks come together to form one cohesive whole. Throughout the book, you might find yourself questioning what really is happening and wondering if there’s something more to the relatively simple story of a family grieving. As the pieces all fell in place near the end, I started to find myself speeding through the book in stunned amazement of the author’s ability to weave so many elements together without me even realizing it.
The other beautiful part of this book was the surprisingly philosophical musings of a 14-year-old. She discusses “looking behind” a person, place, or thing; wondering about what else any entity can be or do beyond what is immediately apparent. Throughout the book, as she starts to share her story, she confronts her own inability to face the truth. It’s amazing to see how she grows, tentatively but surely, as the story progresses into someone who is able to face her fears and accept both herself and her family for who they are.”
–Nikhil, age 16, Englewood, NJ.
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