The Bite of the Mango - Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland

Recommended for ages 14-adult.

The Bite of the Mango came recommended to me by The Children's Bookshop in Beecroft, and it really is a remarkable book. It tells the harrowing true story of Mariatu Kamara, a twelve year old girl living in Sierra Leone during the civil war.

After rebel forces attacked her village, Mariatu was captured, tortured and had both her hands chopped off with a machete. She miraculously made her way to safety and received medical care which saved her life. The Bite of the Mango goes on to share Mariatu's struggle to overcome depression and build a new life for herself.

Mariatu's book is not full of blame, but it highlights the burdens Sierra Leonean women are subjected to both in and out of war. It is an eye-opening, thought-provoking read. It doesn't dwell on the violence and grittiness of Mariatu's situation, other than what is necessary to tell the reader. And because of her later experiences of living abroad, Mariatu is perfectly poised to explore the cultural gap between developing and developed civilisation.

This book features a strong female narrator, making it more interesting to girls than boys, and would be a great book for teenage girls who want to think about something other than themselves.

Note: This book does reference female genital mutilation, however Mariatu deals with the subject quickly and calmly, without excessive description.