There are several storylines that I wished were developed or not included at all because they were distracting, yet overall, this is a necessary story of Zimbabwe's independence told through two girls' experiences. This one and the studies that follow plague me, as is the case in every other picture book I’ve done.

I don't have very much experience or knowledge of the political turmoil that Zimbabwe has faced, both with colonialism and with reclaiming their independence, but I am always fascinated when authors have the ability to tell a good story, fill it with such emotion as well as educate me in a very subtle manner. It made me feel all these things in the way that it is written with a solid historical grounded, but a sensitivity of the life and feelings of these characters - Tariro and Katie. From public housing to working for Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, and its founder, Bill Gates, to advising some of the biggest stars in music, Bruce Jackson’s Never Far from Home reveals the ups and downs of an incredible journey, how he overcame many obstacles and the valuable lessons learned along the way. Jackson's own story of success, with the support of a loving extended family and key mentors along the way, inspires us to continue the fight for a world where no one is underestimated and opportunity comes to every single zip code. Can a 17-year-old with her first girlfriend prevent real-life folks from discovering her online fandoms?Other recommendations would include Now Is the Time for Runningby Michael Williams, Chanda's Wars by Allan Stratton, and Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa by Mark Mathabane.

I enjoyed this book, and connected with the characters emotionally (as some of the girls I was with during Eid in the park can attest to!Tariro is a “daughter of the soil”, born beneath a baobab tree in the land of her ancestors, surrounded by her loving family.