What is the theme of A Girl Named Disaster?
A Girl Named Disaster is a 1996 novel by Nancy Farmer. The book explores the qualities needed to survive in a hostile environment (particularly by a woman), coming-of-age and the availability of spiritual guidance.
Where does a girl named disaster take place?
Mozambique
Eleven-year-old Nhamo lives in a traditional village in Mozambique, where she doesn’t quite fit in. When her family tries to force her into marrying a cruel man, she runs away to Zimbabwe, hoping to find the father she’s never met.
Where is nhamo summer vacation?
Before her twelfth birthday, Nhamo runs away to escape marriage to a cruel husband, and spends a year going from Zimbabwe to Mozambique.
What is Tambu’s mother’s warning?
Tambu’s mother blames all the trouble on the young people becoming too influenced by English ways, and she warns Tambu to be careful. Tambu takes the warning seriously and decides to no longer accept everything she is taught at the convent without questioning it.
Where did Babamukuru go to school?
Babamukuru is Tambu’s uncle. He and his wife, Maiguru, received scholarships to study in South Africa in the 1950s, and in 1960, they went to England to pursue master’s degrees with their children, Chido and Nyasha.
What does Maiguru do after she leaves Babamukuru?
Maiguru finally takes a stand against Babamukuru after the wedding. She insists that she’s tired of having to care for Babamukuru’s family and of being told what to do, so she leaves for five days. Upon her forced return, Maiguru is happier and more vocal about her beliefs.
How does tambu feel about the wedding?
Tambu doesn’t find the proposed wedding funny. She experiences panic attacks every time she thinks of Mainini as a bride, and she also experiences attacks when she thinks of Babamukuru.
What changed about nhamo after his first year with Babamukuru?
After his first year away, Nhamo changes perceptibly. His physical presence has become more anglicized, but he also claims to have forgotten how to speak Shona. The narrative jumps ahead again to 1968, when Babamukuru arrives to report that Nhamo has died of a mysterious illness in a hospital in town.
Why does tambu feel sorry for Maiguru?
Tambu thinks of Maiguru as being caring and concerned for everyone, as well as deserving of the utmost respect. She believes Maiguru’s life cannot possibly have any downsides, given that she’s married to the wonderful Babamukuru.
What does Tambudzai think of her parents wedding?
She’s angry with him since she sees the wedding as a plan to make a joke of her parents, but Tambu believes she can’t be angry with Babamukuru since he’s her benefactor. For Tambu, the issue is twofold. Unlike Nhamo, she still respects her parents and doesn’t want to see them humiliated.