Golden Boy

Sullivan, Tara. Golden Boy. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2013.

Habo is an albino, and Habo lives in Tanzania, a very dangerous place for a person whose limbs and hair are thought to bring good luck.  When Habo's family loses their land and has to travel north to live with relatives, Habo soon realizes that he is a danger to all those around him, and sets off, Frodo-style, to solve his problems on his own.  He evades a kidnapper/murderer, befriends a blind sculptor, and eventually must decide whether he should contact his family.  Do they even want him around anymore?

This is a great book that explores an little-known aspect of superstitions: the idea that an albino's body parts are lucky is indeed a dangerous one, especially for albino children born in Africa.  I appreciated the author's choice to bring this topic to light and to do so in the form of a coming-of-age story with interesting and relatable characters that my patrons can easily identify with. I will definitely be getting a copy of this book to add to my library's collection.

Recommended for: teens, tweens
Red Flags: none
Overall Rating: 5/5 stars