Remembering green by Lesley Beake

cover image

Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2009. ISBN 9781845079628.
Middle Primary. Well recommended. With global warming covering most of the earth and sea this novel, set in 2200 in South Africa sees the Tekkies desperately needing to find a new source of fresh water and so Rain and her beautiful lion Saa are kidnapped. It's about a nation's desire to control all around, but realising that even with all the modern technological knowledge change is coming and Rain and Saa are part of that. Help is needed. Rain is befriended by Sharon whose grandfather helped build 'The Island'. She is bent on seeing Saa and offers Rain a way to freedom. Tension builds before Rain, with her 'old knowledge' and the help of Ghau, and the The Writer who knew Rain's Grandmother, are able to escape the island just before she was to be the sacrifice to bring rain! Simply written, this is an interesting novel to discuss with middle primary students who are part of the global warming debate. Well worth reading.
Sue Nosworthy

booktopia