2021-03-08 Publishers Weekly

72 BOOKLIFE, MARCH 8, 2021

PICTURE BOOKS

Daisy Moves to

America

Elyssa Nicole Trust

32p, trade paper, $12.99,

ISBN 978-1-7363545-1-3

Trust’s touching tale

of transformation—and

perceptive acknowl-

edgment of cultural

differences—begins

with Daisy Mae, a

vibrant youngster born

in the United Kingdom, and her semi-daunting move to the

U.S.A. for her mum’s work. Alvin Adhi’s lively polychromatic

illustrations kick off the story with a showcase of London land-

marks, including the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben, that

are sure to spark conversation and learning opportunities for

young readers. Though Daisy Mae starts out eager and curious

to experience her new life in America, she quickly realizes that

being the new kid is overwhelming – especially with her British

accent and vocabulary.

Trust, a playwright and voiceover artist, eases younger

readers through the world of bullying and stereotyping in this

debut, bringing home the emotional impact of being teased

while smoothly pointing out cultural nuances that many chil-

dren may be unaware of (“So many words here are brand new./

The way the words are spelled is too”). The rhyming text takes

pleasure in Daisy Mae’s decidedly British words—candy floss in

place of cotton candy, telly instead of TV—and invites readers to

the fun of new experiences while encouraging cultural aware-

ness. In the end the phrases that trip up Daisy Mae with her new

friends become a teaching opportunity, with Trust’s glossary of

American versus English terms.

Adhi’s visual representations of multi-ethnic schoolkids

strike the right mix of natural

and buoyant to transport

readers into Daisy Mae’s

world and illuminate her

perspective. Parents will feel

the pull of lost innocence

when Daisy Mae works to

Americanize her speech and

will applaud her father’s corre-

sponding wisdom—“Be proud

of who you are,/ and share

your travels from afar./ And

though you’re from a different

place,/ we’re all alike in any

case.” Trust and Adhi have

crafted a meaningful portrayal

of cultural diversity as a

reason for confidence and

celebration.

SF/FANTASY/HORROR

Learning Monkey and

Crocodile

Nick Wood

216p, ebook, $6.99, ISBN 978-1-911-

14396-3

In this uplifting and personal

sci-fi collection, set in the author’s

native South Africa and on

fictional planetary colonies, Wood

(Azanian Bridges) examines some

of modern society’s most pressing

issues through the lens of specu-

lative fiction. Themes of empathy,

personal growth, and environ-

mental conservation unite the stories, which frequently center on

non-white, female, and disabled characters. In one, a group of colo-

nists escape a barren earth, only to experience growing pains

when adjusting to their new planet. In another, a psychologist

attempts to connect with a young black patient in a reality in which

Apartheid never ended. But even as he takes on weighty subject

matter, Wood remains a profound optimist. His writing provides a

welcome respite from more dystopian works.

Many of the stories hinge on similar themes, which makes for

a satisfying, cohesive collection. But the similarities occasionally

move beyond the thematic into the repetitive: names, settings,

and professions recur without. The dialogue surrounding iden-

tity can be heavy-handed, and, although Wood takes inclusion

seriously (an addendum outlines his approach to tackling identi-

ties other than his own), in practice his characters often

announce their race and gender in clunky exposition.

The standout stories feel most complete and uniquely their

own. The opening “Of Hearts

and Monkeys,” following a

clairvoyant older woman who

finds a family in the midst of a

viral pandemic, shines, as

does “God in the Box,” the

story of a psychologist recon-

necting with her son after an

encounter with “God.” The

quick and devastating “Five

Hundred Photons,” one of the

bleakest pieces in an other-

wise hopeful selection, offers

a welcome change of pace.

Some of the less grounded

sci-fi pieces tackle too much

for their length; as a result

their worlds feel under-

explored. But overall, Wood

deftly combines African lore,

futuristic technology, and

societal critique in a poignant

and moving collection.

A moving and fun

introduction to

cultural nuances for

readers of all ages.

Production grades

Cover: A-

Design & typography: A-

Illustrations: –

Editing: B+

Marketing copy: A

Production grades

Cover: A

Design & typography: A

Illustrations: A+

Editing: A

Marketing copy: A

Examining South

Africa and tociety at

large, these stories

are perfect for fans

of inclusive sci-fi

with emotional

urgency.

Lauren Beukes’s

Zoo City, Nnedi

Okorafor’s Who Fears

Death.

Great for fans of

Jenny Sue Kostecki-

Shaw’s Same, Same

but Different, Yangsook

Choi’s The Name Jar.

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