Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke

Rating: Needs Minor Parent Supervision

Reading Level: Early Elementary

Anna’s mother is Canadian and her father is African. She and her mother have adventures as they join African culture and community.

Possible Concerns:

• Smoking. Anna’s father smokes a pipe.
• Gender roles. Men don’t help much with watching small children
• Worshipping elders? Anna and her family bend their knees to Grandfather and Grandmother to show proper respect p. 29. I’m not sure if this is culturally ok or if it’s bowing to someone other than God.
• There is mention of speaking “African” but there are many languages in Africa so this is not really accurate. Perhaps the author is simplifying things for the audience?
• Poverty and pain. Anna thinks it would be fun to sell oranges but she steals customers from poor girls who rely on the money from selling oranges.

If you let your kids read this, I recommend talking with them about how true Christian fathers are involved with their kids and don’t just read the newspaper. Also, Anna and her grandfather were right to help the poor girls, and we all should have eyes and ears for how to help them. Finally, remind your kids that in your family we respect our elders, but we bow only to God.

See my reviews of other books in the Anna Hibiscus series, starting with another coming out later this month.