All That It Ever Meant
Young Adult / Fiction / Zimbabwe
National Geographic Books
January 3, 2023

"Family, grief, ghosts, and a mystery: this clever and compelling young adult novel heralds a masterful new voice from Zimbabwe. Mati’s family is reeling from the death of Mati’s mother. Her Baba has drawn into himself, her sister Chichi is rebelling, and her young brother Tana is desperate for love and normalcy. When Chichi pulls her worst stunt yet, Baba uproots the family from their home in England for an extended camping holiday in their home country of Zimbabwe. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit—or ghost? or imaginary friend?—who only Mati can see and converse with. Guided by Meticais’s enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of living between two cultures, while the family must learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother. Full of captivating characters and stunning plot twists, All That It Ever Meant delivers a nuanced and unforgettable story of grief, love, and family." Publisher
This complex and hauntingly beautiful novel is set in England and Zimbabwe. The Mufanani children were born and raised in England. Zimbabwe is the home country of their Shona parents. When Mama is killed in an automobile accident, Baba loses the only woman he has ever loved and the children lose their guide and anchor. To assuage the family’s grief, Baba takes the children to Zimbabwe. Scenes shift between the two countries as the tale unwinds.
The novel’s central character and narrator is fourteen-year old Matiponesa, Mati for short. She’s the cooperative, middle child wedged between Chi Chi, her ”spicy” older sister and Tana, her sweet little brother.
As the novel opens, the grieving family is in Harare about to head into the Zimbabwe countryside. Baba has rented an expedition truck and planned a detailed sight-seeing trip. Instead of booking luxurious safari lodgings along the way, Baba expects the children to sleep in the back of the roomy truck. Chi Chi complains loudly and often. Despite her opposition, Baba sticks to his plan. The family visits popular tourist attractions including animal reserves, the Balancing Rocks, and the spectacular Victoria Falls. A trip down the Zambezi River on a boat named the Changamire completes the itinerary.
Various emotions and behavior are on display as the family journeys through Zimbabwe. Chi Chi behaves irresponsibly and battles constantly with Baba. Tana acts like a regular 9 year old boy but drinks Baba’s beer when he is left alone. Pensive Mati watches the emotional roller coaster in front of her and only shares her thoughts with flamboyant Meticais, an enigmatic apparition that only Mati can see. Grief is front and center in this novel but love – parental, familial and romantic – is a secondary theme. As the trip nears its end, the threads of love are woven together and true healing for the family is on the horizon.
All That It Ever Meant is a tour de force, brilliantly conceived and masterfully executed. Hidden in the book is a stunning secret that once revealed will cause readers to plunge again into the novel. Those who read the book should listen to the Audible version. Zimbabwean actress Kudzanayi Chiwawa delivers a stand-out performance.
To familiarize students with Zimbabwe, have them map out the places mentioned in the novel: Robert Mugabe Airport, Harare, Bulawayo, Kwekwe, Matobo National Park, Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls, Lookout Cafe, Benga, the Zambezi River, and Kariba Town.
Highly Recommended.
Reviewed by Brenda Randolph, MA. M.L.S.
Published in Africa Access Review (April 17, 2024)
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