A Girl Called Problem

A Girl Called Problem

Very rarely a book will be like a magic carpet ride. It will
swoop you out of your comfortable American existence and deliver you
somewhere far far away. You'll come to see the people through
different eyes and really care what happens to them. One such book is
Katie Quirk's A Girl Called Problem.
Shida is a thirteen-year-old girl growing up in Tanzania in
1967. Her name literally translates to problem. It is a name given
to an infant if the family is believed to be cursed at the time of
birth.
As the story opens the people of Shida's village have been
summoned by drum to hear an announcement by their elders. Tanzania's
President Nyerere has decreed that villages consolidate so the people
can work together and get better education and health care
facilities. They are to pack everything and move to Njia Panda.
In Shida's mind a miracle has happened. She is a healer,
practicing traditional cures. Now she will be able to go to school
and learn so much more about healing, maybe even become like Nurse
Goldfilda.
Her mother is very much against this idea. Education will not
give Shida the skills she needs to become a proper young married
woman. Her chance for the only good future for a woman is already
shaky. In an arguement with her daughter she says, "How many fathers
will choose to have their sons marry a young woman without a father?
A young woman whose family has an unlucky history? Your best hope is
to get married now while people still think of you as a girl."
The conflict in Shida's family is reflected in her village.
People are sharply divided about whether the forced move is a blessing
or a curse. Some will do anything to get back to the old ways. A
Girl Called Problem is a poignant coming of age story of both a people
who must change everything of their traditional way of life and a
beautiful and spirited young girl who must risk so much to achieve her
dream. In my mind it is well worth reading for kids and parents
alike. It's perfect for mother daughter book clubs.
Katie lived and taught for two years in Tanzania. It is obvious
that she left a piece of her heart there. I just hope that she can
come up with more stories inspired by her sojourn.
On a personal note, I had the great good fortune to see Katie show her
amazing Tanzania slides at Orono's Artsapalooza, a night long
celebration of writing, music, and the visual arts. That was beyond
cool.
On a very personal note next year will be my year at Artsapalooza.
Leah and I will have our poetry book published and I fully intend to
do a reading. :)
A great big shout out goes out to all who worked so hard to create
such a vibrant celebration night!
Julia Emily Hathaway



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