Chanda's Secrets

Chanda’s Secrets is a suspense-filled novel about a teenager who fights to rescue the people she loves. Through his dramatic storytelling, Allan Stratton captures the enduring strength of loyalty, the profound impact of loss, and a fearlessness that is powered by the heart. Above all, this is a story about living with truth. “Smart and determined, Chanda is a character whom readers come to care for and believe in, in spite of her almost impossible situation. The details of sub-Saharan African life are convincing and smoothly woven into this moving story of poverty and courage, but the real insight for readers will be the appalling treatment of the AIDS victims.” ― School Library Journal, starred review “The statistics of the millions infected with HIV/AIDS in southern Africa find a human face in this gripping story of one teenager ... [The] realistic characters―caring, mean, funny, angry, kind, and cruel―will keep kids reading and break the silence about the tragedy.” ― Booklist, starred review “This powerful story hits home with its harsh truths, its pain, and its hard-won hopefulness. No one can read Chanda’s Secrets and remain untouched by the young people who are caught in the AIDS pandemic and still battling to make sense of their lives.” ― Stephen Lewis, UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa