Child of Dandelions by Shenaaz Nanji

Child of Dandelions by Shenaaz Nanji

"A wave of helplessness washed over her as she realized that the law of the gun would prevail. Fate had tied their hands and muffled their voices."
-Shenaaz Nanji, Child of Dandelions








Summary:  Sabine is a 15 year old girl living in Uganda in the 1970’s.  She is a native born Ugandan of Indian descent.  She never thought the definition of, who she is, was important until all Indians were given 90 days to leave the country. They must leave their homes.  Through this government ultimatum Sabine is forced to examine and redefine herself in every area of her life.

Themes: Race, Class, Gender, Nationality, Immigration, Family Relationships, Friendship, Politics/Military, Identity

Grade Level: 6^th through 9^th grade

Possible Student Reaction:  In our book group discussion, several of the adults had a hard time connecting with the main character, they felt no strong emotional connection to Sabine.  It was the high school student in the group that thought Sabine was completely believable.  She said she could really understand Sabine’s actions and feelings.  So, my thoughts on possible student reactions are: Always be prepared to be proven wrong.

Analysis:  Common knowledge is that historical fiction is a blend of facts and fiction.  The part often missed is the importance in the distinction between the time period as just a setting and the time period and setting working to impart essential facts in telling the story.  Understanding this distinction brings a closer connection to Nanji’s story about the forced expulsion of Indian’s in Uganda during early 1970s.   She creates a fictional family to illustrate the plight of many in Uganda at the time.  The layering of thought provoking themes touches not only at a personal level in this story but also expands to include ever greater and widening ideas.  Sabine’s character begins by recognizing how class, gender, race and friendship affect her personally and she grows to see how these things have an effect on those around her and she eventually sees an even bigger picture of how these issues are affecting her whole country.  

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Discussion Questions and Ideas

Who is the strongest character in the novel?

How does Mama redefine typical definitions of “strength” and “courage?”

Describe Zena and Sabine.

What techniques does the author use to compare and contrast their race and social status throughout the novel?

Analyze the title Child of Dandelions.
How does the image of the dandelion function throughout the book?
Explain the significance of the book's title. How does it relate to Sabine’s journey and the rest of the novel?

To what extent does the author suggest the British colonials responsible for the racial tension between the Indians and Africans? What textual evidence is there to support this?

 “Some people are born lucky,” Zena said wistfully, eyeing Sabine’s bikes. “I will have to make my luck.” Is this statement true? How does the author show that Sabine’s family’s wealth is not merely luck or fate but the fruits of hard work and persistence?

Symbols


Dandelions:

The title, Child of Dandelions, carries great symbolic weight in this novel. It is mentioned three times in the novel and each time gains metaphysical weight. The image of a dandelion mirrors the Indians’ abilities to thrive under adverse conditions. Dandelions are known to grow amidst city concrete sidewalks and are persistent and defiant. They have strong roots and that makes it difficult to uproot them.
The word “dandelion” is said to originate from the French words “dent de lion” or lion’s teeth, which signifies tenacity and strength. Similarly, the Indians in Uganda are hard-working and sacrificed in Bapa’s words their “blood, sweat and tears” to build a home. The Indians controlled all the major sectors of Uganda’s economy. When the Indian population left, Uganda’s economy fell into shambles.
On the other hand, dandelions have a negative connotation as weeds horde water and nutrients and are known for stealing nutrients from other plants. This double-edged symbol perfectly embodies the manner in which Indians were perceived in Uganda.

Tree of Life:

This African Makonde sculpture shows different generations supporting one another. It symbolizes how the immigrant ancestors struggled to ensure a better life for future generations. Sabine’s Bapa came from India to work on the railway so that his children and grand-children like Sabine could enjoy the fruits of his labour. Similarly, as Sabine struggles to leave Uganda, she too will face problems as she settles in a new country but hopes that her children and grand-children will have a better future. The image of a tree signifies growth and progress.

The above information and more facts and analysis can be found at Shenaaz Nanji's website: snanji's guidebook