Twenty Chickens for a Saddle: The Story of an African Childhood

Summary (from the publisher): An exquisitely rendered portrait of an African childhood from an astonishing new talent.

When Robyn Scott's parents decide to uproot their young family from New Zealand and move to a converted cowshed in rural Botswana, life for six-year-old Robyn changed forever. In this wild and new landscape excitement can be found around every corner, and with each misadventure she and her family learn more about the quirks, charms, and challenges of living in one of Africa's most remarkable and beautiful countries as it stands on the brink of an epidemic. When AIDS rears its head, the Scotts witness the early appearances of a disease that will devastate this peaceful and prosperous country. Told with clear-eyed unsentimental affection, Twenty Chickens for a Saddle is about a family's enthusiasm for each other and the world around them, with the essence of Africa infusing every page.

Review: I personally love reading memoirs because it gives me a chance to experience another life or lifestyle. Scott, in this memoir of growing up in Botswana, has a whole host of great anecdotes to share, including the title story of raising chickens to earn money to buy a saddle. However, I felt like the execution fell short. The opening of the book is without preamble or introduction and left me feeling confused, as if I'd forgotten to read a missing intro. Additionally, I felt like the editor should have eliminated about half of the stories, because it definitely dragged considerably. I also felt that more than an African childhood, Scott was conveying an unconventional childhood or "life on the fringe" based more on her parents' outlandish lifestyles than the fact that she happened to be in Africa. I would be interested in hearing more about how Robbie transitioned into school and society outside of Africa, whether it was difficult or rather seamless and how challenges/successes could be linked back to her African upbringing.

Stars: 3