'Mankell presents the facts in a way that young readers will find interesting and affecting.'Viewpoint Vol 10 No 4 2002bittersweet and enchanging', Emma, student reviewer.generous and thoughtful novel that makes an unimaginable crisis accessible.'Reader's review in Good Readingworthy of attention for its graphic portrayal of a society bereft of what Westerners consider the most basic of necessities.' Magpies, Sep 2002

Sofia has lost her legs and her sister in a landmine accident. But now she's growing up and ready to fall in love. Her older sister Rosa is strong and beautiful and loves dancing. Sofia will never be able to dance, so how will anyone ever notice her enough to love her? She imagines a boy who will love her for herself, and then she meets him - but is the Moonboy real, or just a dream of the African night? Then Rosa falls sick with a mysterious illness and Sofia fears the worst. When Rosa is diagnosed with HIV and turns to African magic for a cure, Sofia is the one who has to be practical and think of the future.

Sofia has lost her legs and her sister in a landmine accident. But now she's growing up and ready to fall in love. Her older sister Rosa is strong and beautiful and loves dancing. Sofia will never be able to dance, so how will anyone ever notice her enough to love her? She imagines a boy who will love her for herself, and then she meets him - but is the Moonboy real, or just a dream of the African night? Then Rosa falls sick with a mysterious illness and Sofia fears the worst. When Rosa is diagnosed with HIV and turns to African magic for a cure, Sofia is the one who has to be practical and think of the future.

Henning Mankell is a Swedish author, best known in the UK for his crime novels. He lives part of the year in Mozambique where the fire novels are set, and both books are based on the real lives of friends he knows there. Anna Paterson is an award-winning translator who lives in St Andrews.