Black History Month: The Bite of the Mango and Chanda's Secrets

February is Black History Month in Canada and the U.S. (in the U.K., it's in October), so today's blog post features two of our most popular books with African content.

Mariatu Kamara's powerful memoir The Bite of the Mango won the respected Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction last year, and continues to receive awards nominations and praise. So far, the foreign rights have been sold for Australia/New Zealand (Allen & Unwin), the UK (Bloomsbury), Germany (Droemer Knaur), Holland (De Fontein), Italy (Sperling & Kupfer), Spain (Intermon Oxfam), French North America (La courte échelle), Portuguese Brazil (Editora Planeta), Slovenia (Zaloba Alica), and Korea (BookInMyLife). We're thrilled to see Mariatu's story travel around the world in so many different languages.

Here's Mariatu on a trip home to Sierra Leone:


From previous blog posts, you'll remember that author Allan Stratton has been on-site in sub-Saharan Africa to watch as his novel, Chanda's Secrets, is transformed into a movie. He's recently updated his blog with the story of how his book got turned into a movie, more pictures of the actors on set, and a funny story about movie extras.

We'll leave you with this book trailer:


For Black History events, check a local newspaper or search online. (NOW Magazine has a good list of events in Toronto.)

Mariatu Kamara Honoured with New Pioneers Award

Mariatu Kamara, author of The Bite of the Mango, was recently honoured with the New Pioneers Award (Youth category). This award is given out by the Skills for Change organization to immigrants and refugees who have overcome amazing obstacles and made Canada their new home. Mariatu was hailed as "an inspirational young woman who exemplifies the best of humanity." We agree--Canada is lucky to have you, Mariatu! (To see more event pictures and read about the other award winners, visit the Skills for Change website.)

Meanwhile, The Bite of the Mango continues to be well-received:

• Finalist, ForeWord Magazine's 2008 Book of the Year Award, in the Young Adult Non-Fiction category
• Selected by the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany, for the White Ravens 2009, a collection of outstanding international books for children and young adults

The White Ravens 2009 collection will be displayed at the Bologna Book Fair in Italy from March 23-26, 2009, and will be permanently housed at the International Youth Library in Munich. A description of the books is available on the International Youth Library's website.

More about Mariatu!
YouTube video for The Bite of the Mango
More info on The Bite of the Mano, including a podcast with Mariatu, sample chapter, lesson plans
The Mariatu Foundation

Wowing audiences wherever she goes

Her riveting memoir, The Bite of the Mango, has been called "powerful," "raw" and "inspiring." It has received starred reviews from three of the most influential journals in the United States: Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. But nothing quite prepares audiences for meeting Mariatu Kamara face to face. Her diminutive frame, hip clothes, and especially her radiant smile, seem to surprise those who have read her harrowing story. But once she starts to speak, her physical presence only underlies her message: she is a survivor with a boundless love of life.

Mariatu's speaking and interview schedule would daunt even the most seasoned professional. She has been as far as Vancouver, where she managed to do three school visits in one day. That was followed by a visit to Edmonton where she spoke at the University of Alberta's Festival of Ideas. High schools from as far away as North Carolina have asked if she would come to speak to their students, and whenever possible, Mariatu has readily accepted.

This week, Mariatu spoke at the Toronto Public Library's North Central Branch, where she received a warm welcome from the audience. Happy to answer any questions about her life in Sierra Leone or here in Canada, Mariatu's warmth, optimism and sense of humour draw people to her.

The next few months will continue to be busy for Mariatu as she visits Winnipeg, Halifax and many schools in and around Toronto. A glimpse of her recent appearance in Surrey, B.C., can be found in the Surrey Leader.

A Time for Celebrating

The second floor of the Gladstone Hotel in downtown Toronto was jam-packed with people of all ages. The beat of an African drum reverberated throughout the room. The media was there armed with cameras and notepads. The occasion? The launch party for The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland.

Heralded by School Library Journal as “honest, raw and powerful,” The Bite of the Mango, in addition to being a memoir about lost childhood, suffering, and hope, is first and foremost a labour of love. That was readily apparent in the speech by Susan McClelland, who talked about hearing of Mariatu, then meeting her, and finally knowing that she had to tell her story. It also came across loud and clear from Mariatu herself who spoke about leaving behind the traumatic events of the past to come to Canada where she was warmly embraced by the Sierra Leonean community, supported by teachers and new-found friends, and welcomed into the home of Kadi and Abou Nabe as one of their own. And if there was any doubt left at all, Kadi and Abou spoke about their “daughter,” Mariatu, and how the publication of her book was one of the proudest days of their lives. By this point, there were very few dry eyes left.

The warmth, the pride, the satisfaction of being associated with a book that has the power to change lives were palpable to all those who were part of this very special evening.

Video - The Bite of the Mango

Pictures often speak louder than words. That is why Annick Press teamed up with Book ShortsInc. to produce video trailers for four of our novels. Centred on the theme of Africa Then and Now, these trailers will be posted on our website for everyone to see. We’re hoping that this small taste of our books will make people hungry for more. Let us know what you think.

Click below to play a trailer for The Bite of the Mango, by Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland.


Click to play

A Perfect Day

Warm sunshine on a cloudless day, stacks of books wherever you looked, balloons, food, and hundreds of kids, dogs, and families enjoying a beautiful autumn day - such was the scene at this year's Toronto Word On The Street Festival. Things were hopping at the Annick booth where we shared space with Barefoot Books and Random House Children's Books. With the good people from Mabel's Fables tending both cash registers, things were hopping inside the tent and out. Appearances by two of Annick's best loved authors, Kathy Stinson and Loris Lesynski drew crowds, while interest was high in The Bite of the Mango, the moving memoir by Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland. While many people came looking for their old favourites - books by Robert Munsch, Ruth Ohi, Kathy, and Loris - they often left with new treasures such as Elizabeth MacLeod's Royal Murder or Mattland by Hazel Hutchins and Gail Herbert. For book lovers, booksellers, families and friends, it was a perfect day in the park.

Hope for Tomorrow

Check out Barbara Turnbull's article in the Toronto Star where she interviews Mariatu Kamara, co-author (with Susan McClelland)of The Bite of the Mango.

Mariatu & Me: Article by Susan McClelland in More Magazine

Photo credit: More magazine Canada website

Check out Mariatu & Me: The Story of a Child Victim of Sierra Leone's Civil War, A Curious Toronto Journalist, and the Metamorphosis in the Septmember 2008 issue of More magazine (Canada's Magazine Celebrating Women Over 40). Journalist Susan McClelland tells the story of how she and Mariatu Kamara came together to write about Mariatu's journey from a victim of war to UNICEF Special Representative in The Bite of the Mango.

And the Winner is...

At the recent ALA Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Annick Press held a draw to commemorate the upcoming publication of The Bite of the Mango, a memoir by Mariatu Kamara written with Susan McClelland. A victim of the civil war in her native Sierra Leone, Mariatu tells the astonishing story of her experience at the hands of rebel soldiers and its aftermath. Now living in Toronto, Mariatu has been named a UNICEF Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.

The winner of the ALA draw is Linda Adams, in whose name a $100 donation has been made by Annick Press to UNICEF. Linda will also receive a copy of The Bite of the Mango.


Linda is the Young Adult Coordinator at the San Bernardino (California) Public Library. She has three children and two grandsons, both under a year old. In her “spare time,” she works with Cartoonists across America, a group which promotes literacy around the world, using art and humor.

Thank you to all who participated in the draw.

Thinking Ahead

While most companies gear down for the summer, that is not usually the case with publishers. This is the time when we frantically make last-minute editorial or design changes to our Fall titles, send them out to the printer and start executing the marketing plans that were developed months ago.

At Annick, this is a particularly exciting summer as we look forward to some very special books. Every so often, a book comes along that makes you realize the power of the written word to transform the reader. Such is the case with The Bite of the Mango, a memoir written by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland. The true story of Mariatu's experiences growing up in Sierra Leone, her imprisonment and torture at the hand of rebel soldiers, and her survival, is a striking example of a book that leaves the reader with a sense of wonderment at the strength of the human spirit. Mariatu today looks like any young, hip woman you might pass in the street. It is hard to imagine how she managed to pull together the pieces of her broken life after her horrendous experiences. Her courage, resilience and unflagging optimism are a welcome antidote to the cynicism that often creeps into books and movies aimed at young adults. We can't wait till the finished copies of The Bite of the Mango arrive from the printer so that we can share this remarkable story with the world.

Annick Goes to BEC

Melanie Little, author of The Apprentice's Masterpiece

The number of exhibitors was noticeably down from previous years, and there were fewer independent booksellers than everyone had hoped for, but even so, Book Expo Canada 2008 was a successful show for Annick. Thanks to the presence of a number of teachers and librarians, the booth was busy with people stopping to ask about our upcoming books. The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland drew a lot of attention as did The Apprentice's Masterpiece by Melanie Little. Long line-ups awaited all our authors who signed books: Loris Lesynski, Melanie Little, Elizabeth MacLeod, Ruth Ohi, Charis Cotter, and Kathy Stinson.

Loris Lesynski, author of Shoe Shakes

Most of the publishers, association representatives and some booksellers attended a meeting on Monday to discuss the future of BEC. While everyone agreed that something had to be done to increase attendance, there was no consensus as to what that should be. There seems to be a movement afoot to move the show from June to September. As a publisher of children's books, we would be concerned that teachers and librarians who now attend BEC will not come to a fall show.

Elizabeth MacLeod, author of Royal Murder

The idea of opening BEC up to the public is a good one, but not unless a way can be found of allowing them to purchase books. Why else would they want to spend money to get in? For those who want to see and hear big name authors, there is the International Festival of Authors held later in the fall, and for those wanting bargains, there's The Word On The Street. Perhaps the appeal to the public would be being able to purchase the new Fall titles before they actually hit the stores. As for The Word On The Street, those publishers interested in selling could partner with an independent bookseller of their choice. Whatever the case, it looks as if BEC as it stands now is not viable for either its owners, Reed Exhibits, or for the publishers who attend. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.