Title: Angel (Through My Eyes: Natural Disaster Zones)
Author: Zoe Daniel
Published: August 2018
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Readership: Middle Grade to Young Adult
Genre: Fiction
Rating: ★★★★
RRP: $16.99 AUD
I received a copy of Angel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
An engaging and suspenseful story about one girl surviving Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013.
Angel is the second book in the Through My Eyes series that I’ve had the pleasure of reading (the first being Lyla) and it’s another thought-provoking read. Each book in the series follows a different child experiencing life after a natural disaster.
In Angel, we follow a young girl who lives in the Phillipines with her family. They’re used to weathering the storms that bring rain and wind and potential disaster, but the storms seem to be increasing in intensity until the storm that comes is a super typhoon that wreaks havoc on their home. Angel and her family are separated and the young girl must be strong and brave enough to help herself and her family in the wake of such a tragedy.
This is a wonderful look at the resilience of children (and communities) that are used to facing natural disasters that doesn’t shy away from the reality of the situation. Angel is not only separated from her family, but witnesses the deaths of close friends, experiences looting and the helplessness that comes from not knowing what to do next, and yet despite being one of the most vulnerable people in her situation, she finds courage and strength to keep going.
The Through My Eyes series are deep, meaningful books for younger readers who wish to make connections to real-world events. They have the power to help readers develop and discuss empathy and understanding. While Angel would be a great book for younger teens to read on their own, they would be so impactful if read and unpacked in a classroom, too.
I gave Angel 4 out of 5 stars
Noveltea Corner 