Winner of the 2014 UKLA Award

Deo is a great footballer, a fierce protector of his older brother, Innocent. His brother is easily nervous, easily happy but good at keeping score on the dusty fields of Zimbabwe where the boys play.

Then Mugabe's soldiers come, destroying the only home the boys have known. Now, Deo has nothing but his brother, and a football stuffed with billions of worthless dollars. And so starts their journey to find their father. But with soldiers everywhere, they have only one chance to cross the border, one chance to escape.

In face of such a challenge, it is Deo's brotherly love that endures, his belief that he will lead them both to safety. Micheal Williams's is a masterful storyteller who pulls you along the journey of a lifetime. Deo and Innocent's journey is a universal story of hope in the face of despair, and the search for a better life.

An award-winning novel about the plight of young Zimbabwean refugees and the power of brotherly love

About the Author
Michael Williams is a writer of plays, musicals, operas and novels and the Managing Director of Cape Town Opera in South Africa. He has written operas for young people based on African mythology as well as the libretti for symphonic operas that have premiered around the world. Michael is bringing Porgy and Bess and the Nelson Mandela Trilogy operas to the UK in June 2012

Reviews
The triumph of human endeavour against a harrowing landscape... A gripping, powerful tale that will more than touch your soul. Quite simply, this story needs to be read. * Jason Wallace, multi-award-winning author of 'Out of Shadows' *
A wonderfully written, thought-provoking novel. . . It deserves a wide audience. * Bali Rai *
From the dusty fields of Zimbabwe to the refugee camps of South Africa, this is a heartbreaking, unputdownable tale of prejudice, resilience and brotherly love. -- Fiona Noble * The Bookseller *
Gripping, suspenseful and deeply compassionate * Kirkus Review *
This is a moving and important story about the brutality that takes place when dictators rule and hatred mounts. But it is ultimately uplifting when, united by football, a group of South African refugees reach the Street Soccer World Cup final. -- Vanessa Lewis * Bookseller *



Book Information
ISBN 9781848530836
Author Michael Williams
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint Tamarind Books
Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
Weight(grams) 170g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 15mm