NEW BEGINNINGS
Exploring African History Learning about the slave trade Song Beneath the Tides is a ghost story, love story and mysterythriller. Ally, an English girl, visits Africa’s east coast and makes friends with Leli, who sweeps her into the world of his nearby fishing village and its legends. But uncanny happenings begin to trouble them and a third voice tells a mysterious parallel tale which winds through theirs. I’ve had whispers of this novel in my head since the age of twelve, when I wandered through ancient Swahili ruins in a Kenyan forest, restless with bird cries and monkey shrieks, sliced by sudden silences as if the forest held its breath. It haunted me. I began to read about the ruins littering that coast and what happened when the first European ships, the
Portuguese, arrived in 1498. They found rich Swahili citystates ruled by kings or sultans, trading gold, ambergris and ivory across the Indian Ocean
with the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabia and India. I learned how the Portuguese wanted that trade, launching a 200-year massacre and pillage campaign to seize it. I also read of current court cases all over the world, which aim to stop people’s lands being stolen for mining or tourism. I thought: “What if Leli’s place is threatened?” I could take my readers into Ally and Leli’s heads, hearing warning echoes from the past; I could share Ally’s growing understanding as well as Leli’s fear and anger towards what may be coming. “It begins with a forest …” BEVERLEY BIRCH Author www.beverleybirch.co.uk
A Courageous Journey Celebrating the Windrush Generation A New Life is a heartwarming picture story celebrating the hope, courage and determination of the Windrush Generation. In this book, Sharlene-Monique navigates the loss of her grandparents by sharing their inspiring journey. The book recounts the true story of Winston and Mavis, who, in 1958, embarked on a courageous journey from Jamaica to London, laying the foundation for a new life for their family. The experiences of their great-granddaughter, Tahlia, unfold as a poignant narrative, resonating with young readers. It is made all the more
TURN TO PAGE 76 to read about Black History Month at SOAS
special by the viral TikTok video that captured the spirited dance of Sharlene-Monique’s 90-yearold grandparents, viewed over 500,000 times across multiple social media platforms.
A New Life stands as a valuable resource for children, offering insights into the experiences of the Windrush Generation. It sparks conversations about family stories, resilience and the passing down of talents and interests through generations. Serlina Boyd, founder of Cocoa magazine, praises the book as: “A beautiful picture book that tells the story of the brave arrival of Tahlia’s great-grandparents embarking on their new life in Britain. A wonderful read for the whole family.”
SHARLENE-MONIQUE Author www.sharlenemonique.com
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