Press Release Summary = Kara is an 8 year-old Kenyan child who is trans-racially adopted. Her life in Kenya is constantly bewildering and full of confusion. Her life is turned upside down when she moves with her family to Britain. Kara tries to find her own way of facing the changes which are emotionally challenging. Will she triumph? How will she keep the memory of Kenya alive, and who can she trust to help her?
Press Release Body = Excerpt from the book: The big eyes rolled all the way round to look at Kara. She wondered what it must feel like to have eyes that large, which could see you at a funny angle. Its slim green body matched perfectly with the undergrowth, making the chameleon invisible and safe to any dangerous enemy. The tiny creature was clinging with its miniature claw feet to a branch, which began to tremble slightly. Kara had been searching for a flower to draw. It had been a long time since she had seen a baby chameleon; it was moving slowly and carefully along the stem, each little step looked more difficult than the last. As the branch bent the chameleon was moving with caution out of harm's way. Kara sat down in the tall yellow grass crushing it down like straw. She thought the noise might disturb the chameleon's concentration. She watched silently- almost in a trance. Kara too, wanted to be hidden and not seen.
Kara was at the bottom of the garden by the shady mango tree. Her den was nearby made of withered leaves, sticks and mostly an old brown hedge. The lawn had two big wooden swings on one side. On the other, was a grassy bank, where her sisters and brother had put together a homemade slide from cardboard and plastic. Katrina, Sasha and Tom were older. Katrina and Tom had white skin. Sasha was Chinese. Kara was African. She belonged to Kenya, and was part of the Nandi tribe. Kara did not know much more that.
Their family was often described as 'different'. Questions led on to more questions and after a while, questions needed answers. A lot of the time Kara made her answers up but she was unsure how her sisters and brothers explained themselves. She had other ideas as well. First she would try and blend into the background. If she kept really still and quiet, she could pretend she was a young impala, discovering its bush surroundings. Nobody would notice her; she would be left alone, no harm done that way.
About the Author: Jeruto Kageha Marshall originates from the Nandi tribe of Western Kenya. Due to the death of her mother she was trans-racially adopted into an English Quaker family. Jeruto lived in Kenya and Uganda until 1972 when she moved to a Welsh Sheep Farm. Subsequently life was divided between the farm, going to school and later Zambia.
In 1995 Jeruto discovered her birth father. He welcomed her back into the family. Jeruto's visit became a documentary, winning 'Bronze Medal Award' for Culture at the New York Television and Film Festival in 1997.
Jeruto has a qualification in Social Work and NVQ 3 in Early Years Education.
Married with two daughters, she lives near Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
2025
