Fetching Dreams by Mary Bleckwehl – Review by Jennifer Gordon

Fetching Dreams by Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderfully written heartwarming and inspirational YA novel which kept me captivated throughout.
When Neyah and Abby who live a continent apart become pen pals neither realised how important their friendship would become to them both. Neyah is shy and quiet living in a rural African village whilst bold and boisterous Abby lives a comfortable life in a modern American city. Whilst Abby spends her time planning her social calendar and waiting for her school day to be over, Neyah longs to spend more time in school, but has to spend most days fetching water for her family to survive, and even then it’s filthy water. Although they both live very differently they are keen to learn about each other’s lives and a friendship grows through their letters. We soon learn that Abby has her own challenges to face, and the girls inspire one another to find a purpose in their difficulties. The descriptive narrative brings the settings in which both girls live vividly to life, making me feel immersed in their world. The author teaches us about African customs and it’s culture, as well as the challenges young girls and women in particular face, whilst keeping it part of the storyline. This is an emotional and engaging read, and although it’s a YA novel I would recommend it to all ages!

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