Review of "Dumb" Orphans

[Sara Whipple]

[Following is a volunteer review of ""Dumb" Orphans" by Allan Low.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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"Dumb" Orphans by Allan Low caught my interest by the name and subject matter. The story is accompanied by beautiful, colorful pictures that illustrate the scenes. This children's/young adult book is based in South Africa and is a historical fiction tale focusing on children who lost their parents to the AIDS pandemic. Sadly, this group is discriminated against by other children, specifically the "leader" Meyego. Meyego refers to the group as the "dumb" orphans and forces them to do chores as they are unable to afford education.

Within the group of orphans, there is a desire for knowledge and a sense of empathy as they unite under the guidance of fifteen-year-old Aiyasha. This book reads at a grade school level, but I would recommend it for any age as it is a heartfelt tale that will keep you wondering what will happen next. It is a tale of perseverance and determination that can be enjoyed by any generation. There is no profanity or sexual content in "Dumb" Orphans as it is directed towards a younger audience. It presents a message that you can achieve anything you put your mind to with support from others and determination, which can be learned from and respected by individuals of any age. Themes of the book include poverty, persistence, and loyalty. The editing is also exceptional, and no errors were noticed during my reading. The only negative I noticed was that it seemed that the children were often written and spoke as if they were adults, but this could be excused as it makes the characters appear as if they gained maturity due to their situation. I would rate Low's story a 5/5 as it exceeded my initial expectations with its initial appearance as a book meant for just children, so I'm glad that I gave it a chance. I found the story to be captivating with beautiful illustrations, which told a story that could have been based on real-life events. Another reason I gave it this rating was due to its heartwarming storyline that anyone could appreciate.

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"Dumb" Orphans
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