Book Review

Figgy in the World, by Tamsin Janu

First published in 2014, Figgy in the World was inspired by the author’s visit to Ghana. It was her first novel and received critical acclaim.

It tells the story of the titular character of Figgy, who is eight years old. She has an unusual name and doesn’t know of anyone else named Figgy. She can’t do anything about this. She has another, bigger problem; her Grandma Ama is sick and needs special medicine. Figgy makes the decision to leave her small village and travel to America where she will get medicine to cure her.

Thus, begins Figgy’s journey in the world. She sets off with her special pet goat, Kwame, making friends, making enemies, experiencing joy and tragedy on her challenging journey.

It is an engaging story that gives a unique insight into Ghanaian culture, seen through the eye of a child. Whilst the adventure she goes on is admirable, her naïve understanding of it makes it all the more interesting. The protagonist/narrator (Figgy) is especially endearing, as is the special friend she makes along the way, Nana, and even her pet goat. 

Figgy in the World received a number of awards, including the Adelaide Festival Premier’s Award Winner (2016), Adelaide Festival Children’s Literature Award Winner (2016), NSW Premier’s Literary Awards – Patricia Wrightson Prize Joint Winer (2015), and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Designer’s Award (2015), Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards (2015), Queensland Literary Awards (2015) and the Readings Children’s Book Prize (2015).

The success of Figgy in the World, saw it followed up with two sequels: Figgy and the President (2016) and Figgy Takes the City (2017).

There are moments of real happiness and sadness that are depicted carefully, with due consideration for the target audience, though not condescending towards them. It is an elegantly written story of a girl with epic aspirations, that everyone would benefit from reading.

Figgy in the World is able to be borrowed through the school library.

Dr Calvin Taylor