Granma Nineteen and the Soviet's Secret
SynopsisPlot
By the beaches of Luanda, the Soviets are building a grand mausoleum in honour of the Comrade President. Granmas are whispering: houses, they say, will be dexploded, and everyone will have to leave. With the help of his friends Charlita and Pi (whom everyone calls 3.14), and with assistance from Dr. Rafael KnockKnock, the Comrade Gas Jockey, the amorous Gudafterov, crazy Sea Foam, and a ghost, our young hero must decide exactly how much trouble he’s willing to face to keep his Granma safe in Bishop’s Beach.
Story
About this book
Near the shoreline of Luanda, Angola, Soviet engineers are constructing a large mausoleum to honor the Comrade President. Rumors spread among the neighborhood grandmothers that homes will be demolished to make way for the project, forcing residents out of Bishop's Beach. A young boy living with his grandmother finds himself caught between the ordinary adventures of childhood and the very real threat of losing his home.
The boy's world is populated by a vivid cast of locals. His friends Charlita and Pi, nicknamed 3.14, help him navigate the situation, while adults like Dr. Rafael KnockKnock, the Comrade Gas Jockey, a lovelorn Soviet named Gudafterov, and a figure known as Sea Foam each play their own part in the unfolding events. A ghost also turns up. Together, these characters fill the story with humor and warmth even as the political backdrop remains serious.
Ondjaki, an Angolan writer from Luanda, sets the novel during a period when Soviet cooperation shaped daily life in the country. The story follows the boy as he tries to figure out how far he is willing to go to keep his grandmother safe in their neighborhood, balancing loyalty, mischief, and the pressures of a changing city.
