Nominated for the CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019. A novel set in Zimbabwe about hope - and its power to heal a family, a friendship or even a nation.

For fifteen-year-old Shamiso, struggling with grief and bewilderment following her father's death, hope is nothing but a leap into darkness.

For Tanyaradzwa, whose life has been turned upside down by a cancer diagnosis, hope is the only reason to keep fighting.

As the two of them form an unlikely friendship, Shamiso begins to confront her terrible fear of loss. In getting close to another person, particularly someone who's ill, isn't she just opening herself up to more pain? And underpinning it all - what did happen to her father, the night of that strange and implausible car crash?

Rutendo Tavengerwei's extraordinary debut takes an honest look at hope, and the grit and courage it can take to hang on to it.

 

Rutendo Tavengerwei grew up in Zimbabwe before moving to South Africa to study Law. One of her greatest influences in writing remains her father, who tutored Rutendo from the age of nine, teaching her how to write and how to play around with language when telling a story.
According to Rutendo 'writing is more than just story-telling for me. It's a way to protest against injustices, a way to encourage and a way to provoke thought and inspire'.

Rutendo currently works and lives in Geneva, Switzerland. HOPE IS OUR ONLY WING is her debut novel.