A Calf Named Brian Higgins

What happens when you drop a spoiled suburban American teen into a poverty-stricken area of Africa?

Hannah enters as a rather typical spoiled whiny teen used to cell phones, malls, and clean water, who might be acting out a bit, as her parents often quarrel, and she exits the story with a new world view. When Hannah goes to Africa to visit her Uncle Brian with her mom, she learns how a huge segment of the world’s population lives, and it’s not anything she could have imagined.

A Calf Named Brian Higgins covers a lot of territory and many global and social topics while it’s an engaging, heart-tugging story bound to leave the readers a little teary at times and sincerely humbled at others. Tucked seamlessly into the story-telling in a skillful avoidance of info-dumps, facts about world hunger, poverty, and health have a greater impact than a simple reporting of the facts.

Hannah makes friends, tries the local cuisines, and goes quite a long time between showers as she learns why her Uncle Brian adores this area and people. Proud, happy, helpful people aid Hannah as she journeys between cultures, trying her hand at crafts and visiting a local school and health clinic. While her mom helps at the clinic, her dad stays in America, unwilling to venture into the world that his brother loves so much.

I think this is a sweet must-read for anyone, from middle-school to adult, who would like to open their child’s eyes or have their own eyes opened and to feel for just a moment a little bit dusty and thirsty. The story is so engaging and the lessons so real, I don’t think anyone can put this book down and leave its lessons behind.

Very sweet, very pertinent, very engaging.

A BIG Thank You to NetGalley and One Elm Books for providing me an advanced readers copy of “A Calf Named Brian Higgins” by Kristen Ball.

What I loved most about this book was how realistically it depicts the life in rural Africa. As this book is directed towards middle grade readers, I expected the story to be lighthearted and carefree. Instead, the story beautifully moves between fiction and non-fiction by clearly portraying the hardships of the people. The author does not sugar coat the difficulties that the families face in these villages. It clearly shows how these people lack the basic needs that we take for granted daily. It also expresses how poor the infrastructure is and how people manage without medicine, school supplies and water.

But it also conveys how human traits like compassion and brotherhood transcends all other boundaries. Even with all the hardships, the people of these villages are brimming with hope, positivity and smiling. It really opens our eyes to reflect on ourselves and our behaviors. We tend to get upset over small things in our lives when it doesn’t go according to our plan. Even though we have all the basic needs (and more) to live comfortably, we tend to be pessimistic and yearn for the things we lack. Then there are these children from Sauri, who don’t even have most of what we have, and yet they are happy. They find happiness in simple things, like a mirror, a beach ball and a Frisbee. They rely on each other and don’t think twice on lending a helping hand.

Asante Sana to Kristen Ball for writing this lovely story. The author has done a fine job in making this book realistic without being too graphic for young readers. The author has written the plot smoothly with sufficient details to the background. The reader feels like they are taking a detailed tour of a village through the eyes of the protagonist. I pictured being there with Hannah, as she discovered how difficult the condition is in the school and clinic. The characters are down to Earth and I loved each one of them, especially Wilkister. Wecan clearly see from the details mentioned that the author has lived a lot of these incidents during her time at Sauri. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us! The book also provides details on how you can help make difference to these places. There are also heartwarming photographs included of the village people.

Overall, “A Calf Named Brian Higgins” is a wonderful story that I urge everyone to read and promote. I hope that the author continues to write more stories on such topics aimed towards providing awareness to young adults. 5/5 stars!

A Calf Named Brian Higgins

An Adventure in Rural Kenya

by Kristen Ball

One Elm Books, an imprint of Red Chair Press

Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles

Middle Grade

Pub Date 01 Aug 2018

I am reviewing a copy of A Calf Named Brian Higgins through One Elm Books and Netgalley:

Hannah Higgins is a young teen who believes her Summer is ruined when she and her Mother go to Africa to work in a remote village outside of Kenya with her Mon and Uncle. Hannah has never been to a developing country she thinks the food is gross and the community is dirty. She has to learn to live without electricity or running water, and to top it off she learns she will have to attend school here.

Before long Hannah learns that people here are dying of starvation and preventable diseases. Hannah becomes frustrated and wanted to help but when poverty threatens the lives of people she loves, all she wants to do is go home.

A Calf Named Brian Higgins is a story of adventure and discovery.

I give A Calf Named Brian Higgins five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Hannah's uncle offers medical and humanitarian aid to people in remote villages of Kenya. Hannah and her mother have the opportunity to visit, bringing along much needed medical supplies. Hannah relishes the time she has with her uncle but wishes her dad had been able to come along with them.



Hannah soon realizes how much she has taken for granted in the United States: clean water anytime she wants to drink or shower, food of any kind and amount, medicine to fight almost any sickness, and basic sanitary conditions. As Hannah begins to make friends and experience the hardship of her new friends, she learns to be more compassionate.

When a tragedy strikes during her visit, she and her new friends work to bring about change so that future tragedies can be avoided. I think this book is a great way to learn about the hardships that children in other countries face. This would be a wonderful book to read aloud as a family and then find ways to help those in need within one's own community.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of A Calf Named Brian Higgins from NetGalley for the purpose of review.

This is a real feel-good book with a heart-breaking twist. It ends with excellent service learning ideas and motivation. I've used this book now in my grade 5 classes and now everyone wants to connect to a school in Kenya.