All That It Ever Meant

“All that it ever meant” is a book that shows the challenges of a family, who go on a road trip to cope with two unexpected deaths. Although this book is interesting, the plot is unclear and lacks impact. For me, the way that it is written meant that the characters were unclear. However, the ending is unexpected, giving the book an exciting end, and I liked how it combined magical spirits with reality. Overall, this book explores the grief of losing a loved one but unfortunately was ambiguous.

Shreya

Bilbo Baggins’ Bookworms

Hanzalah

Ermysted’s

A moderately good book that showed the interaction between characters very well however needed to have a quicker pace. I also did not particularly enjoy the plot so that may have clouded my judgement.

Finn

St Kaths

All That It Ever Meant by Blessing Musariri is a good book but for the most part, I didn't really enjoy this book as much as some of the others on the shortlist. This book is about bereaved family going on a physical and spiritual journey back to their home in Zimbabwe. They all expected it to be fun, but it wasn't because they were all going through the grieving process. I would rate this book a 5/10.

Ailise

Rebel Readers

All That It Ever Meant is a brilliant book. It tells the story of a family travelling to Zimbabwe from London. The main character, Mati, has an older sister called Chichi. I find Chichi a very interesting character because even though she can be nice, she can also be quite mean. Even though this may be an unpopular choice, Chichi was definitely my favourite character because I found her the most interesting. Even though she could be horrible to her younger siblings, I think that she had to deal with a lot and there was a reason behind every one of her actions. One of my favourite things about this book was that the characters felt real to me. I liked the fact that it wasn't the perfect family, unlike many other books. I think that readers who like books about drama (the genre not the school subject) would like this book. I enjoyed the diversity in it because the sad thing about these days is that not many people write a book with a family with a different culture to british/american, and I really liked that. I would rate this book an 8/10.

Esme

Bassingbourn Readers

"All That It Ever Meant” is an intriguing novel about Mati's road trip to Zimbabwe after her mother’s death. In the beginning of this novel I personally was confused on who each of the characters were but as the book progressed it became more clear. I enjoyed hearing about the day trips they had and how everyone processed the death. I think the ending was good but some more explanation of meticais' role would have been more helpful. Overall I think that Blessing Musariri did a fantastic job on this novel!

Bilbo Baggins’ Bookworms

All That It Ever Meant has an interesting premise but struggles with pacing and clarity. The writing is sometimes poetic but feels disjointed, making it hard to connect with the characters. The magical realism elements, instead of enhancing the story, often add confusion. While the book offers some beautiful passages and explores grief and identity, it lacks the emotional impact needed to be truly compelling. I rate this book 2 out of 5

Eeshal

FOFF Girls

This book is set during a road trip through Zimbabwe, following a young girl and her family grieving the death of her mother. As she is pushed by someone named “Meticais”, the narrator switches between recounting past events leading up to the death and participating in what is happening in the moment. All That It Ever Meant carries an impactful message about grief and the death of a loved one, particularly an unexpected death. I would recommend this book to many different audiences, although it may be triggering for those who have lost loved ones.

Anna

LGGS Shadow Questers

The book was quite confusing and weird at times, especially with its fragmented storytelling and pacing. While the themes of grief and family were impactful, the twists and abstract narrative made it hard to follow. It’s a thought-provoking read but not for everyone, and I found myself feeling a bit lost at parts. 6/10.

Baasit

Ermysted’s

All That It Ever Meant by Blessing Musariri is a powerful book about grief, love, family and forgiveness. It depicts the struggles and complexities of loss and the emotions that it brings. In this book, our main character Matiponesa, her dad and siblings travel to Zimbabwe on a road trip after the death of her mother to reconnect to their roots and rekindle their relationships. Here Matiponesa meets Meticais, a ghost like being who only she can see. A being who is insistent on knowing Mati’s story. I really enjoyed the twists and turns at the end of the book, it remains subtle throughout, then reveals the shocking truth. I was drawn into Mati’s world and became emotionally involved with her journey through grief. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates a bittersweet ending.

Ella

Larkmead

The book “ all that it ever meant” is a mixture of personal struggles, relationships with families and most importantly the connection you have with your parents. It is a book which shows Tana and her families feelings of her mum sadly passing away and how they take a long drive from London all the way to Zimbabwe. Overall this book is an amazing book especially for those who have the same struggles happening to them as they can relate to other people.

Khadija

BAS READING CHAMPIONS

This was a short but very powerful read. The characters come alive on the page and the way the family interacts is very real. The travelling through Zimbabwe is so beautifully described and the feeling of family healing as the journey progresses is very moving. The twist towards the end is clever and unforeseen (at least by me!) and the final few pages bring the story to its end beautifully. I really enjoyed this book.

Ros

Balla Bookworms

It was an interesting book with a lot of depth and will leave you in awe. It has funny moments and sad moments. Overall it is an awesome book.

Benjamin

QEGS Books and Biscuits

'All That It Ever Meant' by Blessing Musariri is an incredible book about the troubles and experiences of a young girl who has suffered the loss of her mother. Musariri's depiction of the relationships and family dynamics inside this Zimbabwean household in the heart of London really resonated with me, as I am someone who grew up with a different culture at home, so I found it easy to relate to the characters. I particularly enjoyed the apparition of the God/Not God character, as they symbolise the outside help that we sometimes need in order to move on from traumatic experiences and come to terms with our own emotions. 'All That It Ever Meant' had a strong emphasis on culture, which some people may find a little boring, so although I enjoyed it, I would not recommend this book to people who don't enjoy slower, more relaxed novels.

Kristina

Brooke Weston Book Busters

A very thought provoking read with a selection of different characters. This book, although a bit hard to follow, was impossible to put down. The character, Mati, kept me guessing the entire time and I could not have guessed the ending . This book was very good but not my favourite for it was hard to follow. I would recommend it to readers in year 6 and over

Ava

Book Squad

Although it wasn't my favourite out of the selection, All That It Ever Meant was a really good book. It explores Zimbabwean culture and mourning, as well as how the main character and her family deal with being from a Black heritage and living in the UK. They even have to change their names to something more 'English'. However, that is not the main theme of the story. This story mainly focuses on loss, and includes a twist at the end which I myself NEVER would've seen coming. The story itself is being told by the main character - Mati - to a spirit / being called Meticais (It's never really specified what they are). However, the story was sometimes very confusing and hard to follow. Overall, I give it a solid 5/10.

Holly

Chiswick Carnegie

I liked it, but it was quite confusing. The story and characters are very nice, and have proper personalities, and it i really enjoyable to see them bond across the journey! However, it would have been good to have some visual indicator when there is a flashback, like a chapter title or different font. Meticais was confusing, and never really got a proper explanation, and the final twist was a bit hard to follow. There also could have been more to the plot in the way of conflict. Despite this, I did enjoy the book, and it had some really nice culture in it!

Edward L

Ermysted’s

The book is extremely challenging although it has a great story line. I think it is better suited to a very confident reader.

Jayden

The WH shadowers

This book was a very thought-provoking and deep read, dealing with complex problems such as loss of family, etc. The main character's story is beautifully narrated, telling a story of grief and what could be salvaged from it. I would personally recommend this book to anyone looking for an unconventional yet interesting read, looking at different aspects and identities of a person.

Manas

Colchester Royal Grammar School

I didn't particularly like this one because I couldn't really tell where the story was going so if they produce a book in the future I hope they change this. Unfortunately, I don't recommend this book.

Eli S

Ermysted’s

This was a thrilling, interesting and heart-wrenching book all at once, the ending is extremely sad, and their trip is a rolller-coaster of events. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes books that are like an emotional journey.

Adaml

Ermysted’s

I very much enjoyed reading 'All That It Ever Meant' by Blessing Musariri! I found that the main protagonist Mati's perspective on her family's story was quite funny and very observant. She also made some enlightening philosophical points in the background which helped to move the narrative along well. I liked the variety of characters within the book, from mysterious, quick-witted Meticais to headstrong, independent Chichi to innocent, inquisitive Tana. Although I found it confusing at first, the rapid transition between explaining the past and narrating the present had a nice effect. I also felt that while I could absolutely never have predicted the plot twist at the end, it made perfect sense in hindsight. On another note, I found it very interesting to learn more about the life and culture of people from Zimbabwe living in the United Kingdom. Overall, I think that the book was very entertaining and would highly recommend it!

Matilda

Bassingbourn Readers

"All that it ever meant" is a philosophical book with plenty of well-writen characters and relationships. At times it touched heavy and disturbing topics, such as life and death or one's perception of reality itself, so I think this book is good for those who read books to get themselves thinking.

Marie

Shhh…We’re Reading!

A Road Trip is a great opportunity for people to spend time together, think and talk and we saw this scenario here. A grieving father takes his children to their homeland of Zimbabwe after the death of their mother. One of the daughters Mati is the main narrator and she is visited and supported by a spirit being called Meticais who turns up in a variety of wacky outfits supplemented by a pipe and initiates conversation. Mati is forced to confront what happened that brought the family together on this trip and the family dynamics. As the story reaches its climax we realise the significance of Mati as narrator and Meticais as a spirit being. No spoilers but you will have a satisfying moment of realisation that puts the story elements into perspective. Excellent!

Mrs P

Cake a Book Club

An interesting and thought-provoking read. It takes us on a journey with Mati and her family. Mati's mother has passed away and her father decides to take her and her siblings to Zimbabwe, where they are from, to help with the grieving process. Each of the siblings and their father deal with their grief in very different ways and the rawness of that grief is palpable! It is a hard story to read in places, as the rawness of the emotions leaps from the pages! Mati tells the story in current and retrospective views. You can really feel the culture shock that she is feeling from her city life in London, to a very different lifestyle as the family travels through Zimbabwe... and then there is Metacais! A non-binary spirit that only Mati can hear and see. They have a unique perspective on Mati's family, the grief they are suffering and life in general. An enjoyable read, a little confusing in places, but overall, I rate this book 4 of of 5

Mrs Allsopp

FOFF Girls

A breathtaking story tackling grief and culture with a family with a variety of ages. Although this book is not my normal read I did enjoy the ideas it tried to display with its rich storytelling and unique characters. I would highly recommend others to give this a go in order to learn from such an author's pieces.

Lylah

OSSMAORATORS

I personally did not like this book. It took about the fight between Chichi and her father constantly and I know it was one of the major points of the book but it bored me to the point I did not finish it. The writing style was also a bit off for me. There was short chapters which made it easier for finishing on them and not reading one chapter for ages but they were so short to the point there was lots of chapters and it felt tiring constantly starting new ones and trying to finish the book.

Layla

OSSMAORATORS

All That it Ever Meant is a book about how family copes with a lost family member and how they deal with the grief. This book made me want to read on and not put it down. Mostly it was written well but at some points it was a bit confusing. Overall I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for older readers. I would rate it 9/10.

Mason

The Fitzharrys Shadows

This is an amazing story of girl named Mati and how her and her family go on a road trip through Zimbabwe and all try and deal with their grief after the loss of Mati's mother. You definitely need to concentrate at first while you try and wrap your head around each character but then you do get fully into the story and develop your own relationship with each character. I still cannot believe the major twist at the end, I never saw it coming. I would definitely recommend this book to pretty much anyone especially someone with a curiosity for different cultures and who wants to get fully invested into a book and it's characters.

Freya

The Maynard School

All that it ever meant is a very interesting and intriguing book. It manages to help the reader piece together the past events while exploring different characters relationships in a simple yet descriptive and informative way. However, the story sometimes feeling quite stagnant with some passages of story being explained to you. This book also takes some time to "warm up" with the starting few chapters feeling quite monotonous. Overall, this book is well written for the most part but definitely has it's flaws.

benjaminr

Ermysted’s

In Blessings novel, Mati and her family embark on a journey from London to Zimbabwe, grappling with the emotional turmoil following the death of their mother. Every family member navigates their grief through their individual methods, along the road trip Mati encounters a spirit named Metacais, visible only to her, who urges her to share their story. As Mati narrates her family's experiences to Metacais, she faces numerous obstacles, including the need to including the necessity to confront her own sorrow. I really enjoyed how despite Mati living between two cultures she still retains her Zimbabwean heritage. I also loved Musariri's element of magical realism in the book. I suggest this book for readers aged 14 and older, as it delves into themes of loss and addresses various issues pertinent to young adults.

Shahida

Book Squad

I didn’t really like this book because it jumped around a lot and I couldn’t really tell where one section ended and one started. It was strange however because the twist at the end made me feel something.

Willow

Ely College Reading Group

This book is about a girl called Mati and how she and her family deal with the grief of losing their mum. It shows the difference between African and English culture and explores ideas of loss, grief and family. But also about finding the place where people feel they actually belong. I thought it was quite confusing at the start and it took a while to get into the book but it all makes sense when it is the end and there is a plot twist. Overall I thought it was a beautifully written book.

Sophie

The Maynard School

This book was really enjoyable. It was heartwarming but also sad throughout the book with an un expected plot twist at the end. I would highly recommend it although it took some time to understand it, when you were invested in the story it was a really nice read.

Annie

The Maynard School

I found the book really interesting to read because it is like a family vacation. I did find one thing I didn't like and it though - that I could not keep up with the story and I didn't know what was going on. I would rate this 8 out of 10.

Toby

QEGS CARNEGIE BOOK CLUB

The book ‘All that it ever meant’ by Blessing Musairi is about Mati and how she and her family deal with the grief of losing her Mama. Not long after she meets Meticais, someone she can talk to- but no one else can see them. My favourite character is Meticais because they’re really carefree and don’t care about others opinions. It made me cry quite a bit but there were really happy parts too. It felt really real and it was a really gripping book. One of the things I didn’t like was the cliffhanger at the end because it was really frustrating. I would recommend it for ages 11+. It has many elements of African culture so I would recommend it for people who enjoy reading about other cultures. I would rate it 7/10.

Hannah

The Fitzharrys Shadows

has some good characters and an amazing plot twist which I never saw coming but the actual plot was dull and meaningless and there was no real point to the book

willow

CGS CAKE Club

I found the book inspiring and it helped me deepen my understanding of black history but it was very hard to understand and kept skipping from time to time and place to place it confused me a lot because it just didn't really make sense to me but I still found it a challenge which is nice.

Nora

Chiswick Carnegie

The book is about a girl who goes on a journey through Zimbabwe with her family after the death of her mother to see her parents home town. I quite enjoyed this book as it was cleverly written and had a good plot. However, I did find it a bit confusing how the writer did not change tense when describing something that happened previously.

Lily

Chiswick Carnegie

I enjoyed the ending and massive plot twist, but I didn't quite understand who Meticais is but I liked the fact that only Mati could see and hear him and that they had that special bond. I would rate it a 6/10 and would recommend to anyone between the ages of 8 and 14. Altogether it was an interesting read and it kept me hooked.

Amelia M

Skipton Shadows

'All That It Ever Meant' is a wonderful book, filled with emotion, adventure, and great storytelling. It is about a girl and her family who go on a road trip to Zimbabwe after a great tragedy that happened in their home, but along the way, the main character meets in my opinion an 'unlikely friend' who no one else can see, but she begins to open up and share her grief with them. My favourite thing about this book was the way you can really get into the mindsets of the characters (especially the main character), and really feel the emotions and grief they are feeling after the tragic incident that occurred in the family. I also thought some moments were quite heartwarming, and really expressed the struggle of being a single parent. I don't think there was much I would improve if I was the author. It was a lovely read and the words stuck with me. Some parts were perhaps more for older readers, but it is an enjoyable read for younger audiences otherwise.

Olivia

Skipton Shadows

Confusing and quite hard to follow at times

Dylan

The WH shadowers

A very thought-provoking read that takes us along on their journey of love, family, grief and trying to find a way to navigate it all. Each character deals with their grief in a different way and although this is not an easy story, it is a book that allows to see raw emotions and the fact that it is told through the voice of a 14-year-old makes this even more appealing. Her outlook on experiencing and living two different cultures is so good to read and I would say it is definitely one for more confident readers. The character Meticais is a great character albeit confusing at time. The contrast between Mati (our main character) and Metacais is clever, every conversation revealed things from the past that helped answer some questions.

Mrs Whittaker

The WH shadowers

'All That It Ever Takes' by Blessing Musariri is a book that discusses the loss of a family member, and the journey of overcoming grief. What I liked about this book was how lively the characters were, and how many young readers could relate to the main character in this book. However, the writing style slightly put me off reading this book as the sentence structures confused me.

Sophia

OLSB Shadowers

A bit confusing at times but overall a great read.

Plum

St Kaths

I liked this book as it was quite interesting but confusing.

hasan i

Ermysted’s

This book was very touching and emotional to read. It blends the reality of grief and supernatural beings into one. A great read, would recommend!

Eva

KECHG Shadowers

it is quite interesting for a life story but I did not like the chapters about the flashbacks with Mama

mahad.k

Ermysted’s

I really didn't like the book because I found it very confusing and quite boring. I did however like how the author has shown the different ways people deal with the loss of a loved one. I think there could have been a bit more description in parts of the book, especially the start, to prevent it from becoming confusing. I would rate it a 6.5/10.

Henry

Ermysted’s

At the beginning of the book I didn't really understand the story as it was a very slow starting book. One of the things I loved about the book was the prologue as the 1 line sentence was very powerful and important. I didn't know to begin with what the word 'BABA' meant as I have never heard it used before. When I read more I got to know that it meant dad. My favorite part was when all the characters were in the car and the author was describing the long bumpy road as it reminded me of the small roads in Scotland. I would recommend this book to 12 -13 year old's.

Cody W

Ermysted’s

I found 'all that it ever meant' and interesting read overall. I found that to begin with he book was quite confusing and slow but as you got further through the book, thing started to make more sense, as it built up to the ending. I love the character of meticais with their bright outfits and unusual attitude and refusal to answer questions. I loved how the book was written, less traditional writing, more like Mati (the main character) was having a casual conversation with you.

Eva

MarrReaders

All that it ever meant was a good book but I found it quite slow to read despite being less than 200 pages long. It was surprisingly similar to The things we leave behind but it also contained the contrast of England and Zimbabwe. The end was interesting and I am looking forward to hearing different interpretations of it. The character Meticais confused me a bit but I think that is the whole point. I don't know if I enjoyed it but I'm glad I read it.

Aidan

Ermysted’s

Quite boring all the way through but an interesting plot twist at the end

Leo A

Ermysted’s

This book has a wonderful plot yet gets of to a slow start. At some parts it gets confusing as a result of its minimal description. However, I am enjoying its tale and representation of kids going through the same struggles.

Finley

SHSCC_Readers!

I found it very slow to start and I didn't think it was a very good book in general as all it talked about was them going and holiday to Zimbabwe but didn't really explain much.

Alfie f

Ermysted’s

I found the book, All that it ever meant, to be quite a confusing yet pleasant read. I have to admit, it took me quite a while to understand everything, especially the Meticais. But after a while, the story kind of makes sense of itself. The more you read, the more sense it makes. Although, the book has definitely made me want to travel to Zimbabwe! The characters in the story established themselves really well, even people who don't even speak are described amazingly! My favourite character was certainly Tana. His antics never failed to make me chuckle! 6/10

William B

Ermysted’s

‘All It Ever Meant’ was very enjoyable- I couldn’t put it down! It put a unique and beautiful perspective on how we should look at the world and was narrated by an intriguing and inspirational character. The way the plot and the story were written left me wanting more: I loved how the journey Mati (the main character) took with her family slowly revealed how a family coped with bereavement, but also exposing what modern day life is like. I liked how Meticais’ role in the story was written- he came across as gentle, witty and mysterious. The contrast between cultures was also interesting to learn about, and how the characters felt where they belonged was displayed. I would recommend this book to KS3 + students.

Maebel

PGS Library

I would prefer this to my friends because it is a story of Father and child after their mother died left England to Zimbabwe in a road trip. Then she meets a friend there, (her name is Meticais). This is a type of book that I mostly recommend to every year even to young people because this book teach us a life life story of a father and a child without there mother. It would be a nightmare!! without a mother.

Dhiya

QKA Shadowers

It was a great book it reminded me of the song walker from last year

Connor.R

Ermysted’s

I really enjoyed this book, as it was nice how it showed the different ways people dealt with the loss of a loved one. I also liked how it constantly felt like it was building up to something at the end but you couldn't really decide what. Another thing that I thought was good was the contrast between Mati and Metacais and how every conversation showed something in the past that revealed things but also kept suspense for the ending.

Robin

Ermysted’s

Although I didn't like this book it was it was a really well written book about belonging . I loved Mati's story-telling and strong personality ( probably what I enjoyed the most).Others thought that Metacais was a gentle character but I really did not understand her role in the book.This book gives an insight into fashion and culture in Zimbabwe.I did believe the ending would be along the lines of what it was but it only added to the story a bit. Rating 6/10 (the ending pushed it up a lot )

Conor D

Ermysted’s

What a beautifully written story about belonging. I was swept along by Mati's story-telling and Metacais was such a strong, but gentle character. I did have a feeling that the ending would be something along the lines of what I thought it would be - this didn't spoil the story, but added to it. Poetically written and weaves Zimbabwean culture and family relationships into the finely spun yarn of Metacais flamboyant fashion choices!

Mrs C

Woodruffians

All that it ever meant is a book that I found quite confusing to read. It reminded me of Song walker from last years' Carnegie. You never really found out what was happening. Their Mum had died back in England and tensions sparked a surprise road trip though the beating heart of Zimbabwe. From Victoria falls to Harare and the imaginary Meticais. All the flashback to back in England, made me contemplate about where and who we were talking about. Tana, Meticais, Mati, Mama, Baba, Chichi. Past, present or future. I never really understood it .

sam w

Ermysted’s

I think this is a very interesting book. It explores the feelings of characters and teaches you about the life of African families and how they live.

Raffertyt

Ermysted’s