The Carnegies

I didn't find the cover very appealing which put me off picking this book up but the story was actually okay. However, it seems like it was written by someone much older pretending to be a young person and the plot twist felt unnecessary as if it didn't fit into the story.

Phoebe
KLB Fiction Fans

All That It Ever Meant is a magic realism novella about seeing magic in people and in yourself. The story focuses on a family trip to evocative Zimbabwe in which our main character deals with grief with the help of a friendly spirit. Mati is a gripping character whose love for storytelling shines through her narration. She feels real because the reader can see her strengths and her flaws. By the end of the book I felt like I understood all members of Mati's family and I couldn't believe how short the text actually was, yet is showed so much. My favourite part was reading about all the nature, animals, and adventures the family experienced in Zimbabwe, especially when Baba focused on showing his children the Zimbabwe of his youth. Meticais, Mati's friendly spirit, cleverly gets her to open up. They are a master of asking the right questions. This book was unexpectedly funny. The light-hearted conversational humour binds the characters together, especially elevating the hard-hitting conversations between Mati and Meticais. The book is full of mystery, misdirection, and surprises, all cleverly wrapped up in Mati's unreliable and secretive narration. This book shares a lot of story-telling themes with novels like The Things We Leave Behind (another shortlisted book), Starless Sea, and When Life Gives You Mangoes. It also reminds me of reading the Jungle Book because of author's knowledge of the animals. I would recommend this book to imaginative readers who are not afraid to dive deep into inventive narratives. The magical realism makes me want to reread it myself as this is one of those books in which reader gains more understanding each time they reread it.

Ms Čechová
NA Book Club

Again, I am writing this review a while after reading the book. The characters are what I most remember, and I really like the exploration of the relationships between the different family members, and the way they develop over the course of the novel as they try to process their grief. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Mati and Meticais, with their banter and storytelling. Meticais was wise, and a guide to Mati, passing on their wisdom.

Zoë
The High Storrs Shadows

I really loved this book because it was very interesting and it had a big twist at the end. It is about a girl called Mati who travels to Zimbabwe with her family, after her mum dies. Her family was quite angry with each other at the start, and argued a lot, but as they got nearer to their final destination in Zimbabwe, they started to forgive each other, and began to be nice to each other. One thing I liked about the book was that it was all about Zimbabwe, and I learnt lots of new things about Zimbabwe, like the culture, and fashion. My favourite character was Meticais, a character who kept pushing Mati to tell her story. I like her because she was funny and had an answer for everything. My favourite moment in the book was the big twist at the end, because it was really surprising. I definitely didn’t see it coming! One thing I didn’t like about the book was that Mati kept having flashbacks to different times, which made the plotline a bit confusing, but, overall, it was a good book. Finally, I would recommend the book to anyone aged 12+, who likes stories about family, journeys, and big twists! I would rate the book a 9.5/10.

Lauren
Watford Girls

All That It Ever Meant was a beautifully written book that tackled the topic of grief in a very manageable way. It also tackled the way children of immigrants experience life, and the family dynamics were also presented well. The ending twist was delivered very nicely, and it was not expected. Overall, it was a fascinating read.

Saujanyah
The Tiffin Girls’ Shadows

This book is a vibrant tale of loss,sadness and happiness. Weaving in traditional and modern themes in a wonderful way and I could hardly put it down. But it is truely well written

Sophia
The John Mason Shadowers

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would but it was kind of confusing - there was mid chapter flashbacks which was hard to get used to. The characters were very developed and interesting. I probably wouldn't read this book again but was pleasantly surprised by what the book was despite me not enjoying it as much as the other books.

Megan
STAGS Shadowers

It was quite sad and the plot twist at the end was really shocking - I liked how the plot was quite original and overall, it was a very good book.

Annabel
Cake a Book Club

Blessing Musariri paints beautiful pictures with her words of a family coping with grief, making a trip back to their father’s country in order to honour their lost ones. The story is told by Mati, she recounts the story to a mystical character named Meticais, at times choosing to go back to old stories in order to make sense of the new. Meticais listens, prompts and questions the story, but Mati is unsure of their presence – are they there, why can no one else see them? As the story moved along, I guessed the twist, but this didn’t take anything away from my enjoyment of the book. Meticais is aptly named but it is not until the end that the name makes you smile.

Mrs B.
TGS Book Group

I think it was a good book and i think the author captured the emotion and the surroundings of the characters really well

Nate E
Ermysted’s

An amazing book full of twists and turns and how your family is everything.

Arlo
Crypt Bookworms

This book was really amazing. It showed the difference of different places around the world and it also showed how a family can cope with any kind of loses. I really enjoyed this book. It was really a good book.

Suheyla
Chiswick Carnegie

I thought this book had a good story however the way it was structured was very confusing. I also thought the characters were good and well written so they had distinct personalities and you could see how they approached different problems.

Evie
STAGS Shadowers

This a confusing but lovely book that helps Mati over go her grief. It is about a road trip to Zimbabwe.

𝕊𝕒𝕒𝕟𝕧𝕚
Beauchamp Champs 2025

This book was one of the most unusual reads so far. The main character (Mati) is born to two young parents from Zimbabwe, who move to England for a better life. Mati is an excellent story teller, and incidentally summons Meticais, a mysteriously well-dressed listener, for her to tell her story to. The majority of the novel follows their road-trip after her mothers death to Zimbabwe, for the funeral. However, little is revealed until the final chapters of their reasoning for the journey and what actually happened to Mati. In the plot twist, the reader learns that Mati also died in the car accident, whilst arguing with her mother, and the understanding of how her family cannot see or hear her or Meticais finally becomes evident. I found this novel really engaging and thought provoking, and the narrator (Mati) a lovable character. I really enjoyed the ending to this book, but in the opening and middle of the saga, the storyline became hurriedly muddled and it was hard to follow what was going on, until, of course, the final chapters. It made it more difficult to continue reading, as I found it never reached the awaiting climax. Still, it was entertaining, if a bit misleading, and a lovely way to discover Zimbabwean culture.

Emily
Carnegie Elizabethans

I really like how Chichi was developed as a character in this book, and how her father supports her when she is clueless about relationships. The times were Mati would reflect and tell Meticais about her past were a bit confusing, and I understand how Mati feels when Chichi is not following the rules and their mother just lets it go. Later, during the trip to Zimbabwe and their time camping, it was heartwarming to see everyone communicating with each other again after their mum's death. I wasn't sure if Mati was really there with them at that time, or was it her spirit as later on I found out that Mati and her mum died in a car accident. It was also a surprise to know that Chichi was actually Mati's best friend Sweet Caroline which made sense when Mati described her as disappeared.

Mila
Beauchamp Champs 2025

All that it ever meant by Blessing Musariri was personally for me a slow book and the story didn’t make a lot of sense to me . I think other people would enjoy the book but I personally couldn’t connect with the story and wouldn’t read it again .

William s
Ermysted’s

All that it ever meant is a book that normally I would have never read, it is written in a way that, at first, wasn't very interesting or engaging for me, but as I read on, I realised that I was entering the thoughts and emotion of this writer, stepping into another world I wasn't really familiar with. It took a while to get used to the jagged flow of the book, with it having many different stories and ideas that were introduced throughout, it was a lot. But, I came to enjoy to try and understand what it was saying, and it has introduced me to different ways of thinking, a different way to see the world. It is a very thought-out book, portraying several ideas that, in retrospect, are quite hard to explain to someone, but this book does it in a way that makes sense, and I realised towards the end, I wasn't there for the actual story, but for the person telling it, and all the people with them. A really eye-opening book that dives deep into things I hadn't thought of before, even when it feels tough or boring in some stagnant parts, it is all worth it in the end. I would definitely recommend this to a reader that is up for a little bit of thinking, you need to be able to evaluate the thoughts and ideas it gives you, and even be prepared to never find out, but that's what made it fun for me, the adventure of trying, and the satisfaction of seeing when I wasn't 100% sure I would.

Akashnil
TBGS Readers

This is a great book and I like the ending, but most of the time I found it a bit confusing and not very interesting.

Anita
St George’s Dragon Readers

All That It Ever Meant by Blossom Musariri is a deeply moving exploration of identity, love, and self-discovery. Through rich, vivid descriptions of Zimbabwe and its people, Musariri crafts a world that feels both intimate and universal. The protagonist’s journey of navigating family, culture, and personal growth resonated with me on a profound level, reminding me of the struggles we all face in trying to understand who we truly are. The emotional depth of the book, combined with its beautifully introspective pacing, made it more than just a story—it was an experience that left me reflecting on my own life and the things that matter most.

Omar
Beauchamp Champs 2025

A haunting story of a 14 year old girl losing her mum, having a sister who has a really bad relationship with her father and going to Zimbabwe. Shows what it is like to lose your parent and be part of 2 cultures. The entire book was a bit boring however the ending was pretty good. Overall I give it a 4/10.

Artem
Bookwizards

Anya
Beauchamp Champs 2025

This book is AMAZING! It is the last book that I have read for the Carnegies and I literally could not put it down! It is about Mati, the second child in a Zimbabwean household. Chichi, the older sister is sassy, and all for feminism, whilst Tana, the younger brother is sometimes immature but fun. I would say the reader probably knew Mati the least and Meticais was trying to get her to open up, and talk about her story. The family goes on a road trip to Zimbabwe after the mother dies and there are many family fights. The children have never been to Zimbabwe and are excited to learn about their home and culture. It represents many people in the world who have two cultures and all of them are embracing their cultures. The other bit of the book I loved was when she saw Meticais because the words used to describe how they looked was really inspiring and descriptive. The best but also saddest part of the story was the end as there is a sudden twist which changes the whole entire story and perspective. I loved the fact that it was a short read but will have an impact on you forever. The author did not drag the book out and kept it at a suitable pace unlike some other books I have read. This book was the BEST!

Anya
Beauchamp Champs 2025

I, unfortunately, have not had the pleasure to read this book as it was not available so the following review was done with ChatGPT. I would have loved to read this book as I thought that ChatGPT gave me a detailed summary. I also found it on Amazon and read a small section. This book discusses topics like death and grief in a very understanding way Mati deals with her grief differently to the way the rest of her family does. This spirit guides her through the pain and hurt- only she can see it. I suppose that means she felt with it in a “better” way but that is just an idea. I found this book overall very heartbreaking but reasonating.

Genevieve
Beauchamp Champs 2025

I used to live in Zimbabwe, so this book especially stood out for me - I love this country and the book didn't let me down. I found 'All that it Ever Meant' a very thought-provoking novel, with a winding, ever-changing narrative which felt like a journey through someone's mind. In reality, the story was about a journey through the beautiful country of Zimbabwe, a trip in which Mati's Father helps his children to get their own lives back on track after the death of their Mama. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and was not completely surprised by the twist at the end; it came so gradually that I almost expected it... if you get what I mean. 5/5 stars!

Anna
SMCS Carnegie Shadowing

'all that it ever meant follows a young girl named Mati (Matiponesa, age 14) and her family(her father 'Baba', her older sister, Chiwonso(Chichi), and younger brother, tana) on their journey from England to Zimbabwe after the loss of their mother in a terrible car accident. It is told from Mati's perspective with questions from the gender-neutral spirit, Meticais, who only Mati can see and hear. This book was a four out of five stars rating for me because it was hard to get into and start reading at the beginning but overall a really good book. I think the characters were described really well and made them feel real and alive, like the story was a film I could watch in my head. Mati was my favourite character because she felt the most alive, and the one I could relate to the most, even though she was telling all the stories about her siblings and very few about herself. The story kept me guessing and my favourite part was when Mati would talk to Meticais because of how many times she asked them questions and the only answer she got back was 'you tell me' I found the long names of chichi and mati hard to pronounce at first both in my head and out loud so I just use the short names when talking about the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 12 (because the age rating is 12+) and who likes family drama or adventure books. 4/5 stars

Estie
BCS Book Squad

Anya
Beauchamp Champs 2025

'All That It Ever Meant' by Blessing Musariri was a true to life story of loss and bereavement that follows 14-year-old Mati and her grieving family as they travel from England on a road trip to Zimbabwe after their mother died. Mati is joined by her father and siblings, who have started arguing and fighting, but also by a weird ghost or spirt called Meticais, who only Mati can see and talk too. I found that I could relate to Mati's way o thinking and I love seeing how Chichi, her sister, and her dad's relationship changed and grew throughout the story. but I did find it a bit hard to keep up as it flickered between past and present a lot but generally speaking it was very good and I would give it a 8/10.

Violet
The John Mason Shadowers

What a start of a book! Maybe the story gets a bit confusing, but there is a twist at the end and you will understand. I loved the road trip and Zimbabwe must be a wonderful country.

Miss Geval
Balla Bookworms

In All That It Ever Meant we follow Mati and her family who are all struggling due to the loss of their mother. It is a moving story about family and loss and as you go through the book you feel like you are truly there in the story. My favourite part of the story was actually the ending, as it makes you view the story you have just read in a whole new way. In the beginning I found the story a little bit boring, and was unsure but as I went through it became much more interesting. Overall I would rate this book an 8.5/10

Sofia
BFS Umbra Readers

A beautifully written, haunting story of loss and bereavement that follows 14-year-old Mati and her family as they travel from London on a road trip to Zimbabwe following the death of her mother. Mati is accompanied by her father and siblings but also by a mysterious gender-neutral spirit-like figure named Meticais, who only Mati can see and talk to. I enjoyed seeing the way the relationship between Meticais and Mati developed as Meticais provided wisdom and advice, helping Mati to come to terms with her grief. A thought-provoking exploration of what it’s like to be part of two cultures switching from past to present and with a great twist at the end that will have you wanting to turn back the pages and reread from the start.

Mrs Mann
Brooke Weston Book Busters

All That It Ever Meant is a young adult book to do with family love, loss, and life lived between two cultures. The story revolves around Mati and her family's journey from London to Zimbabwe after their mother's death, exploring themes of grief, cultural identity, and family dynamics. Additionally, the book features a gender-neutral spirit, Meticais, who only Mati can see, adding a touch of the magical and fantastical. I liked that Mati gets annoyed at the Meticais every time she sees them. I did not like the fact that it was sometimes confusing because it was flicking from past to present. I would recommend this book to young adults, due to its compelling themes of grief, loss, family, and identity.

Willow
Book Squad

A good book about a family going to Zimbabwe on a road trip, and what it's like to be part of two cultures. The ending is perfect.

Elsie
St Kaths

I quite enjoyed the book at the start and thought it was just right, then it felt a bit slow for a while and at the end I found it didn't make much sense but over all I think it had a good story.

Lara
Balla Bookworms

Very original idea and cleverly written. I enjoyed this book which had a good pace, kept me interested in the family and the main character even when things got a bit surreal. I liked the way the action went backwards and forwards in time as the family travelled closer to their destination in Zimbabwe. The reason they are going there and the way the narrator tells the tale without giving much away about herself all become clear in the end and you don’t see that coming too far ahead. An impressive book with a lot you could discuss going on inside it. I would seek out more by this author.

Mrs M
Blake Book Buddies

I did not realise what had happened until the very end. Metacais was my favourite character I loved the sass that they brought. The plotline was definitely not linear; while the intertwined stories were interesting, I got quite muddled by the different time frames. I'm not sure I would read this again but it was a nice change from the books that I typically read.

Phoebe
Ousedale Shadow Chasers

I liked this book because of the complexity of all the characters, especially Chichi and her sassiness! I definitely recommend this book. 7.5/10!

scarlett
The Fitzharrys Shadows

Overall, I found all that it ever meant to be frustratingly slow and unengaging read. I found the whole book but especially the beginning to be incredibly slow which left me struggling to get hooked/invested in the characters, their struggles, their feelings and the storyline in general which made the book a slow and painful read despite its small size. On the other hand, I did enjoy how the author showed the struggles that people who go through loss in a similar way experience and the way it can change people in different ways such as the personality changes in Chichi leading her to becoming more rebellious. I also found the well-dressed spirit/imaginary friend Meticais to be an interesting way for Mati to understand and work through her grief. 3/5 stars for me.

Johannes
Augustine’s Carnegie Challenge

Good in the sense that the themes and conversations are relatable. However the chronological order doesn't feel quite right in the sense that the location switches too much. Fascinating experience though.

London
Gabbot Games

This book is really emotional. It was really interesting, I like how the author adds in flashbacks, it really adds more depth to the story. It is also very interesting how everyone deals with their grief in the story. I couldn't believe what happened at the end! Even though it is not my favorite, I quite liked this book!

Mia
Kingdown

A depressing story about a girl who lost her mum. Chi Chi's whole family was torn apart. There are themes of travel, death and family issues.

Oghogho
Hall Park

All That It Ever Meant is an amazing book with many different family challenges like, family fights and more. One of the things that surprised me the most was definitely the ending (but I won't spoil anything if your planning on reading it). I would definitely recommend if you're looking for something new and different to read. Overall I loved it!

Ava
Kingdown

“All It Ever Meant” is a heartfelt book, taking us through a journey of Chichi, Tana, and Mati, who are labelled as ‘foreign kids’, trying to reconnect themselves with their hometown’s soil (which is also known as their parents’ home). The book has excelled at describing the conflicting emotions laying in the heart of each character, showing how complicated their relationships are and how hard it is to get their family to understand their feelings (especially after THE DEATH). Although at the start, you may be bored because of the long dragging out of flashbacks and continuous grievance, as you progress to the end you would notice a change in characters and also a plot twist that causes you to change your perspective on the book. I would recommend this book for people who want to take a break from ‘strong’ genres such as action and switch to something that might allow them to reflect their own emotions again.

Jamie
The Lotus Readers

I enjoyed the natural parts of this book, the descriptions of wildlife and Zimbabwe, and some of the characters. However I was slightly confused throughout by the Meticias, as I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be taken literally, as a dream or as a metaphor. I suppose this was sort of explained by the ending, but that meant I didn't understand some of the book before the end. I also wasn't keen on the ending, which I thought was a bit disappointing and almost like the author was really trying to get a surprising twist in. However I did enjoy the style of writing, and how the different characters coped with their grief.

Mabel
The High Storrs Shadows

I really loved this book! I loved the fact the main character had an imaginary friend because it was so nice to see her express herself through that character. The whole journey to Zimbabwe was really interesting, exciting and it was hard to put this book down! My favourite character was definitely Chici, she was sassy, bold and a great feminist! On a whole I really enjoyed this book, it was smart and funny!

Amelia
Lost in Pages

This story showed a grieving family uproot their lives and go on a camping holiday to Zimbabwe a country they had strong roots in. This beautiful book explored family relationships incredibly well and its depiction of grief was exceptional. The characters felt very real and the ending was spectacular.

Emily
TGGS Carnegie Readers

‘All That It Ever Meant’ is a book far below my reading age. Therefore, I found it boring, uneventful and predictable. I foresaw the main twist of the book almost immediately and by the time the story got interesting in the last two chapters, I was already too bored of the story for it to matter. This book is one of the first times I've had to try and find the motivation to pick it back up again. I give ‘All That It Ever Meant’ a 3/10.

Anonymous
St George’s Dragon Readers

This book was about a family who's mum just died, following that event Mati and the rest of the family go on a "road trip" to Zimbabwe. Each member of the family grieve about the death of the mother differently, anger, sadness, fear. Overall I liked the book a lot and it brought light to how different people deal with death.

Tyler
TTS Readers

This book is about a girl named Mati and how she imagines Meticias, who no one else can see, only her and how they are making Mati tell the story of how her life changed forever. I loved how this story was set out and how it was so quick and simple to read. My favourite part of the book was when her and her family were on the road trip leaving England after her mother died because their arguments were so interesting to hear and I wanted to see what was going to happen next.

Meghna
Beauchamp Champs 2025

I found that 'All that it ever meant' was hard to understand at first but the more I read it I really enjoyed it. I was surprised by the ending. I think people 13+ should read this. I would rate this 4 stars.

Lilly-Bella
Bramcote College Library

This book is about mati, the protagonist, and her two siblings and father. Throughout the book they journey across Zimbabwe while the family tries to recover from their mothers death. My favorite parts of the book was the descriptions of the places they visit and the plot twist at the end. It was cleverly done and got me flipping back though the book. But the pacing of the book was too slow for me especially as it's such a short book and the protagonist wasn't my favorite of characters, I much preferred her siblings. But Over all it's a good book about a family overcoming thier greif together.

Ellen
Diary of a Wally Kid

The book is very interesting full with lots of twists and turns. It dives into culture, family, friendship and loss. It helps me understand all about Zimbabwe and places. A great book that was very interesting!

Edward
TTS Readers

'All That It Ever Meant' is a novel following the death of a family's mother. In an attempt to sew the family back up, the father 'Baba' takes them on a road trip home to Zimbabwe from England. The story is from the point of view from the middle child, Mati, but goes through all the emotions with the other children. The end made me cry! There's a heart-wrenching plot twist as well as some upsetting themes (death of loved one, abortion, death of a child etc).

Alice
Diary of a Wally Kid

All That It Ever Meant is a story that follows Matiponesa on a road-trip in Zimbabwe. It shares what it is like to have lost a member of your family, leaving the rest your family in despair and in a round of constant arguments. It also shows how tough the hardships of immigration and not having a sense of belonging are and how you can face them. One of the best things about this book is that Mati and her family become closer whilst delving into their heritage and meeting other family members.

Harley
TTS Readers

‘All That It Ever Meant’ is novel by Blessing Musariri about the young girl Matiponesa (Mati) and her family, who take a road trip in their home country Zimbabwe, hoping that it helps them to overcome the mother’s death and grief. During the journey, Mati gets visits from the mysterious Meticais, who suddenly appear and disappear; only she can see them and talk to them. Who are they? And why do they come to her? Are they her imaginary friends, ghosts or some kind of spirits? Why does Mati need them? To find the answers, Mati needs to tell ‘her story’ and the reader needs to listen patiently. She needs to find the truth and accept it. At the end, there is a very interesting plot twist, which really surprised me. In this novel, the author explores themes like the loss of a family member and healing. It also describes well the challenges faced when you grow up /live with two entirely different cultures simultaneously. The book gives a good insight into Zimbabwe as well.

Eric
Beauchamp Champs 2025

All that it ever meant by Blessing Musariri was a heartfelt, beautifully written and powerful novel about loss and culture. It talks about the challenges of immigration and the feelings of belonging and acceptance. The book follows the character of Mati, a 14 year old girl whose parents were born and raised in Zimbabwe. After the death of her mother, Mati and her family embark on a road trip across Zimbabwe, as a chance to spend time together and recuperate after their loss of a loved one. During the trip, Mati is visited by an unusual spirt named Meticais. Meticais helps Mati get over her grief by talking to her about it. As the story moves along you begin to feel a connection with the characters and you start to sympathise with them. Whether it be Chici, the oldest child who feels like she was her parent’s biggest mistake, Tana, the loveable youngest with the love for nature, Baba, the father, grieving the loss of his wife, or Mati, the main character trying to understand her situation. All of the character in this book were relatable and interesting. This book was a lovely short read and I hope others will enjoy it as much as I did.

Alice
JGHS Shadowers

This book follows a young girl who takes a trip to Zimbabwe following the death of her Mother. She soon meets the meticais who want to hear all about her story. In this book we see amazing character growth and heartwarming messages. Somethings that I think that could’ve have been better was the pacing as I believe it was quite slow. I suggest this book to any teenager who has a chance to pick up the book.

Ewan
TTS Readers

I liked All that it ever meant, it was interesting to see the dynamics of the family and how they all coped with the grief. I enjoyed seeing their trip and the ending was good but I predicted it but only because I recently read another book with a similar ending. Overall a good book and nice to have a shorter read, it was the perfect length

Daisy
Wyedean School

i very much enjoyed this book and it was very meaningful with a great twist at the end

alfiec
Ermysted’s

I wrote a poem inspired by the text Chichi read at the funeral, here it is: I have just slipped away In your heart, I will stay Call me by the old familiar way I hope you will think of me today I have lived my life Seen all the wildlife But you, your heart has not stopped Even if the time together is lost! Please, let my name be said Without a single effort made Don't leave my jokes dead So that I will not fade.

Charlotte
4Shadowers

I chose to write an additional chapter: The Apology. If I apologize, I'll show them I'm fine with always being bossed around and denied the same rights as my sister. Which I'm not .The one who really has to apologise is my mum for always inflicting all her problems on ME, as if I didn't have enough on my plate dealing with my own . This is all I thought before it happened. The accident. When dad came home with her handbag covered in blood and told us what had happened, a dagger stabbed my heart: all of this was my fault. Suddenly, a surge of immense guilt and remorse enveloped me: if I had known the last time I'd seen her would have been when I kept barking at her, perhaps I would have acted otherwise...

Blanche
4Shadowers

This book is about a girl named Mati who is 14 years old. Her mum has just died, and her dad takes her, her big sister Chichi, and her little brother Tana on a trip to Zimbabwe, where he is from. He hopes the trip will help them feel better and bring the family closer. While they are in Zimbabwe, Mati meets a strange spirit called Meticais. No one else can see Meticais. The spirit helps Mati understand her feelings and deal with her sadness. Each person in the family feels different about their mum’s death. Chichi gets angry and acts out. Tana just wants everything to feel normal again. Mati feels lost and unsure of who she is. The story talks about family, feelings, and what it’s like to live between two cultures. It’s a sad but hopeful story, and it has a little bit of magic which I got quite confused with.

Kian
Bookwizards

After a fatal car accident Mati's family have to come to terms with the loss of her mother. Chichi (her sister) and her dad had a big fight. To help calm everyone down, their dad takes them on a road trip through Zimbabwe - where their family is from. On the trip Mati talks to Meticais who helps her understand herself and her situation. This story describes issues of grief and living as an immigrant family in Britain. I enjoyed this book it has lots of clever twists in it which tell you about the characters past as well as present - this can make it complicated but interesting at the same time. Overall I enjoyed this book and I recommend it.

Lydia
Larkmead

This Carnegie book was very bold, interpretive and down right confusing. I found it harder than most books to read due to the fact that Mati kept changing where the story was set and many characters had different names. I sort of interpreted the still unprecedented ending because there wasn’t really any interaction or dialect between Mati and the characters while in Zimbabwe. I still found multiple bits enjoyable and still believe it is truly a worthy book. I would rate it a solid 7/10. I would recommend it to children 10+ as it has some complicated and possibly disturbing content. Overall it was a great book.

Matthew B
Ermysted’s

originally, the book took a while to get into and i got really bored through the beginning and had no motivation to read whatsoever. at the beginning, the entire story felt like it was just her perspectives on the fights her sister had with her parents. when i finally sat down and forced myself to read, i found that the end was much better. i was taken by surprise at the revelation about mati's best friend, though it was told to us very quickly. i wasn't too surprised about the plot twist but it definitely added depth. i think its an interesting contender, though not something i personally enjoyed and it definitely is impactful.

rhea
Townley Book Club

I must say I didn't find this book particularly captivating where as others have. I thought that it lacked action and at some parts more description could have been included. To begin with it was hard to tell what was happening so that definitely made the book less enjoyable for me. I did however like the ending where they were at the funeral and we discovered something about the main character, that was a plot twist I'd least expected. Overall, I didn't love this book but people that don't mind less action packed books I think would definitely enjoy it.

Libby A
VISTA Academy

Not the one for me. I found All That it Ever Meant quite muddled; whether that be the descriptions, characters or spirits. It flits about and confuses the reader and all the different names for the same people add to the confusion. The story didn't really evolve and, all the way through, I just kept wondering how the mum died! When you get to the end and the 'big reveal' it was no different to one of last year's reads and, to be honest, I was expecting it.

Deborah
Ousedale Olney

All That It Ever Meant was a lovely book because of the great writing and the hidden meanings. I liked the illustration on the front and back cover which got me intrigued. However, this wasn't the book for me and so I rated it 6/10

Miley
Rebel Readers

The story is about Mati and her family, who are travelling to Zimbabwe, after the death of their mother. Their relationships are breaking – as seen with 17-year-old ChiChi and their father. In Zimbabwe, Mati meets Meticais, a strikingly dressed and quite grumpy character, which only Mati can speak to and see. As I read this book I liked the sense of mystery, as the reader is unsure as to who or what Meticais really is – they may be a ghost, an imaginary friend or even an ancestral spirit guiding their broken family. However, I didn’t really like how the characters were not really explained about – at times, I did not know who they were or where they were, which made it confusing to read in places. Unfortunately, this is not my kind of book. ** (Two stars out of five).

Rayan
Rockwood Reads

Overall I didn't really care for the book. The general story didn't really appeal to me, the characters were mostly uninteresting, and the topic that it was covering (grief and how people deal with death) is one that I don't really enjoy reading about as it just doesn't engage me in the book. 2/10

Johnny
Balla Bookworms

I loved reading this book. The story is about a tragedy - the loss of a parent, but also about connections and family, with an incredible plot twist at the end. It's a very unique story, and I've never read anything simialr before. The story follows the main characters' journey, while occasionally giving flashbacks and clues shown through stories. Mati, the narrator, is an insightful, thoughtful 14-year-old girl. The author deliberately focused the attention on her family, with lots of descriptions to help us truly understand the characters. My favourite character was Chichi, which I think is quite controversial, but I felt like I could understand her point of view and I think that her strong will and rebellion made her an intriguing and exciting character. This story is written in the first person, which is important to the story because it would change the entire story so dramatically (You'll understand if you've read it!) and the amazing plot twist would be completely ruined. The setting is described in a bit of detail, but the descriptions mostly focus on the characters' appearances and emotions. Their actions and words are also described in detail, as they are important to understand the story. Mati spoke in depth about the idea of 'looking behind things' to find secrets. This really interested me and it will interest you too if you love contemplating deep thoughts! In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this book because it is thought-provoking and a great read!

Hayley
TWGGS Carnegie Shadowers

All That It Ever Meant is a gripping novel set in the present day about a Zimbabwean family who live in England. The story takes place in Zimbabwe, though there are many flashbacks to moments in England. The atmosphere at the beginning is quite cold and blue, due to the death of a close family member, but, gradually, the mood lightens as the dad, referred to as Baba, decides to plan a road trip to Zimbabwe with his children and all isn't so bad. Matt, short for Matiponesa, is the narrator and protagonist and as you deep diver into the book, you learn a bit more about her way of thinking, her perspective of the world and how she's feeling. The main emotions experienced by Mati are nostalgia and guilt, after having remembered the good times she spent with her siblings, and not apologising to her mother for having said something quite upsetting, not getting a chance to say sorry before her death. By the end of the book, Mati learned, thanks to her guilt, that it's better to say sorry straight away as it's a release of dead weight and helps to process arguments. An important figure who contributed to Mati's character in the end is Meticais, a spirit only visible to her, who appears out of nowhere and starts responding to some of her thoughts (which is the story she is narrating), as he helps her have a different view on many things and to question way of thinking. I felt very joyful when I first saw that the father started talking and laughing again, after being mean and dead inside when the close family member died. I liked this book as it explored many themes including, sorrow, comedy, love, shock, and joy and if you ever feel like smiling, this book is for you.

Ambroise
4Shadowers

All That It Ever Meant tells the story of Mati, a young teenager who faces deep loss when her mum dies. This loss propels Mati and her family on an unexpected journey from England to Zimbabwe—a trip that becomes more than just a change of scenery. It turns into a voyage of self-discovery, where Mati begins to reconnect with her cultural roots and her inner self. The physical journey mirrors her emotional quest to understand and cope with grief. This story is deeply personal, as it invites readers to reflect on their own experiences with loss and identity. I would recommend All That It Ever Meant to anyone who has encountered sadness or feels the need to understand their feelings on a deeper level. For those looking to find a bit of hope amidst challenging times, this book offers both comfort and insight. Overall, this book is a great read and I encourage Blessing Musariri to keep writing !

Jessica
The Bentley Woodlanders

Quite a sad story, but I liked how the spirits came into the story. Their outfits and how they are described were the bits that i liked best.

seth
Ermysted’s

I think all that it ever meant was strong but was a little hard to follow and the story line was a bit chaotic although the characters were incredibly and beautifully imagined by the author 'blessing Mariri' it wasn't as greatly executed as I would of hoped but still worth reading. I give this book a 3/5 star review

bonny
Logs

As someone who like to read fantasy and horror books I thought going into this that I wouldn't like it as much as I did after a lot of plot twists it turned out to be something I'd read again. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rhiannon H-M
Book Squad

All That It Ever Meant doesn’t beg for attention — it earns it. Quiet on the surface, brutal underneath. Every sentence walks like it’s innocent, then hits like it’s been waiting to break something. The story’s slow pace is a trick. It draws the reader in with stillness, then slowly drowns them in grief, identity, silence, and the weight of unspoken pain. No unnecessary drama, no emotional fireworks — just truth so sharp it cuts clean. Characters don’t perform. They exist. And that’s what makes them hit so hard. Everything unsaid speaks the loudest. Every pause carries tension. This book understands what it’s like to carry more than you show. It’s not for readers chasing chaos. It’s for the ones who can sit with a quiet storm and still feel the thunder. Final verdict: 5/5. Quiet. Brutal. Unskippable. **Recommended for ages 13+** —because the emotional weight needs a bit of life experience to really land. Best suited for readers who like reflective, character-driven stories that go deep on topics like grief, culture, and growing up without spelling everything out.

Aminah
FGCS Carnegies 2025

This book was unique in so many ways that I don't know where to begin! Firstly All that it ever meant is a book about family relationships, tragedies and cultural identity, I see myself in every one of the characters in this book and that is what made it enjoyable. The disconnection that the main character feels from the rest of the family is shown in the style of writing, whether this was on purpose or not, I don't know but I think this made the ending even more emotional.

Bella
Balla Bookworms

The novel as whole was very well written, and the characters are well developed. The twist was well writen as well, and while it was unexpected it fitted into the story leading up to it well.

William
Tenbury Page Turners 25

I love the optimism that this book has especially because it shows a younger audience that anything is possible. The drawings were also gorgeous. 10/10 from me :)

Alana
BurlingtonBookReaders

This story really opened my eyes to how much struggle grief puts someone through. The whole family breaks after losing the narrator and mum. For example, Chichi used to be a lovely, caring girl. But becomes stroppy and a troublesome teenager. Secondly, I disliked some parts of the story due to the book rambling on. I found that for example when they were traveling in Zimbabwe, I could skip 30 pages and still know what was happening. Lastly, my favourite character was Tana. He was the younger brother and was described as 'sweet' and other synonyms. He felt pain after the death but kept going. My favourite part of the character was when he found something inappropriate in Chichi's bag, and was so innocent and cute. Even when everyone else was laughing.

Amelie
Team Berko

Elizabeth
Kesgrave Bookworms

This book is heartwarming and a very compelling read. The theme of grief is a very hard topic to read about and i struggled to get into the flow of reading it. I love the character of the metacais and how beautiful their clothing sounds. The novella is full of captivating characters and a great plot it is a powerful story of family grief and change. The novella is very cleverly told through the eyes of Mati.

Elizabeth
Kesgrave Bookworms

All That It Ever Meant is a captivating book about a family who travels from London to Zimbabwe, after the death of their mother who was killed in a car crash. The story is written from main character Mati's perspective - and travelling with her is a spirit called Meticais - who only Mati can see and speak to. During the book the family learns how to overcome their grief and tie the strong connections they form over the trip. I enjoyed this story - my favourite character was Baba (the father of Mati and her siblings) because he always tried to do the best for his children and constantly supported them. I also like Chichi - Mati's older sister - because she became a better person as the story progressed. There was mainly one thing that I didn't like about All That It Ever Meant, and that was the ending. The twist at the end was very unexpected (I won't say because of spoilers) and I felt that it didn't really tie in with what was happening in the book previously. Overall, this book is written really well, it could've had a bit more action but it was compelling and a great read. I would recommend All That It Ever Meant to lots of readers!

Emma M
VISTA Academy

Miroslava
Beauchamp Champs 2025

This book has really made an effort in portraying how you feel after the death of a parent, however, I believe that to be potentially one of the only good qualities of this book. Instead of making you feel the story, it kind of made me think that i was a child being read a bedtime story, as it was bland and i was more interested in other things. the character development was choppy, if any at all. It didn't have the suspense and climax I was looking for, and the plot twist at the end didnt really make my jaw drop as much as i had anticipated, as the writing before just made me bored. Its an alright book, and i would reccomend it to someone who isnt really into action and is shocked easily,

Jennifer
Kesgrave Bookworms

This novel follows the lives of Chichi, Tana, Mati, and Baba, an African family living in England, particularly after the tragic loss of their mother in a car accident. Told through Mati's eyes, the story explores the aftermath of this event. The concluding pages deliver a significant revelation: Mati was also a casualty of the same accident. This ending prompts a reconsideration of all that has unfolded. While the narrative didn't fully capture my interest, the exploration of grief and the impact of the final twist suggest that this book could offer a deeply moving experience for many readers.

Miroslava
Beauchamp Champs 2025

All That It Ever Meant was amazing! The description of the road trip in Zimbabwe had a really vivid description; it felt alike I was in the book. The fact that there was an unreliable narrator makes it so much better. The plot twists keep the reader gripping on to the book until the very end. I also loved Mati her personality was so great. It's really strange how Mati and Meticais talk to each other. It changes the way I looked at the world psychologically. 9.5/10 - definitely would recommend.

Saarah
JCA Book Club

The book is slightly boring but shows the depth of how imagination could help you cope with depression and other problems.

Rithu
Newstead Wood Carnegie Shadowers

This book portrays how kids feel after a death of a parent . I , however , found this to be a bit of a dull book . This is because there is a lack of action and just the character talking about their life . There are many activities but less description of them .

Aanya
Newstead Wood Carnegie Shadowers

A plot twist that when, while rereading the book, seems to make sense. Exciting, with little details that are easy to miss but crucial.

Jasmine
Newstead Wood Carnegie Shadowers

I'm not really sure if I like this book, it didn't have the suspense and climax I was looking for. I would prefer something with a little more action. However, I believe this book would be really good for people who aren't interested in action books.

Nurdan
Chiswick Carnegie

This book was overall enjoyable. Although I didn't like the first section as I had no idea whatsoever about what was even happening. However, I thought the funeral at the end where we found out the main character was actually dead the entire time. Great book!

Ben P
Ermysted’s

This was an interesting book and it gave me mixed feelings . This book explores the life of the children and the father after the death of the mother , whilst also having interludes of being told how she died . It gave me mixed feelings because , whilst the book was entertaining and there was a great twist at the end , it got off to a very slow and quite confusing start . Overall , I would give this book a 3/5.

Holly H
VISTA Academy

The book is okay.The first chapter was a bit boring but as you read it gets more interesting. I really liked the book .I wish the ending was more dramatic . But in all ,the book is really interesting.

Michelle
BCHS Book-talk

I really enjoyed how the author shows how teenagers deal with their anger. I also liked how she was able to discuss ethnicity within the book.

Erin
Cleeve Carnegie Crew

Firstly, if you are affected by death, abortion and sexual themes, drugs and child death, this is definitely not the book for you. This book covers many themes that could affect a young person in 2025, so I think it is a very inspiring story. The author really describes the feeling of grief for Mati extremely vividly, so that the reader experiences what she is going through too. By telling the story in first person, Musariri tells Mati's story through a diary-type dialogue, which feels as though the main character is speaking directly to you. Overall, it is an extremely good book that I would read again. Would definately recommend!!!

liliana
Cleeve Carnegie Crew

I loved reading this book because of the plot twist at the end! It was so good because it made sense in the way the book was written and how Mati communicated with her family. I also loved Mati’s personality and unique way of understanding the world because I had never come across this style of writing or thinking before. I also loved learning about Zimbabwe and the animals there! Overall it was incredible and I highly recommend it!

Anna
SJB Shadows

This book has put me through so many emotions at once like no other. It was amazingly written, amazingly described, amazingly presented and it is amazing. Every single chapter was so good that my hands refused to put the book down. It was truly wonderful. Every character had a role and every character had a story. I loved this book more than any other. The twist at the end was jaw dropping. This book is amazing.

Salma
Bellerive Bookies and Cookies

This book is told in the narrative of a young girl. She talks of her family and of her mother dying and how that affected everyone in her family. She talks to what we think is her imaginary friend that seems very flamboyant dressed each time they appear. It's a story of loss, grief and a new life coping with it and it's very cleverly written in that nearing the end you find out that the little girl telling the stories actually died at the same time as her mother in a car crash, but she sees how the family are coping after she is gone with the spirit. It makes you want to go back re read, knowing what you know. It's a very clever and very intriguing book.

Lydia
MHHS Shadowers

A very nice story, that when you start you literally cannot stop. It is a very realistic family dynamic through most of the book. The words just flowed perfectly and so did the realistic and spiritual elements. They just fitted together. I normally prefer action-filled books, but somehow this book just kept me hooked. Despite not being jam-packed of crazy plot-twists and big battles, I really enjoyed this book and I loved the way that it wasn't so busy. It made me just sit there and read for hours. i couldn't stop. At the end, when the final plot happened, I had to reread the book and see whether it was true (I can't explain further without revealing the plot of the book!) Even the second time, I fell in love with the words and structure of the story. Honestly, I would recommend this book to anyone as it is not too hard to read, and is a nice book to just relax with for a few days. It's amazing!

Chloe
SCD Pageturners

All That It Ever Meant is a Strong and compelling book about Mati moving with her family to London. A different and contrasting book to the other books, themes of death and grief are really emotional and intense in this text. Personally this one was not for me but lots of different and interesting ideas which I liked. A nice ending and overall and Great Book

Harrison
TPS Carnegie Collective

An interesting book that tackles with the topic of grief in a very sensible way. This book can be quite relatable to those who are going through grief. This story can teach you the impacts of losing a loved one and how to overcome it. One nitpick I have with this book however is that it might be quite confusing to beginner readers. Overall, a very mature and well-written book.

Jack
The WH shadowers

In this book Mati goes on a road trip across Zimbabwe because her mother recently died. Travelling with them on the trip is a spirit called Meticais. I liked this book because of the plot twist at the end and I also like Meticais because I thought he was mysterious. However sometimes it was hard to follow what was going on in the book but overall, I really liked it.

Eloise
The Fitzharrys Shadows

The book was well-written and thought-provoking. The characters are emphasised with their distinctive personalities. The intense emotions throughout the book were very well explored. The ending was very surprising, and the tension was thrilling. However, the overall plot and build up were a little disappointing. Overall, the characters are very nice,but the plot did not excite me very much.

Tejas
Colchester Royal Grammar School

The book “All That It Ever Meant” by Blessing Musariri is a meaningful story that left me a bit emotional. It is about a girl, Mati, who is heading to Zimbabwe, from London, with her family after her mother’s death and explores grief, love, loss and forgiveness. Throughout the book, we see the effect of Mama’s death on Baba and especially Chichi – who starts drifting away from Baba, by being rebellious. I like how it focuses a lot on the character development of Chichi – who we surprisingly discover is Caroline. Chichi starts to realise that Baba’s rules and restrictions were to keep the family together and to protect her. Mati meets a mysterious spirit called Meticais who gives wisdom and guidance so she can understand her identity and grief. I thought that the beginning was slow paced, and I was confused with the fact that Mati never talked about her grief for her mother that much - the plot twist that she had passed away was unexpected for me – but it made sense at the end. Overall, I would rate this book a 3/5 stars.

Hannah
Augustine’s Carnegie Challenge

In All That It Ever Meant, we learn that Mati’s mother has died leaving a tear through the family. The family(Chichi, Tana, Baba and Mati), go on a long trip to Zimbabwe, on the way they are encountered by many problems but also lots of enjoyment, during the journey Mati meets Meticas a spirt who has decided to help Mati, this is then used to create a feeling of friends as well as a felling that your not alone ever. At the end of the book the family arrive at Baba’s home village in Zimbabwe to find out that Mati has died along the way.

Conrad
Bookwizards

I've never read a story like this one, there were such good characters that had high emotions. I could imagine everywhere they were travelling. It had such a sad ending contrasting with other books. However it was confusing at times.

Ming
Ermysted’s

In my opinion, I give this book a 7/10 because it is really good, but I think it could have more information on Zimbabwe. I like the way there are siblings in the book as well. Also, I really like Meticais and how mysterious he is. Last but not least, I would recommend this book to my 15 year old sister.

Katherine
The Hart, the Rufus and the Arlo

This book was one that initially I had overlooked - I’m not sure why, but I did. This was a mistake. I had heard that there was little action, and it wasn’t other people’s favourite, so I gave it a go and loved it. I stand by the fact that books with hinted-at-but-still-unexpected plot twists are the best. Especially when they have a slightly spiritual sense to them. I have even recommended it to my mum!

Dora
DauntseysShadowTeam

All that it ever meant is an evocative young adult novel that explores themes grief, identity and cultural belonging. The story presents 14-year-old Mati and her family as they travel from London to Zimbabwe after the death of her mother. We follow each family member’s ways of dealing with grief: Baba who keeps to himself, Chichi, the rebellion older sister, lashes out at anyone who gets on her nerves and Tana seeks comfort in unhealthy habits. Mati travels alongside Meticais, a beautifully dressed spirit who only Mati can see and communicate with. I found this book particularly intriguing as it flawlessly blends realism with magical elements (especially through Meticais) whilst keeping its highly emotional aspect. Although the story is focused on the evocative side rather than driven by thrilling plot and exiting adventures, it succeeds in keeping its reader captivated when it counts the most. However, readers who prefer action driven stories might find it slow at some times.

Leonora CI
4Shadowers

All That It Ever Meant by Blessing Musariri is a powerful and emotional story about a girl named Mati who travels to Zimbabwe with her family after her mother dies. As she deals with sadness and confusion, she meets a strange and magical spirit named Meticais who helps her understand her feelings and her identity. The book is beautifully written, mixing real-life struggles with a touch of fantasy, and it makes readers think deeply about family, loss, and belonging. For People who love emotional stories , it’s a touching and meaningful book that stays with you. I’d give it 4.5 out of 5 stars for its emotion, creativity, and message.

Zara
BAS READING CHAMPIONS

I likes this book because each character was very unique and everyone was true to themselves. I found it confusing and hard to follow at first, because it is written as if Mati is just thinking it so there isn’t really any explanations. I think the twist at the end was great, I didn’t see it coming at all, and lots of things were not how they seemed, but at some points at the start and in the middle I found it a little boring.

Rose
LPGS Readers

I enjoyed this book as it was interesting to read. The multiple twists at the end really surprised me, as I thought that the story was going in a whole different direction to what it actually was. The characters felt real to me, they were described very well. Though it felt a bit confusing in places, everything fell together in the end. 7/10

Elijah
VISTA Academy

I think that this book was very interesting and that it had so much detail and personality to the main character.I think that the author could make another book or make the book longer because it was a bit short.Overall I would rate this book a 9 out of 10

Victoria
Elms Judges

Didn't catch my attention as being special or stand out.

David
Elms Judges

All that it ever meant , is a not so thrilling story. It doesn't keep you hooked in from the start but the last few pages are actually really good. It started very slow and it was hard to understand bits of but once you get into it you start to understand. I found it really hard to understand the characters feelings. But I do think that the fact it is in first person is great as you can really understand what they are doing and what they mean.

Harry p
Bookwizards

All That is Ever Meant follows the journey of Matiponesa (Mati) and her family from England to Zimbabwe following the death of her mother. Throughout the book, there is a wonderful theme of relationships within the family, and descriptions make the siblings feel very real and relatable. The whole time I was reading, I felt like there was a secret I wasn't part of (thank you final twist!), and I enjoyed unsuccessfully trying to work out what it was. I loved the character Meticais - they felt like the most organic non-binary character I've ever come across in the book and I loved the detailed descriptions of their various outfits, accessories and make up. I also really loved reading the frequent scattering of Shona as the author highlighted the cultural identities of the characters. Although this wasn't my favourite book in this year's selection, I did really enjoy reading it and I would definitely recommend it to my students.

Mrs Sirrelle
BFS Umbra Readers

I find this book really interesting, however quite sad at the beginning, as the family were slowly healing after their mother's passing. It's hard to relate in terms of location, because I've never been to Africa before, let alone Zimbabwe specifically. It was fun to look at the family's journey to Zimbabwe, while facing some conflicts along the way. My favourite character is the older sister, because she seems to rarely listen, and I could definitely relate to it at times as I'm reaching my teenage years.

Sonia
Ardingly Carnegie Book Group

A beautiful story about healing and bonding with a comedic twist. I found this book very enjoyable and found myself smiling quite a bit. The characters are displayed wonderfully and each have their own unique self.

Jennifer
Horsham BOok HUNTers

All That It Ever Meant is a comforting and realistic book about family, grief and mystery.Guided by Meticais’s wisdom, Mati navigates grief and dual cultures in this powerful debut about identity, loss, and family resilience.

Jola
Beauchamp Champs 2025

'All That it Ever Meant' is a lovely book about a family who take a trip to Zimbabwe after Mama died. I love how this book takes you on the journey with them, but occasionally the storyline is hard to follow. However I enjoyed the ending.

Kenzie
KES Bookworms

This book...absolutely blew me away. The plot twist absolutely made my jaw hit the floor. I never expected it and it has still shocked me. I don't know how I didn't catch on to the fact that Mati was dead. But it actually makes so much more sense looking back at the book. Also the plot twist revealing Caroline as Chichi was so unexpected, but such a nice touch. Metacais was a brilliant character! I love mystical and mysterious characters who talk like a regular person. Good job, you should be proud of yourself!

Thomas
Rebel Readers

I loved this book because it was short (so it took me 4 days to read), and it's gripping and tells a story about grief. Though it was a bit confusing for me at the end since I didn't know the narrator's name (which I sort of know now), it was still gripping. At the start, the characters go through the death of a parent and the other parent was dark and not happy for days until he took the children out and it lit a spark.

Annabelle
Weald of Kent Sevenoaks

This story is told through the perspective of Mati, a young girl who is longing for something to be a part of, it is a story of family love, loss and life lived between two cultures. Whilst dealing with the loss of her mother, Mati and her family travel from London to Zimbabwe with Mati’s gender neutral spirit. I thought that this book was pretty good, though it could have been better. I have to admit to finding Mati a little much to begin with. Her thought processes and observations made her seem older than her years, but as the story progressed, her view of the world and those in it became easier to understand. I would Definitely recommend this book to someone over the age of 12.

Jemima
Sandroyd Bookivores

I love this book. I would most definitely recommend this to Year 7. I love how it was chill at the start of the story, then there was a plot twist when the youngest son got sent in to the hospital. The teachers were so supportive of the oldest son when the youngest boy ended up in hospital they were so kind to him. I would recommend 'The Final Year' to people who love plot twist books and poems it both of them together plus if you struggle to read small type like I struggle with it, you will find this a quick and easy read. thank you for the opportunity I was a memories from primary school thank you

Hazel
Woodruffians

All That It Ever Meant is a thoughtful story centered around Mati, a 14-year-old girl, and her family copes with the sudden death of her mother. This book is a touching story that explores themes like love, loss, and finding your identity. It’s set in Zimbabwe after they left England. I like how Blessing Musairi displays how people can act differently in similar situations, as it makes the story feel more real and different compared to the other books . During her journey, Mati is accompanied by Meticais - a calm, mysterious spirit friend who helps Mati understand and reflect on her thoughts and emotions who only she can see. This is my favorite become one of my favorite books because the themes and the plot are very interesting. Overall 5/5!

Oussama
Isleworth & Syon

I'm not sure why I struggled with this book. Potentially it was from when the spirit appeared. I guess that is what Meticais seemed to be to me. Why can characters not just remember without descriptions of a 'spirit' that they interact with? I didn't spot the clues leading to the twist about Mati. That may have been through my not enjoying the style and not liking the spirit who was maybe the biggest clue. It felt confusing. I did like understanding about Chichi/Caroline demonstrating the difference the teen years and/or friendships impacts on young people. There was perhaps too much going on. I would have liked more on how immigration impacts on family life and less on seeing animals on safari. Why does there have to be a trauma and the drip feeding of the 'main' story while also travelling around. I'm not sure the trip to Zimbabwe added anything.

Sarah
THS Shadowing

I was confused in the beginning and slow to begin enjoying the content. The characters are distinctive and recognizable as a family grieving their loss. The way each person deals with it is relatable and your heart goes out to them. I particularly enjoyed Meticais who added flair to the narrative. The ending was surprising and touching.

Sandy
Readerraptors

While the characters in the book acted reasonably, the ghostly figure and the death plot line was quite confusing to follow, as there wasn’t any foreshadowing at least in the book that I picked up on. Finally, I did lightly enjoy reading the book, but I think it could have benefitted from more length.

James
Southmoor Storywriters

'All that it ever meant' has an interesting story, but could get a little repetitive and dull. Books don’t need complex and full storylines to be enjoyable, but it does help to have at least something happen. I found the concept of metacais very confusing and I wish it had been explained if not when they appeared, then at the end. This book explores grief and healing together as a family, bringing people of different character together through loss.My favourite part was the ending, as the plot finally became clear.

Julia
KES Bookworms

It is a thrilling and amazing book, although it's quite confusing. It is one of the best books I have read.

Ibukunoluwa
Sir Roger Manwood’s School Book Club

All That It Ever Meant actually took me quite aback. Before I elucidate, I would say that the tale of a family’s bereavement was spun tragically into a web of subtle links and witty conversations between the Matiponesa and the flamboyant sage of Meticais. It depicts a deeper perception of our daily surroundings, and Mati’s technique of “looking behind things” was rather eye-opening. Reading it, I found my self wondering whether the author themself ever used that such skill. The book is both quirky and lyrical, however, my only critique would be that the book did not wholly make me acquire a true sense of the character’s sufferings for their late mother, probably sourcing from the fact that, as the reader, I did not get to know her well in the story. To now explain my previous point, the twisted end took me by a great surprise to find out that the protagonist was actually dead! A dark, enthralling dénouement - very, very unanticipated, and an ingenious turn of events.

Molly
PGS Library

I found All That It Ever Meant to be a disappointing and frustrating read. From start to finish, the story felt emotionally hollow and painfully slow. The characters lacked depth, personality, and relatability—I never felt invested in their lives or struggles, which made the entire experience feel pointless. The book attempts to explore themes of grief, identity, and growth, but it handles them in a way that felt superficial and forced. The narration often meandered without purpose, and the writing, while technically competent, lacked energy or originality. I kept waiting for the plot to offer something meaningful, but it never delivered. The tone came off more as self-indulgent than profound, and it was difficult to stay engaged. I genuinely had to force myself to finish the book, hoping it would eventually click, but it never did. Ultimately, this book failed to move me or hold my attention—and I wouldn't really recommend it.

Trinity
Augustine’s Carnegie Challenge

I enjoyed this book but found it very confusing. The storyline jumps quite a lot but it explores a new perspective that I hadn't thought about before.

Livie
St Kaths

This was a very good book with unique ideas and heart-wrenching plot. the idea of the spirits and the plot twists in the last twenty pages were insane. it was so good and not the usual style I would go for but the detail put into the character building made the end so much more painful. would definitely recommend to anyone over 11 but especially those who are grieving or going through a hard time.

Chloe
Bramcote College Library

I enjoyed the somewhat sentimental themes of this book, and the heavy focus on family life. It presents an interesting narrative, and an interesting main character. I enjoyed the major plot twist, and the aftermath of that realisation. Overall, I would recommend this book.

Ben
St George’s Dragon Readers

All That It Ever Meant= Blessing Musariri's Carnegie-nominated 'All That It Ever Meant' is a moving story about loss and identity. After their mother's death, Mati and her siblings journey from London to Zimbabwe, guided by a unique spirit only Mati can see. Musariri's powerful writing explores Mati's grief and her connection to both cultures. While relying on introspection, the book offers a heartfelt look at family and healing, with a surprising twist that adds depth. Recommended for older teens who enjoy thoughtful and emotional stories.

Soliana
The SBSJs

The story is about a girl and her siblings. They travel from London to Zimbabwe after their mother died and are forced to confront family dynamics. During the trip they meet a spirit or ghost that only the girls can see. I liked the diversity represented in this book and how it embraces culture and many hardships people go through such as loss of a family member. I enjoyed the fact that it came with many plot twists. However, I felt that the author only focused on using fancy words and I felt that the story was very rushed and I did not find it engaging - it made me want to go to sleep at times. This was not helped by the author’s writing style which, I felt, makes no sense at all. Overall, I found the book to be boring and it did not engage this reader. Two stars (**).

Medina
Rockwood Reads

This book is about a family traveling to Zimbabwe after their mothers death. A character called meticais appears from time to time. The mati tells the stories of her family to them. This book is really intriguing.

Pranav
Ermysted’s

I found All That It Ever Meant really intriguing. It explores the themes of grief and family struggles, but also the theme of immigration. The author, Musariri, managed to weave these themes perfectly into the story. She represented death and how families dealt with it in a way that was relatable to my personal experiences. I also related to many aspects of Mati’s home life. The character of Meticais added a colourful flair to the story, especially with his funny conversations with Mati and how he was almost coaxing the story out of her. In addition, the end of the book really stood out to me. It was an emotional plot twist, and personally it surprised me. While I was reading it, I knew there was going to be some sort of twist, but I didn’t expect the one given. It made the book worthwhile, and left me thinking about it long after I finished reading. However, at times the pacing of the book was a bit too slow. I didn’t mind it, but I could see how others could find it distracting. Other than that, the novel was a moving read, and a welcome change from the books I usually indulge in.

Summer
St Angela’s Reading Angels

For most of this book, I found it slightly boring and the dialogue forced. Although I liked the concept and enjoyed the descriptions of the beautiful settings in Zimbabwe, it felt quite disjointed with a very slow pace. I did enjoy the flashbacks present, with the hints creating a bit of suspense, and absolutely loved the ending! The last chapter or so was so beautiful and emotive, and I thought the plot twist really made sense for the book, despite it being not particularly believable. I wish that the style of the ending had carried through the whole novel, however, as I did not enjoy it as much as most of the other nominees.

Eve
St Kaths

All That It Ever Meant by Blessing Musariri is a gripping book about Mati and her family’s grief for their mother’s death. I enjoyed how the main character narrates the book and it did a good job of keeping me guessing! At the beginning of the book I didn’t understand the storyline, but as I kept reading it made more sense to me. I think that this book is 3.5/5 stars overall.

Oliver
The Fitzharrys Shadows

i didn't like this book. I could understand what was going on and I think it was quite boring. I didn't end up reading all of it as I gave up half way through. Therefor I can't give it a sore

Katherine Jurd
Herts and Essex

All it ever meant is a book about a girl who recently lost her mother and so her dad takes her and her siblings on a road trip across their native country, Zimbabwe. It is a brilliant story about how different people cope with grief and loss of a loved one. Mati has a sister called Chichi and a brother called Tana, who all love each other though as they have gotten older they have grown further apart. Along the road trip, the children learn more about their struggling father's past. Also on the road trip is a friendly spirit called Metacais who randomly appears when he feels like it to provide advice to Mati. They have many intricate outfits which just add to their personality. Metacais animation has many in depth conversations in which Metacais asked her to tell them the story of what happened. When they arrive at their final destination, the funeral of their mother, there is one final twist that I hadn't seen coming which made the book much better. The book is slightly confusing at times because many of the characters have multiple names though by the end of the book I understood who was who. In conclusion, All It Ever Meant is a great book about grief whilst at the same time being a happy book about reconnecting with the family you still have. Even though it's a bit confusing at times it's a very good read.

Tristan
Europa Champs

All That It Ever Meant, is a young adult book that involves loss, grief, and absence. Following the sudden death of her mother, Mati and her family go on a journey from England to Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe, Mati meets a spirit named Meticais. Though she is traveling with her family, Mati is the only person who can see Meticais - or maybe he is just an imaginary person? Through Meticais' instructions, Mati navigates her complex emotions and the challenges of living between two cultures. I believe that this book is amazing and very inspiring. I would recommend this book to someone who is going through a hard time and finding life difficult.

Zaynah
LC Best Books

All that it ever meant is a book of Matiponesa’s journey with her family through Zimbabwe, the country of her father and late mother. They experience the wilderness on a safari and visit Victoria Falls. This book was confusing at times and took me around 50 pages to get into the swing of it. This is partly because of the characters not being fully introduced and also that ‘Meticais’, Mati’s imaginary friend kept appearing out of nowhere and the storyline jumped back to the events before the story. Overall I rate this book 3.5/5.

Felix C
Ermysted’s

I was initially raring to read this book. However, I didn't enjoy it very much, but I cannot deny that the twist added more depth to the story. Everything that happened was building up to the reveal, and I didn't realise before it was too late. After, it felt like the book wasted my time. I think it was more of a matter of my taste than an issue with the writing itself, as I'm not generally opposed to plot twists. If you are looking to read and feel something afterwards, I suggest you read this. I assure you, this is the book for post-read insights.

Divine
Townley Book Club

Really good description for losing a loved one, also really realistic and probably resonates with many people. It’s very authentic and felt very real, was intriguing with good complex characters.

Scarlett
BCS Book Squad

"All that it ever meant" is a great book that is in the perspective of a 14 year old girl named Matiponesa. It captures the raw emotions felt by her and her family after the death of their mother. It also captures the hardships of moving to a new country in such a difficult time for them. At times, I felt that some of the character s could have been more developed. Overall, I think that it is a great read and I would definitely recommend it.

Rida
KECHG Shadowers

This book is the story, told by one of the teenage girls, of the road trip in Zimbabwe that a family took after having lost their mother (and wife for the father). This book was very well written and reflective, bordering on philosophical, as the narrator deeply reflects on various things such as life and personality. Also, watching the two sisters grow up into adolescence and early adulthood gives us a sense of sister-sister and father-daughter relationships, which can get complicated, even though love always remains. This was very relatable as we all understand that the adolescence period can be hard and tense as we go through a lot of emotional change. Finally, the greatest part in this book is the ending: it flows amazingly well with the rest of the story but it is still so unexpected and shocking that you ask yourself how you could have missed it; I felt like I needed to reread the whole book to see what I had missed!

MargotHG
4Shadowers

A great book that deals with death and grief in a very perceptive and refreshing way that makes a difficult emotion to navigate easier. The bond between the family grows stronger and progresses revealing that all it takes is the power of time to develop connection, as a reader this really helped me to understand that getting through grief is okay to be challenging. Overall, a fantastic read 4.7/5!!

Arnav (14)
OAJW Golden Reader Club

I didn’t like the book that much because it didn’t really explain the characters or who was who or where they were.

Amy S
Herts and Essex

it was a breath-taking book in some places, as you don't fully understand if it is a flashback, or if its the present. The final plot twist was really unexpected, but made but made the whole story make sense as to why she was seeing the strange presence. Overall, it was an emotional rollercoaster that was heart warming and interesting. The book is beautifully written and the main character can be described as distinctive and special. Themes of grief, love, and family are explored and was compelling and heartfelt. I rate this book 4 out of 5

Victoria
FOFF Girls

The story is told from the perspective of a girl, Matiponesa, who is describing the effects on her family after her unexpected loss of her mother. Also, the challenges of moving to a new country. Matiponesa is talking to a mysterious figure called Meticais the story is very exciting with a twist at the end. It makes you want to keep reading. The story is very relatable and it describes common family dynamics. Due to the content, I would recommend ages 12 plus.

Ruby
The Hobbits of Thorpe Hall

All that it ever meant was the most disappointing story in the challenge so far, I don't like the fact that it is realistic but there are several things that are not realistic. In the end I didn't understand who died in the car crash, I also think it was quite predictable. I did like the characters though, i thought they were developed beautifully. 2/5 stars

Billy Collins
Ermysted’s

All That It Ever Meant is a novel that tackles weighty themes with poetic prose and a unique blend of realism and the fantastical. At its heart is 14-year-old Mati, a young girl navigating the complex terrain of grief, identity, and belonging following the death of her mother. As her family embarks on a journey through Zimbabwe, Mati is accompanied not only by her father and siblings but also by a mysterious spirit-like figure named Meticais, visible only to her. Musariri’s writing is undeniably lyrical, and the emotional depth of the characters, particularly Mati, is powerfully drawn. The novel explores cultural displacement, familial grief, and the unspoken tensions that shape adolescence. However, while the ambition of the book is admirable, the execution at times lacks clarity. The narrative leans heavily on dialogue, which may challenge younger readers, and the implications surrounding the mother’s death feel emotionally ambiguous in ways that could be confusing or unsettling for the intended age group. Although Meticais brings colour and intrigue to the story, their role remains unclear, and the novel’s use of magical realism may leave some readers searching for firmer narrative grounding. Ultimately, All That It Ever Meant is a thoughtful and original work, but its thematic weight and stylistic opacity may make it better suited to older teens with a strong appetite for literary fiction.

Mrs Naden
Lostock Carnegie Shadowers

I found all that it ever meant a realistic but not an engaging book. I found that I was not hooked whilst reading. but the reflections were true to life throughout the beginning of the book. I think this book is good for people looking for a detailed narrative voice and deeper reflections. However this book was not for me

Michelle
MSJ Shadowers

the story's plot was quite repetitive and after each chapter i felt like i was expecting more. the description of the settings and characters were beautiful and interesting- shame it was lacking in action and interesting dialogue. the character chi chi was quite a main focus yet she lacked any character development. the main plot twist was unfortunately mishandled and felt rushed. it was quite literally in the last 10 pages and although it did make the reader think, the overall message didn't work for me. i don't think the book was particularly engaging and wouldn't really recommend.

alice
Eltham Hill Y9 Book Club

I found this book to be all in all not very good. The story line was really predictable towards the end and completely confusing for about 80% of the book. Through out the story the characters names changed on a regular basis with the changes only being explained in the final chapter. I didn't like this book at all.

Holly
Horsham BOok HUNTers

All That It Ever Meant was a lovely book. I liked the plot overall and the story and meaning behind all the choices the author made were well thought through and generally added to the story's meaning. However I found the use of Meticias very confusing at times as although they were meant to pop in and out, some of their visits were too short to grasp the meaning behind it. Unfortunately I also saw the ending far too soon and this made it a very hard read as I felt that there was no point of reading the whole book if I new the twist in the story. The diversity of the family made this read very interesting as not one person was the same and I especially like Baba as the author managed to capture his grief perfectly as well as showing his trouble to keep being the strong father to his kids. Overall I would give the book a 5/10 mainly because of the ending being too predictable and the confusing nature of Meticias' visits.

Jemimah
KES Bookworms

All That It Ever Meant is a heart breaking book about loss and I like how well the characters were built.

Jaime
RGS Junior Book Club

It was an interesting book that had a very good ending. However, the beginning was slow moving and hard to get into. The plot twists at the end made you want to read the book again to fully understand what happened.

Rachel
St George’s Dragon Readers

After Mati's mother died, Baba wasn't himself. So Mati and his family decided to go to Zimbabwe. On there way there were spirits that only Mati could see and he was wondering what they were. My favourite character was Mati because she showed how she handled the grief of losing someone. I didn't really enjoy the book because it wasn't a book I typically read and it wasn't really interesting.

Keira U
VISTA Academy

All that it ever meant was a very poorly written book, which had lots of names that were very similar, which meant it was quite confusing to relate to the characters. It gave a good understanding of the culture in this book, but it had a predictable ending, which meant the book was a bit boring. Also, it took a lot longer for me to read it than another book. I think it was a waste of my time.

Eliza
Broadland Bookworms

This book follows Mati’s family’s life after her mother dies in a car crash. They family travel to Zimbabwe for a funeral. On the journey, she meets a spirit called Meticias, and there are many disputes along the way. Then, we find out that Mati died there. This is a story of letting go of the past and embracing the present.

Laurence
Reader Leaders

The book "All that it ever meant'' is a non-fiction book, however I feel that it was a very confusing book. I thought this as at the start I thought that she was alive but as I read on in the book I realized that she was not talking to anyone except of Memphis (her ancestor/imaginary friend?) and I thought she was dead. Although I did like the fact that its was talking about lots of different animals in Jamaica and what it is like to live there.

Laura
Book Squad

All That It Ever Meant is an interesting book as it covers interesting topics that are interesting to read. The story is about a young girl called Mati. Mati and her family are travelling across Zimbabwe after her mother’s recent passing. Her family are very interesting and throughout the book we learn more and more about them. Overall, I liked the idea of the book, but thought it was a bit too slow for my liking, and the ending really confused me. I rate this a 5/10.

Estlin
Ermysted’s

I think this is a very emotional book, with Matiponesa, the main character, trying to figure out who she really is and uncover the truth about her past. It’s a powerful and touching story, with themes of love, family, and identity. The plot moves at quite a slow pace, which gives you time to reflect on what the characters are saying and how they’re thinking — I think that’s important. However, it didn’t need to be stretched out for so long, as it made the book feel a bit slow at times. Overall, I think it’s a really meaningful book, and I would recommend it to readers who prefer a slower, more thoughtful story.

Charlotte
Rainbeau Readers

Super Story! I loved how the book was set out as someone telling the story. I also liked the setting description and how it gave you flashbacks about why certain stuff happened. I also thought the United Kingdom should be more accepting and welcoming of peoples backgrounds and how hard is for people to get as far as they are in life. It made me think that we don't know what's happened in other peoples lives so we all should never judge anyone. I thought it must have been so hard for the father losing his wife and daughter, and for the siblings losing their mother and sister without any warning. I felt really bad for them, and imagined it must have been so carrying on with life. I can't imagine the pain of losing a parent and a sibling. I loved the twist at the end but it was sad to know. I would give this book a nine out of ten.

Edmund W
Ermysted’s

This book is actually quite good, but I personally wouldn't choose to read it. Other people would probably really like this book, but it's not for me. The way it was written really confused me, especially about who Caroline turns out to be. I didn't really understand Meticais until the end. The twist at the end about the death was a bit confusing as the story was written from Matt's view, even though she was never even there. I liked how their dad showed emotion and Tana and Chichi's relationship with each other and Mati. Overall, it's an Ok book, but it is quite confusing for me.

Noah
Southmoor Storywriters

This book in my opinion was quite interesting. It is written in a style of writing that I'm not usually used to. When I first started reading this book, it was quite sceptical as I didn't 100% understand the plot. But as the book progressed, it made more sense. I thought the ending was the best part because I felt the writer really highlighted the emotions and thoughts of the main character.

Evie
Logs

This is a great book and I think it should be a book suggested to people who like a good plot twist. It feels like everything is perfect until a specific point which changes the book completely and changes the pace.

Franklin
The High Storrs Shadows

I really enjoyed reading this book as it is quite realistic on how a family of 4 (1 dad and 3 kids) would work, and the dynamics of the household after the tragic death of their mother. And I liked how they conveyed the plot twist because it kind of answered all of the questions you had whilst reading it.

Savannah
Bacon and Eggs Literary Society

I found this book very interesting as it has many unexpected twists and turns which made it slightly confusing. It is about a family of 5 from Zimbabwe, when their mom suddenly dies in a car crash. The main character, Mati, narrates the story of the family going on a journey into their homeland to meet family for a funeral. On this journey Mati meets an old spirit that she soon has befriended called Meticias. Throughout the adventure there are many disputes between Mati’s siblings, Chici and … Suddenly there is a plot twist which clarifies everything! I would recommend this book to people who like fantasy adventure but also a slightly calmer plot to it! All in all I really liked this book for how the author wrote as if she was the main character and added so much detail into every word she wrote!

Leena Saloni
Europa Champs

This book had a great twist at the end however throughout it it was quite confusing. It took a long time to get to the point and didn't quite make sense.

Emma
Fiction Addiction

All That It Ever Meant is a very well written intriguing book,you won’t be able to put down! Even though Mati seems like a quiet character she is really quite observant and sees things that most people don’t see. She has so many stories to tell but no one who she feels is willing to listen. When she meets Metacais they get her to slowly open up about her life. I really like the way the story not only goes into detail after the death but before the death as well, it really makes you think and realise how hard it must have been for them and how it changed and impacted their family forever; Mati describes how her mum never felt a true sense of belonging although she lived between two cultures. It helped me to understand why they chose to roadtrip across Zimbabwe and why it was important to their family.

Adele
The John Mason Shadowers

I found the book very easy to read and I really enjoyed it. The book is about a girl called Matiponesa but they call her Mati. Mati and her family travel from London to Zimbabwe following the death of her mother. Mati said her dad finds it hard to breath sometimes I think that is because of the heartbreak of his wife passing away. She has a brother called Chichi. Their whole family is hurting because of their mother passing away but they deal with it all in different ways, in their own way. Mati got suspended from school and she is now grounded so she’s not allowed to go to a party she was allowed to go to before. They call their father Papa. Papa is always leaving Mati in charge since their mother passed away. Their mother got pregnant at the age of 17 and she says she wishes she hadn’t had her. She really misses her mother the whole family does. I would recommend this book for age 12 – 15 because its an easy book to read but also it has some very strong language for younger people.

Amelie
Larkmead

This book is quite slow to start and hard to get into. It has a nice idea but the names can be quite confusing. Overall it has good potential but definitely could have been written better.

Henry S
Ermysted’s

It was very hard to understand but the message was clear about her mothers death. I think one of the people in the book that took it the hardest was the father and you could tell that when it says in the book " he was molten inside" which gives us the in-tell that he is broken and worn out

Kayla
VISTA Academy

I didnt really like this book because I couldnt tell who the narrarator was until later on in the book. However later on in the book it was better because I realised that the narrarator was Mati. The author did a good job of hiding that mati was dead until the end of the book. This was not my favourite book.

James W-B
Ermysted’s

I thought this book was excellently written. The author really had to think about every aspect of the book and how to write it effectively. Well done!

Wilf
St Kaths

This is my least favourite book of the Carnegie awards so far. I just have to say that I didn't like the fact that it randomly drops a bombshell at the end with no indication at all. Overall I found it really hard to read and had to keep stopping when I was reading. I just couldn't connect with the characters and did not like the writing.

Eben
THS Shadowing

A stunning tale told in a distinctive style, All That It Ever Meant follows Mati as she tells Meticais, the ‘spirit’ that has recently taken to following her around, the story of how her family has been coping with the death of her mother. Meticais, Mati’s attentive audience, picks up on the fact that perhaps Mati isn’t telling her the entire story of what happened the night her mother died. Of course, everything is revealed via a gripping plot twist. Filled with flashbacks explaining how life was before the death and how life has dramatically altered after, this book wholly deserves the title ‘Special’. I recommend this book to people who can enjoy a story without knowing the whole truth; people like me who relish in the 'feeling of an incomplete mystery' and try to create their own versions of the answer.

Aarna CI
4Shadowers

The story is about a girl named Matiponesa, who had a brother named Tana and an older sister named Chiwoniso (Chichi for short). When their mother dies, they travel from England to Zimbabwe, stopping at places along the way. Along the journey, Matiponesa encounters a ghost-spirit called Meticais – who helps her learn about her heritage and deal with her grief. I really liked the title of this book – I found it interesting and adventurous, which was showing in the travelling aspect of the story. I also enjoyed the fact that it was written in the first-person perspective, which helped with the themes of the book – although I didn’t like that the narrator liked using the word ‘swearing’ and parts of the story (the mother’s death) were difficult for younger readers. Overall, I thought the book was good for young-adult readers and would recommend it to them. Three stars out of five (***).

Muhammad Bilal
Rockwood Reads

I found the story gripping and the twist at the end made me cry. My favourite character was Meticais because he was so mysterious and colourful. I thought the book was fantastic.

Gracie
Flegg Heads

I've never read a story like this one, there were such good characters that had high emotions. I could imagine everywhere they were travelling. It had such a sad ending, I kind of guessed what had happened but not until near the end. I couldn't put the book down!

Gyspy
Flegg Heads

All That It Ever Meant is a riveting novel about an African family from Zimbabwe, living in England. After the death of a family member, they set out on a road trip to their homeland and discover the magic it has to give. This book really intrigued me, as the main character, Mati, didn't tell all her back-story and life with her family at once, but revealed it in her actions, making the reader realise how complicated her feelings were. I also loved the idea of Meticas, a spiritual figure only Mati could see, as she made Mati honestly tell her story, adding humour to emotional bits, like when she talked about death and how she was coping with it. Finally, the grief she felt, made me realise that I shouldn't take people for granted and learn how to make the most of my time with them.

SrishtiHG
4Shadowers

All That It Ever Meant is a thought-provoking read that takes you on a real and metaphorical journey. The novel explores family dynamics and friendship. When this book is read, it transports you and you can really empathise with the characters.

Sienna
Diary of a Wally Kid

“All That It Ever Meant” is a good book about a girl called Mati who is traveling from England to Zimbabwe with her father, sister Chichi and her brother Tana, after her mother’s death. This is when she meets Meticais, she is the only one who can see them. Meticais is trying to get Mati to tell her story of when everything started to change for her. I didn’t really have a favourite character but, if I had to choose any of them, I’d chose Chichi. At the start I didn’t really like her because she seemed quite mean but at the end she changes, and I preferred who she was becoming because she had started to become a better person and was becoming kinder and more generous. I liked the plot and the story line as it seemed quite relaxing, calm and slow going but also full of change, loss and how losing a family member and someone you care about, and love can affect the whole family relationship and connection. The ending really surprised me, but it felt simple, as if I should have thought of that before. I would recommend this book for people who like reading about adventure and change. Overall, I would rate this book an 8/10.

Annabelle
The Fitzharrys Shadows

This is a very good book which follows the events of one child's life after a tragic event. It is a good book but it is very confusing with the time and place switches. All in all a good book.

Arthur
The Fitzharrys Shadows

'All That it Ever Meant' by Blessing Musariri was a story about a girl whose mother has died and how life is without her. Mati is the main character who is passionate about how a storyline isn't just one story line instead it is made up of multiple anecdotes that she tells to someone only she can see- Meticais. However the book is unique as there are certain aspects of the character that can only be found out later in the story such as her name. This was truly a spectacular book as it has twists no one would be able to see coming!

Anya
Winchmore School Carnegie Group 2024/25

I really enjoyed the book, the beginning felt confusing however when I got to the end I realised it was meant to be like that. The way the book was written made the plot twist at the end unexpected but it completed the book really nicely. I would recommended this book, as it was amazing and kept me invested in the story.

Katie
Winchmore School Carnegie Group 2024/25

All that it ever meant was a really emotional story about a family whose struggles have been great in a difficult time in their life. Together, they go on a trip of a lifetime to Zimbabwe and learn more about each other and the world they now live in more than ever before. The overall story is very relatable and wonderful to read. The tone of voice and the feeling of the overall story really touched my heart. This is one of the best books I have ever read because it is a very immersing story that I would definitely read again. I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling or loves excitement, adventure or deep family love. This was an amazing story and I would love to read more like it.

Grace
Chiswick Carnegie

It was kind of boring just pure waffle. Kept bringing up random unnecessary stories and took too long to get back to the Big Fight and the stories that actually mattered

Dawud Arshid
Ermysted’s

I personally did not enjoy this book and found it too metaphorical and philosophical for me, sometimes completely confusing and losing me - perhaps too much so for a younger audience as it is very esoteric. However I found the plot and reason for their journey beautiful but I had hoped for some more description of the breathtaking country, yet with the sheer volume of complex philosophy that was left to the imagination, and felt like an after thought, after the relationships and hardships of them. I really liked the characters and found them both individually and together with different personalities and traits interesting yet a perfect example of a broken and healing family. The plot twist at the end had my heart twisted with tears jerking at my eyes and this was honestly the most elegant book out of the Carnegie selection. Overall a mentally questioning book with a beautiful story of healing broken souls - 3/5

Jade
TGS Book Group

All That It Ever Meant is a book about a troubled teenage girl who sees the world in different way to her friends and family. After losing her mother, Matiponesa and her family go on a road trip to her father and late mother’s childhood home in Africa but while on this road trip Mati begins to be visited by a cryptic spirit. She slowly begins to tell the spirit her life story and the truth of her family. This book was extremely satisfying to finish as all your questions are finally answered. It had many twists and turns and was a fun and upbeat read (most of the time). The only bad things that I found in this book was that it was a little emotional and some of the names and places in this book took some time to get my head around! Even though this book isn’t my favourite, it pushed me out of my comfort zone in reading and I did enjoy it. I would rate this book a 6-7/10.

Isla
The Fitzharrys Shadows

This book follows the journey of a young girl travelling with her family in Zimbabwe after her mother tragically passed away and it made me sob. It envisualises grief in a way that broke my heart for the family. I rate this book ten out of ten, it was amazing.

Safiyah
Bramcote College Library

This book was wonderful. I'd give it a lovely 4 stars rating - not only were the characters and idea of the story lovely but the movement of change on how the main character opened up to her feelings was wonderful. Even though there were many problems for her like grief or cultural aspects, she was able to help her family through. It is a book that I would suggest is perfect for the secondary school as the language and facts are quite interesting but maybe a tad bit boring or confusing for young readers. It's a lovely show of emotion and a interesting plot twist. I do wish Medica's part could have been more looked into but other than that it was wonderful.

Sofia
Bramcote College Library

All It Ever Meant is a fascinating read, the book explores themes of uncertainty after losing a loved one, as well as including some light hearted moments. The writing style is quite quirky in the way the characters interact with each other and the how they express their emotions. I found that the book contained some interesting philosophical approaches that make you think more about everyday experiences. A very interesting read and would absolutely recommend for philosophical thinkers.

Barnaby
Saltash Sprightly Scholars

All that it ever meant was quite interesting and well written and even though it was quite short it was enjoyable. I would recommend it.

Ellie
GreatB00ks

In general the book was pretty good and had a good story line but I didn't really understand it when I was reading it. It was also kind off confusing because the book wasn't clear enough but when I read the summary of the book I understood it more. The character that was the most interesting to read about was Chichi because she had completely different personality than the other characters. I would rate this book a 3/5.

Inaayah
Beauchamp Champs 2025

I enjoyed this book because it taught me about a new culture I hadn't heard much about before.I was slightly confused towards the beginning but the plot twist at the end helped the rest of the story to make sense. Once I had finished the book and fully understood it, I really liked it and thought it was well written, however to improve this book, I would need to be gripped throughout. I am the type of reader who would put down a book if the first chapter didn’t interest me. For all of the reasons, I give this book a 6/10.

Georgia
LHS Shadowing Group 2025

This book, “All That It Ever Meant,” had a realistic, deep meaning of grief and love. Throughout reading this book, I got views on many different ways someone could go through tough times, and how they would learn to grow from it. I loved the technique of flashbacks and description of emotion. Even though this book could get confusing at sometimes, the overall effect of it was powerful and heartfelt. The different emotions spread out in the book came off the page to me.

Sophia
Holt Readers

Beside its faults, it's a good book. Good characters, situated in just the right position - after a death. The yawning void between them is described really well, portrayed really thoughtfully, with a more universal meaning exploring into death and what it leaves behind. But the story, the plot, is so scatter-brained. It's in three places at the same time, before death and after death and way after death, and if I had to be incredibly critical, I'd say that's the book's downfall, that's what makes it a digest. It's what makes the book stale and slow, that feel of moving gradually forward only to be flung backward again. I understand the need for flashbacks, but the story is built around them too much, so much that by the time the big plot twist was revealed, it didn't matter.

Hanzalah
Ermysted’s

It is a well written and emotional story about the grief of losing someone of such important. I found it interesting to read through how the characters dealt with the loss , how it changed their life and the ways they adapted to it.

Anna
MHHS Shadowers

Do you want to learn about the life of a person who has lost their mum and moved countries but then went back to that country for a holiday? If so this book is for YOU! This book is about a person going to Zimbabwe (his home country). They experience many things such as staying in a boathouse and playing animal bingo as a fun game to play on their journey. Along the way they have many challenges to overcome. My view on the book was that it was gripping and it made me want to read more. I found it very exciting which made me feel I couldn’t wait until the next day to read it. I particularly like the way the author dives straight into the family's journey which catches the readers attention. Overall I would recommend this book to other people as it was an exciting read which also covers the difficult topic of losing a guardian and partner.

Milo
Larkmead

All That it Ever Meant was a very interesting book - especially towards the end. When their mum died it was quite confusing as it only vaguely touched on the details of the 'big fight'. However, the more I read the more I got attached to the story and the more interesting it got. I liked how Meticais only appeared at key events in the book and how he was a mysterious and unavailable character for most of the book. Overall I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the other Carnegies I have read. 7/10.

Sebastian H
Ermysted’s

SJ
The CCG Shadowers

I did not enjoy this book. Not a lot happened for most of the book and the dialogue was not to my liking. I also did not like the way that it was written either. The plot twist was too little too late and did not make any more interested. However I did enjoy the setting in which it was told in.

Yusuf K
Ermysted’s

I like this book because the story is very emotional and quite sad but many good things happen which is really heart warming. The character has a really bad backstory for example her mother died which we all know that this would definitely not be a very easy difficulty to just not think about or worry about which then makes this book even more sad but it shows that in life there are ups and downs.

Zakariya
Ermysted’s

This book is a beautiful story about family life and the struggles and chaos of the characters' family. I love the detailed and thoughtful metaphors used throughout the book, perfectly describing the girls emotions. The use of flashbacks and memories were slightly confusing at some points but added a lot to the characters and their personalities. The descriptions put into the settings and the characters made it easy to picture the story and made me feel more involved. I recommend this book to people who enjoy reading meaningful and multi-layered stories about real life experiences and how different people cope.

Bayley
Fiction Addiction

This book is a touching and thoughtful story that explores themes like love, loss, and finding your identity. It’s set in Zimbabwe and follows the main character, Matiponesa, as she tries to make sense of her past and figure out who she really is. Musariri’s writing is emotional and powerful, and it really makes you feel for the characters. The story moves at a slow pace, which might not be for everyone, but I found it a really moving read that made me reflect on myself.

Chantelle
Rainbeau Readers

All That It Ever Meant is a thoughtful, moving story centered around Mati, a 14-year-old girl, and her family copes with the sudden death of her mother. Wishing to bring the family closer and heal from the shocking event, her dad arranges a family road trip from London to Zimbabwe’s national parks with her older sister Chichi, and younger brother Tana; however, grief has made things complicated. Throughout the book, Mati quietly observes how her family handles the grief differently. While her dad attempts to stay strong for the rest of the family, Chichi frequently acts out and is very vocal. Tana wants everything to ‘go back to normal’. Mati notices the others’ behaviour, but is unsure she how to help. I like how Blessing Musariri displays how people can act differently in similar situations, as it makes the story feel more real. During her journey, Mati is accompanied by Meticais - a calm, mysterious spirit friend who helps Mati understand and reflect on her thoughts and emotions who only she can see. The book is very slow paced – while it doesn’t rush to fix everything displays how healing from grief is a slow process, I found that it was just too slow for me, and so I found is harder to enjoy. I would recommend this book to who enjoy deep stories about family, emotions, and personal growth. It’s sad in places, but also full of warmth and hope. I rate this book a 5/10.

Zainab
Beauchamp Champs 2025

This was a great book and I loved the plot twist you found out at the end. Could have a quicker pace but was still good. The interaction between characters was really good. However, I feel like something else should have happened as well as the deaths of them. It made the book feel a little like it is without a plot.

Alice
Diary of a Wally Kid

All that it ever meant is a tale of grief, love and grief management. For example, the family move to Zimbabwe (their home country) to get over the death of their mother and sister. Personally I found this book hard to follow as it was written by the dead sister but you only found that out at the end giving the book a whole new meaning. This is confusing as it makes the book seem factually incorrect. I also didn't love the plot but it was written very well.

Liam
Bookwizards

Unfortunately, i was not a huge fan of this book. Whilst the writing includes some aspects of comedy, i found that the overall story was lacking in a form of suspense or anything to hook the reader. From the beginning I found the book to be quite boring and simply couldn't get into the story. I believe that the way the author has written lacks description and doesn't allow me to fully imagine what's going on whilst the overall plot doesn't include anything that made me want to carry on reading. I hope that in the future, the author may be able to change this and perhaps add a factor of wow into her books. I personally wouldn't recommend this book to someone but i can see why others might like it . Sadly, it just wasn't for me .

Scarlet G
Logs

This is a fiction story about a girl called Mati and her family as the characters. This is quite an emotional book that has made me cry a few times. It wasn't the worst book that I've read but definitely not the best. I liked the fact that it was so realistically written, but didn't like how some of it was in reversed order in terms of words.

Pola
The Fitzharrys Shadows

A wonderful book which is one of my favourite books I have read this year. The book is initially disguised as a coming of age novel on family but also explores themes such as loss and grief. This is skillfully done through the use of perspective from a characters that is used in a plot twist that is hinted at throughout the book skillfully while still shocking the reader. This book makes you smile, laugh and cry within the span of a chapter with its use of clever plot twists.

Lizzie
Presdales Carnegies Reading Group

I found this book quite difficult to read at first due to its many layers of meaning and the character’s (Mati) constant recollection of the past. I found the most moving part of the book was the last few pages of the final chapter, when the car crash that caused so much hurt is described in such a dynamic and fluid way, the writer slows down time. Also, the character of Meticais adds more metaphorical meaning to the story and the relationship between Meticais is well crafted and offers a wise outlook on Mati’s grief. The middle part of the book, I found increasingly easier to understand but during the last few chapters, I found the storyline and characters more difficult and complex to understand.

Sophia
Diary of a Wally Kid

I loved the plot twists in this book but I have to admit that I was a little confused with the different perspectives of each chapter.

Nancy
Wyedean School

“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

I quite liked this book, however, I also found the plot quite confusing. I only really started to get what was happening closer to the end! Not the best! Not the worst!

Alice S
Herts and Essex

'All that it ever meant' is a prime example of the saying 'never judge a book by its cover'. From it's front cover and blurb, it seems like a books that isn't all that interesting but that is misguidance of the story that lies within its pages. It is quite a short book with less than 200 pages but the character development is truly amazing and you get to see the characters in more depth as the story goes on. At first, the story is quite hard to understand. However, once you wrap your head around each character and infer what certain words mean/represent, this is quite an easy going book. You are able to build a relationship with each character and really put yourself in the story. I really do love the older sister of the story and I find that Meticais plays a significant role in the pacing of the story. But I would also say that they needed a bit more character development and the questions about them needed to be answered. The only problems that I have with this story is that the plot is quite hard to understand- this may ruin the story for everyone reading. The time travelling in the story could be pointed out a bit more as I feel the book would have been easier to understand. The beginning is also quite foggy and unclear as it drives straight into the characters when they are at the peak of their emotional roller coaster. However, this is a great book and I wouldn't say it is the worst book I have ever read. However, it is not the best. It has a plot twist at the end that isn't the most unexpected but a plot twist none the less. It's a solid 7/10.

Temi
Ousedale Olney

I found 'All that it ever meant' to be quite confusing and didn't set much of a setting at the start of the book. I was able to get the gist of the story but could not get into it due to lack of signs of whether we were in the spiritual world or the real world. I would rate

Fliss
PGS Library

I hoped that this book would be interesting and a fun read however, I was slightly let down by the last 100 pages. The only bit I personally liked was the first 10 or so chapters. I also liked how the first chapter is able to hook the reader in to the story.

Sophie
Fiction Addiction

Hanzalah
Ermysted’s

After the death of Mati's mother, Baba decided for them to go to Zimbabwe from London, along this trip was Meticias, a spirit, who Mati can see and talk too. I really got fasinated by this book because I wanted to know what really happened next with Mati and his family

Michelle
VISTA Academy

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 is a touching story about a family who, after they lose their mother in a car crash, decide to take a trip to their home country of Zimbabwe to regain a connection with their heritage. The whole story is told from the point of view of the middle child , 14 year old Mati, who is explaining the whole situation to this omnipotent spirit called Meticais, an enigmatic and curious overseer who only Mati can see. I was enthralled by the fascinating and intriguing structure but I will warn that the ending is really sad and it made me want to read it all over again once I discovered the plot twist!

TJ
HHS

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

All that it ever meant is what I call a confusing book. It is told from the perspective of Mati. They all have several names, and have personalities. Mati is telling her story to Meticais, who they know nothing about. Their journey is very confusing. I would not recommend this book for anyone who has not yet developed a proper image of literacy.

Talulah
Chiswick Carnegie

I liked this book because there was a lot going on but this also made it hard to follow. Some of the time they were on their way to England, then other parts they were with there mum or they were with Meticais.

Isla
Chiswick Carnegie

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

In my opinion, I loved reading this book as I loved the time jumps and how it had a magical element to the story. I would have prefered if they had put more context into the story about, where they are etc.

Etta W
Herts and Essex

'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

After her mother’s death, Mati and her family set out on a road trip from London to Zimbabwe. This is where Mati starts talking to Meticais, whom nobody else can see, and telling her about her family and the (rather long, told in installments) story of the day everything changed. This book illustrates life lived in two different cultures and shows how different people cope with grief differently. I loved this book! The characters were all really sweet, especially Tana. There were two timelines going on at once (one of them being in the past, the story that Mati was telling to Meticais) which I found confusing at first - I got lost a few times - but it was definitely worth it for the end (which I won’t give away, but I will say that it had me in tears, while also completely making sense) and the little moments of realisation along the way. I would definitely recommend it to everybody above the age of ten, though be warned - you do need to have a little patience at the beginning. My advice for you: read it anyway! It is so worth it!

Zosia
Europa Champs

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

Nice book, I love how it mentions a lot about Zimbabwe and its culture. It was a bit confusing and I didn’t really understand the whole meaning of the book but I liked how they kept telling stories about their life after their mothers death and how their relationship developed throughout the book.

Naomi T
Herts and Essex

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

I think all that it ever meant is a very beautiful short story with a very sweet, sentimental core. The Easter egg at the end surprised me but I quite liked it.

maya x
Herts and Essex

"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

All That It Ever Meant

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