Told in the first person by Maria, a young girl from Suriname, South America, this picture book tells her story about growing up and facing problems that she did not understand at the time. Orphaned at a young age, Maria helps look after her little sister, Willie. When Maria faces rejection at school because her parents died from AIDS, she feels sad, but she soon comes to realize that she is a remarkable girl. Although not directly mentioned, this gentle narrative serves as a basis for discussing how the HI virus is not spread and it leads to the broader topic of demonstrating compassion for people who are ill. The children from Suriname were instrumental in the development of the colourful illustrations.--Ministry of Education website.

Health education grade 2 (2010).