Saving Isabel by Elizabeth Muchira

A story in the Daily Nation titled ‘Teachers want new curriculum to have lessons in drug abuse and integrity’ noted that teachers in Kenya want the new school curriculum to address security, integrity and child rights.

In the same report, teachers asked for introduction of new approaches that include practical-oriented learning areas.

With the value system clearly raised as a major area in pedagogy that need to be indoctrinated much earlier in school, Saving Isabel is clearly a testament of how a fascinating story can bring out these ethics highly desired in the Kenyan society today.

Kidnapped

It is a novel full of suspense and fast moving storyline. Written by Elizabeth Muchira, it talks abut a girl who has been kidnapped and thrown into a dark dump room.

She relays in her mind what befalls her after being cornered by two rugged men at her flower shop. With just a strong suspicion as to the identity of the mastermind behind her chilly ordeal, she awaits her fate fettered with metal shackles in a dark shack.

This captivating story takes you through the life of a smart, lucky girl in unfortunate surroundings. Playing out fast is her journey through life, since the day she was born to the day she was thrown into an eerily dark shack and left there to await her fate.

The adventures of Isabel culminate in a feel-good, tense, suspenseful, well-plotted short novel worth every page you turn. It fuses action, parenting, neglect and romance in a story that leaves you believing in silver linings behind every cloud.

Is crime the only way out for street kids and the unfortunate in the society? Is there hope in an unforgiving life where ostensibly no one seems to care? Between easy money and hard work what would you choose? What if you really do not have a choice?

Virtuous Society

Saving Isabel is published by Moran Publishers for the Moran Integrity series and offers interesting and well written stories with the hope of enhancing integrity and life skills of the reader and carving out a virtuous society.

Isabel, Peter, Ali and other characters bring out the concept of life skills and integrity as well as what happens when a person chooses the 'dark' side.

Turning a new leaf is arguably the strength of Muchira’s novel, whispering in the reader’s mind that there is always a better way; one of integrity and hard work and no one’s future is defined by their past.

Critics argue that our society lacks Kenyan books that instil integrity in readers from a young age, however, authors such as Wachira are changing this notion one novel at a time. Saving Isabel is not just a story about a victim of circumstance but a lovable person who does not let her circumstances hinder her inclination to achieve her dream better.

It is a good read particularly for young readers, an opportunity to interact with characters they can identify with and learn virtues that will come in handy in future.