Mareka’s story works because it balances the humor of urban goat-smuggling with a young person's resourceful bridge between traditional village life and modern Sydney. Readers see themselves as capable problem solvers through the protagonist's clever, rebellious plan. Books in this family share vivid multicultural settings, intergenerational bonds, and children navigating two worlds with wit.
Reach for this book when your child is noticing the quiet sadness of a family member, or when your family is navigating the transition between different cultures and languages. It is particularly helpful for children who feel a strong sense of responsibility for the happiness of the adults in their lives. The story follows Mareka, a young Greek-Australian girl living in a vibrant, multi-cultural Sydney neighborhood. Seeing her grandmother struggling with homesickness and the loss of her traditional lifestyle, Mareka hatches a creative and humorous plan to bring a piece of the old country to the city by getting a pet goat. Through this journey, the book explores themes of empathy, intergenerational bonds, and the ways we create a sense of home in new places. It is perfectly pitched for independent readers aged 8 to 12 who enjoy realistic stories with a touch of neighborhood mystery.
