From the moment I turned the final page of Tamsin Janu’s debut, Figgy in the World, I hoped it wouldn’t be the last we heard of the upbeat young girl from Ghana. In her second story, she’s a little older but no less charming. Her spirited best friend, Nana, decides he wants to become president of Ghana, which prompts Figgy to worry that she’s yet to decide on a career.

What’s so striking about Janu’s work is the complexity of story and emotion beneath her breezy prose. The return of Figgy’s mother after a decade’s absence, the kidnapping of her best friend, a new sibling, and a starring role in a movie are all part of the plot. In theory there is too much going on, but Janu pulls it off with real flair. Both Figgy stories are ripe for sharing, at home or in the classroom, where Figgy’s sometimes confronting world can be further understood. They can also be read simply as a little girl’s adventures, by readers of 8 and over looking for a truly compassionate and funny companion.

Emily Gale