Jasbinder Bilan Books

This story from classroom favourite author Jasbinder Bilan features Xanthe and tells of how she begins to understand that her precious grandmother has early dementia.

Xanthe and her grandmother have always been exceptionally close and it is very difficult for her to accept what is happening. She and her best friend, along with a new friend, Padma, set out to create a special memory museum of Grandmother’s life to help her remember the past. Xanthe is helped by a mysterious cat who seems to appear out of thin air at the right time. This cat helps Xanthe find parts of her gran’s childhood and she begins to piece together her gran’s life as a child.

The book covers big themes of family, illness and racial injustice. This book is an excellent way to introduce children to the reality of dementia and the effects it has on people and their loved ones. It also sheds light on some of the history of Uganda that may surprise readers; such as how in 1972, Asian people were driven out by the president and forced to flee the country. I think all of the themes in this book are excellent teaching and talking points for learning. The book is beautifully and sensitively written as well, making it a very enjoyable read. Jasbinder Bilan is another one of my favourite authors. I have all of these books and have happily shared them with my Upper KS2 classes over the past years.