A children’s picture book about a Sāmoan family set in New Zealand from the perspective of a palagi girl. A normal event in one culture may seem unusual to another culture. When palagi Rachel goes with her new Sāmoan friend Luisa to visit her grandmother, it’s not quite what Rachel expects. A touching story about honouring your loved ones. With detailed illustrations by Azra Pancho.
Jane Va’afusuaga was born and raised in Eastbourne, Wellington and is of Scottish heritage. Having trained as a teacher, Jane taught for 10 years in Auckland and four years in Apia, Samoa. Jane lives in Samoa in the village of Falease’ela, with her husband, Olsen and daughter, Coco.
Their house sits beside the Liua le Vai o Sina River, where they host visitors from around the world through their ecocultural adventure tourism business. Life in the village means Jane has been immersed in the culture, language, natural environment, church and customs of the Samoan people. She works in the family business, writes when she can and volunteers at the local primary school where she has set up a library.
Jane is a 2017 New Zealand Society of Authors mentorship recipient.
