By Carmel G. Cauchi
Lindora has a bit of a funny name. She knows it and so do the other children. On her first day in Middle School her name gets her in trouble: it immediately attracts the school bullies. Soon, taunting becomes a regular event until one day, the verbal bullying crosses the line and Lindora is pushed so hard that she trips and hits her head against the edge of a chair.
Lindora immediately loses consciousness and falls in a coma. The next thing she knows is hospital. She is talking but, wait a minute, why is no one listening to her? As Lindora's parents are told, Lindora looks asleep but that does not mean that she is not aware of what's going on around her. Locked inside her own head, she is able to hear but not move or speak.
The doctors are worried that she will keep slipping even deeper into unconsciousness and therefore encourage her family and friends to communicate with her in order to try and bring her back.
But Lindora just lies on the hospital bed: not moving, not eating and not speaking. Her friends and family try desperately to reach her - even the repentant school bullies visit her and apologise to her - but nothing would wake her up.
Then one day, her school headmistress visits and brings with her three very important people. Who are they and will they manage to wake Lindora up from her coma?
Sorpiża għal Lindora is the latest children's novel by Carmel G. Cauchi, one of Malta's best-loved writers for children. Published by Merlin Publishers, it is a tale which will tug at the emotions. Through Lindora we understand how children simplify the complexities of the grown-up world as well as appreciate the beautifully weaved in references to Maltese culture. Written in the vein of British author laureate Michael Morpurgo's Cool!, the tale is sure to appeal to all children aged eight and over.
Cauchi has written scores of novels and won many prizes, including the Premju Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb and best playwright at the Festival ta' Drama għall-Iskejjel.
'Sorpiża għal Lindora' is available for sale from all leading bookshops or directly from merlinpublishers.com