About Melanie
Melanie is a physiotherapist, PhD student, charity coordinator and mother of two from Melbourne. Girl Child is her first foray into writing a novel. Melanie has three first-author scientific publications and two second-author scientific publications from her role as a physiotherapist clinician researcher and her scientific publications have been cited over 190 times.
Melanie met Georgina (the "girl child" from this novel) during a volunteer trip to Kenya in 2007. On her return to Australia, she partnered with her sister, Leanne, and Georgina to build the Hope Katolo Nursery School. Today, approximately 90 children attend the nursery school every year, giving them the opportunity to succeed in primary school and the hope that they may rise from a cycle of poverty.
Melanie and Leanne remain Australian coordinators and fundraisers of the Hope Katolo Nursery School to this day, with Georgina as Head Teacher in Kenya.
Girl Child is based on the story of Georgina, recounted to Melanie over the course of weeks during a visit to Australia in 2014.
About Girl Child
Georgina and her two sisters are boarding a police truck in front of their family home. Their life in Uganda has been wrapped up in mere hours, since their Baba’s words this morning.
“We are leaving. We are leaving tonight…”
Fleeing the threat of Idi Amin’s army, the girls and their Baba are making the treacherous journey of a lifetime. But little does Georgina know that the danger that she leaves behind is only a precursor to the twists and turns of the life journey to come…
This sweeping story, both heart-wrenching and joyful in turn, traverses events of historical magnitude, such as the HIV epidemic in Africa and the Kenyan boycott of the Olympic Games, explored through the eyes and life journey of Georgina.
Despite numerous and significant challenges, Georgina’s faith, resilience and humanity continue to draw her towards a purposeful life. The course of her life events ultimately leads to another story: a lifelong friendship and charitable partnership that will go on to change the lives of Georgina’s community forever.
Reviews of Girl Child
“ This inspiring true story of Georgina's life was beautifully written. I particularly loved the way the author paid homage to Georgina's Kenyan heritage through including chapter headings in Swahili. While my plan was to 'ration' my reading to allow me to savour and reflect on it more fully, I ended up reading the book in one day as I couldn't wait to find out what happened…
…Georgina's life includes much heartbreak and tragedy, but her strong faith, her love for her children and her desire to better herself and her community through education are ultimately inspiring and result in a heartwarming real-life ending. I'm sure I will be reading this book a second time in the near future! Congratulations to Melanie Haley on her first book! “
Sharon Wilcox
“Just finished this book! I’ve laughed and cried reading this story, totally engrossed in the story from the start to the finish. Ended with such happy tears about how amazing and inspiring Georgina’s life has been so far. Beautifully written, I sooo loved reading it. Thankyou to Georgina for allowing her inspiring story to be told and for Melanie to have written it so thoughtfully and beautifully”
Melissa Raymond
“ A beautiful tale of perseverance despite every obstacle imaginable. It is a wonderful book, that I am so pleased to have read. “
Juia Mattson
“ I absolutely loved this debut novel. What a mesmerising true story about Georgina and her life long ambition to become a teacher, despite unimaginable hardship. Beautifully written from start to end. Could not put it down! Thank you Melanie for sharing Georgina’s amazing story! Very inspirational! “
Anett Dreher
“Girl Child is an inspirational and heartfelt story of an amazing and interesting woman Georgina. The storytelling was thoughtful and engaging; the relationships and connections with family and friends as well as the Kenyan locations were described with care and clarity.
I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book and learning more about Georgina’s story”
Eliza Crump
These reviews are all from Good Reads.com