Climbing Kilimanjaro, sailing around the world and learning Swahili are just a few of the things thirteen-year-old Georgie Wilde plans to do in life. When she and her new pen pal Ellie, who lives in Tanzania, harch a plan for Georgie to visit Africa, she is finally on her way to reaching some of her goals. Or at least she would be, if only she could get her parents to agree to the trip. Her mom isn't easily swayed, and her dad, who live with his new wife and family, is no better. It seems Georgie is no closer to achieving her dreams after all, but something Ellie says in one of her letters gives her an idea...Lisa Joyal has her finger on the pulse of the active socially-committed lifestyle of many of today's youth. In Swahili for Beginners, she gives her readers a way to see themselves in the wider context of a changing world.

Born and raised on the prairies, Lisa Joyal now lives with her family in Toronto and works as an Assistant Crown Attorney practising criminal law. She has travelled extensively, and greatly enjoys working with and writing for children. Swahili for Beginners is her first novel for young adults.

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