Chapter 1 Summary

A Girl Named Disaster tells the story of Nhamo and her long quest for her father's family. Her path, which takes her away from her tiny village in Africa, takes a wrong turn that results in a longer journey, but one in which she has to live by her wits and her skills. When she eventually makes her way back onto the right path, she discovers a family that does not want her or value her, but other people who do love and value her.

Nhamo sits in a fig tree trying to escape the daily grind of the chores her aunt assigns her. Nhamo has a restless spirit that needs the stimulation of beauty and joy. Finally Aunt Chipo finds Nhamo and tells her to get to work.

Nhamo goes to the hozi, the communal storage building, to get mealies. She will...