We all know what it’s like not to be allowed to go somewhere we really want to go. Birthday party. Sleepover. Movie. Dinner.
In Vincent’s case, though, it’s been months since he’s been allowed anywhere. Ever since his father was sent to America, his mother doesn’t allow him to do tiny things he used to do. He can’t even go buy blue Lays from the kirana shop.
Buying blue Lays may not be such a big deal. But his best friend’s birthday party is a big deal. He knows what his mother will say: ‘Vincent Can’t Go’. Now, however, Vincent must go. Or else will his best friend even be his best friend any longer?
Vincent Can’t Go by Mariyam Fatima, illustrated by Habib Ali, is a charming story about children making something happen. At the mature age of eight, surely Vincent is old enough to be doing things for himself! Without ever being cute or patronising, the story takes us through Vincent’s growing anxiousness: his mother never listens to what he wants to do, and is always too busy to take him anywhere!
While I would have loved for the story to have higher stakes, I found myself thinking that the stakes are high for an eight-year-old. I love how the characters get together together to make something happen for themselves, to push adults to see things their way. A sweet story, Vincent Can’t Go is perfect for young readers who are pushing boundaries, itching to taste freedom and make their own choices.
| Title | Vincent Can’t Go |
| Author Illustrator | Mariyam Fatima Habib Ali |
| Tags | hOle book, Chapter Book |
| Ages | 7+ |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4 |
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