I first read this book when I was 9 or so and its memory has never left my mind. liked Kizzy, the little Diddakoi (Traveller) girl perhaps because I could subconsciously relate to some of her struggles, especially those of perceived foreignness when one is the only dark-skinned kid in the class. Now that I'm reading this book again as an adult, with all the experience I have regarding culture and such, I am quite amazed that this book which is a kids book would have so much social commentary, also it's now as an adult that I can understand the initial appeal the book held for me. Funny how that works. I’ll be chairing the festival’s free Let’s talk About This Book event on Saturday 2 April 5-7pm also at Southwater Centre. It features Rumer Godden’s nephew, Simon Foster, and the two writers and journalists of Romany Heritage, Dan Allum and Jake Bowers. Dan Allum, from Cambridgeshire, who has previously abridged The Diddakoi for Radio 4 extra, will also be reading excepts from the book in Teddy Tinker’s free chapter reading events on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 April at 3pm. A little gypsy girl must overcome personal tragedy and bullying when she is forced to adopt a 'gorgio' way of life. Show full synopsis We were delighted that Councillors Kim Forward, Paul Barnett, Maya Evans and Peter Chowney all attended the launch event. We hope that Jake Bowers’ statue of Kizzy will prove popular with local residents and we can apply for planning permission for it to be installed in the park permanently. The Diddakoi book is set in nearby rural Rother and we would love Gensing Gardens to become the home of the first statue of a child of Romany and Irish heritage. When I found The Diddakoi in a box of books from up in the loft I let out a little sound of excitement. I remember loving this book as a child. It is a 1985 edition and falling apart because it has been read so many times over the years.

A 1976 children’s television series, Kizzy was based on the award-winning children’s novel. One viewer, Nicolette Howard, remembers it well. “I didn’t come across the book, but that series was my defining childhood television experience. It made such an impact on me.” In the narrative, Admiral Twiss is criticised by the village The admiral knows the gypsies traditions and he respects them. He also trusts the gypsies (even though there is a fire in his orchard, he is not worried). We see Caspar at school, taking a sports lesson. He is not good at sports, he does not have any kit, and he is bullied by the sports teacher, who behaves rather childishly.After reading it, I have always grown fond of characters and have come out enriched and with warm heart. This is a lovely tale of pride of culture, collaborative community battling prejudice, love of horses and home, revealing the danger of ignorance and choosing to see only what you want to see. Bullying (mean girls for once rather than blaming all on boys!) is a core problem and how it is dealt with the main issue, with changing stubborn minds and reconciliation closely following. A sweet story, full of nature and the world from a child’s mind. There are a few things that haven't aged well in this book. Physical violence to children from adults is commonplace and the despite the actions of many of the children to Kizzy, she is told she needs to be friends with them, invite them to her house. After such violent treatment I would never insist a seven year old invite the perpetrators to her home. It all ends well though and shows a realistic portrayal of the travelling community, the book shows that some are good and honest and some are not, just like any other group of human beings.

Kizzy is no shrinking violet victim however but an ambivalent heroine, who gives as good as she gets. Given to tantrums, she pouts and sulks her way through six episodes. The 2022 A Town Explores A Book festival centres around Rumer Godden’s The Diddakoi on the 50th anniversary of its publication. Festival director, Gail Borrow outlines what’s in store. After her gran dies, half-gypsy Kizzy faces an uncertain future, living with Miss Brooke and trouble at school." Kizzy is from a traveller family, she lives with her Gran in a wagon parked in the orchard of Admiral Twiss' country estate. Young adult author Patrice Lawrence cites The Diddakoi as the book that articulated how she felt as a child of colour growing up in Sussex. Patrice is judging the festival’s creative writing competition for 7-14 year olds themed around kindness. She’s joined by fellow young adult writer, Catherine Johnson, and a panel including coordinator Hannah Collisson, festival mentee Lily Bowers, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery’s learning officer Foteini Athanasiadou and this year’s festival ambassador, Jean Lancaster.Kizzy "wanted no part of school because of the derisive cries of her schoolmates" and she had no family after her great great grandmother died. Write a report about chapter 3 of Diddakoi. Your report should be about 150 words. It must include: urn:lcp:diddakoi00rume:epub:2e52ceb7-4982-4059-b672-4cd4160876b6 Foldoutcount 0 Identifier diddakoi00rume Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t6b29tr5v Invoice 11 Isbn 0330398687 Caspar steals a young kestrel and takes it home. Then he steals a book on falconry to learn how to train the kestrel. He trains the kestrel. The sheer misery Kizzy undergoes demands a happy ending - sentimental and unlikely it may be but who would begrudge the battling little Kizzy a little happiness? Aimed squarely at the female half of the young audience Kizzy was one of the best-remembered 'weepies' among girls of that era.

The Gypsies prefer a travelling life: they prefer the wagon to a house. They prefer their freedom, even if it means they cannot afford many “fine things”. Many fictional depictions of the Romani in literature and art present Romanticized narratives of their supposed mystical powers of fortune telling, and their supposed irascible or passionate temper paired with an indomitable love of freedom and a habit of criminality.Also running over the final Easter weekend, Thursday 14 – Monday 18 April, performers Yasmin Aishah and Hannah Collisson present a new exper-iential theatre performance at ExploreTheArch’s venue, Archer Lodge. This is a promenade outdoor performance to the performers’ created garden hideouts based on their childhood experience. Like Godden’s protagonist, Kizzy, they seek magical personal spaces to reflect on the known and unknown of relatives, residences and ritual from their mixed race heritage. This BBC news report tells about how Gypsy gangs use children to beg and steal money: How Gypsy gangs use child thieves a way to record new words (spelling, pronunciation, meaning, at least; example sentence is a bonus, but it takes space)