If there’s one book that made me utterly and miserably heartbroken, it’s this one. Mitch Albom is a favourite author of mine and when Finding Chika came out in November 2019, I eagerly got my hands on it.

I must admit though, I initially “abandoned” the book after reading just a few pages. Mitch Albom opened the story with a scene that hinted on the fate of the main character, and I immediately thought – what’s the point of reading on when I already know the ending? I’m just super-glad that, for some reason, I changed my mind and decided to pick it up again a few months later.

Finding Chika tells the story of a young, bright, bubbly girl from an orphanage in Haiti. The Have Faith Haiti Orphanage was founded by Albom following the devastating earthquake that hit the country in 2010. Chika, born just before the earthquake, was sent to the orphanage at the age of three when her mother died giving birth to her baby brother. Brave and confident, Chika charmed friends, teachers and everyone at the orphanage including Albom and his wife who occasionally visited Haiti.

Things changed when Albom received a call from the orphanage with news that Chika – five years old by then – was ill. Medical facilities in Haiti could not handle her case and she needed a special treatment abroad. With no kids of their own, Albom and his wife decided to take Chika in in the hope of finding a cure for her in the US, thinking that it would only be a temporary arrangement. Little did they know that this was the start of their beautiful journey as a family.

“The most precious thing you can give someone is your time, because you can never get it back. When you don’t think about getting it back, you’ve given it in love”

– Finding Chika, Mitch Albom

Chika, wise beyond her years, remained cheerful and positive despite her situation. Through every hurdle they faced together, she taught Albom and his wife the true meaning of love and family, and what it means to be resilient.

This story is heart-warming and poignant at the same time. It’s really impossible to not fall in love with Chika and her bright character.

I cried a lot towards the end of the book, my eyes swollen and a whole box of tissues gone. I finished reading with my heart broken but filled with a renewed sense of appreciation and gratitude. And for that, thank you Chika.