MATI'S MOTHER IS DEAD; her father has withdrawn; her sister, Chichi, is acting out; and her young brother, Tana, is desperate for any sign of love and normalcy. When Chichi pulls her worst stunt yet, Mati's father uproots the family from their home in England for an extended camping holiday in their native Zimbabwe. Along for the trip is Meticais, a talkative, fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit—or ghost? or imaginary friend?—whom only Mati can see and speak with. Guided and provoked by Meticais's enigmatic, sometimes outrageous, commentary, Mati explores the shattering blow of grief, the ties that bind family, and the challenge of living between two cultures. But grafted into this complex, resonant novel about the stories we tell ourselves and each other is a stunning twist that casts Mati's experience in a profound new light. All That It Ever Meant introduces a rich and distinctive new voice in contemporary young adult fiction.