A Better Tomorrow cover art

A Better Tomorrow

Life Lessons in Hope and Strength

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A Better Tomorrow

By: Mina Smallman
Narrated by: Sara Powell
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Mina Smallman has lived through the unimaginable. On Saturday 6 June 2020, her daughters, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, were killed in a park by a male stranger as they celebrated Bibaa's birthday.

Mina has been fighting for justice ever since - for her daughters, and for the rest of us, by challenging the toxic culture in the Metropolitan Police and calling out the wider institutional misogyny, racism and classism in Britain. Now, she tells her story for the first time. Framed by Mina's experience of losing her two daughters, Bibaa and Nicole, A Better Tomorrow reflects on the lessons in strength, forgiveness and hope that life has taught her - from her difficult childhood, to her embrace of motherhood, her time as a schoolteacher, and then as the first woman of colour to be an Archdeacon in the Church of England.

Told through grief and with compassion, humour and love, this deeply personal memoir is Mina's beacon of hope.

'I'd walk across hot coals to speak alongside Mina Smallman... An amazing woman' - Jess Phillips, MP

'Mina Smallman is as tough as she is warm' - Guardian

©2024 Mina Smallman (P)2024 Penguin Audio Gender Studies Murder Politics & Government Social Sciences True Crime

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All stars
Most relevant  
Loved the book, my only disappointment was that she didn’t read it herself as hearing her on TV I found her voice so lovely. ❤️

Inspiring woman.

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very well narrated and very eloquently written. I heard Meena being interviewed and thought I would listen to her book as she came across so eloquently and engaging. I found the book easier to listen to than I expected. it is a fascinating insight to the human condition and how to treat people especially in the face of adversity.
it makes you think and reflect. I enjoyed how Meena described her beliefs around religion. I am not a religious person myself and it helps me embrace different beliefs. I highly recommend.

really interesting and engaging

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I can’t believe I have never heard of Mina and her story until now. I found her by chance via her appearance on Desert Island Discs. I’m hopeless at writing reviews and so I rarely do, but this book is so important and so under promoted that I must try. It’s excellently and simply written and perfectly narrated. I finished it in less than a day.

A must listen

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Listening to this book and learning about Mina Smallman's life and experiences, I am in awe of the woman she is. I am 37 years old, and I was a pupil at Harrow High School. I remember my first drama lesson with Mrs Smallman, as we called her. I had never met a teacher like her. My friends and I found her fascinating. I myself am mixed race / Black, from a council estate & come from a very dysfunctional background & for a long time I was lost & lacked any real guidance. Even when I no longer had lessons with Mrs Smallman, she arranged for me to see a mentor. I avoided speaking to her for as long as I could, until one day she stopped me for a chat in a private room, and she was quite firm with me. I remember I cried. In hindsight, I think I was overwhelmed with the emotion that came from Mrs Smallman. This teacher who actually cared when I was going through extreme neglect & feelings of abandonment & worthlessness which as a young teen, I had no idea how to process. It is a moment I have never forgotten & I don't think I realised just how important it was until many years later when I started to reflect & heal from my own past trauma. I can truly say that I was SEEN by Mrs Smallman & I can't really put into words just how important this has been for me throughout my life even up until now. She really is an incredible woman. Mr Smallman was also a great teacher, he was my form tutor and English Teacher, he was the first teacher who told me that if I focused and used my potential that I could get the required GCSEs to go on to do my A Levels and then University, which was not even on my radar up until that point. When other teachers were dismissive of me, he gave me hope, even when I misbehaved & caused trouble. When he left, I gave him a thank you card, and I have never forgotten him since. Everyone should read / listen to this book & we should never forget Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman.

Incredible

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what an inspiring woman sharing her awful story. How she came through loosing her girls and all the other burdens and pain sh had suffered. yet, comes forward to champion womans rights, victims rights. to speak with forgiveness, gentleness and reaching out to help others. what a lady.

what a woman.

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Mina and her husband Chris are incredible people, who have suffered the worst of humanity. I am so sorry for what happened to their daughters both during and after, may they rest in peace. A book everyone should read.

Powerful Book

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I saw the author on the Great British Menu and snippet of what she had gone through shocked me. How had I not known. I forgave myself a little as I gave up listening to the news 10 years ago, but still big stories get through to you even when you don’t watch or listen don’t they?

I downloaded the book immediately even though I rarely do non-fiction and have never read/ listen to an autobiography (sorry Michelle Obama I just couldn’t get through it). I thought that this woman deserved her story to be heard. And yes I heard her, the tragedy, the sadness, the hurt, the disappointment, the triumphs.

I always find it hard to say something is good when its full of sadness due to the crazy world we live in. So would I say good. No, I can’t put a word good to someone who had to go through such heartbreak. What I can say is it’s a must, do not let these beautiful girls names leave our lips and our hearts. Don’t let the injustices in the world get unnoticed.

If as an author you ever read these reviews I say “Thank you and I am so very very sorry”.

A story that needed to be heard

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A wonderfully written and powerful collection of Mina’s memories. A moving account of the worst of humanity but turning trauma into fuel for activism

Touching story of overcoming adversity

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