This book has been on my to-be-read list for a little while, and now it's nominated for the Hugo Award 2016. 
 It's interesting to read Science Fiction from the perspective of a non-white-western main character; in particular, using some of the specific Himba customs as anchors and plot devices. The story itself also makes use of this in its take on the Coming-of-Age story, which does not end with the hero taking her place in (or even with) her family or clan, and it's not just distance. 
 The writing is engaging, moves along at a good speed, and doesn't have lengthy exposition that would hurt the tone or the flow; it's an enjoyable and smooth read (well, the story has surprising elements, but the writing is smooth). 
 To my taste, the novella just wasn't exactly the right length. The treatment of the story was fine, there are no loose ends that should be tied up, and it didn't meander needlessly. But there are some elements where either more or less detail would have been nice: for example, the mechanic of "treeing" could have benefitted either from a more complete explanation or from more glossing over - as it is, it's explained just enough that I can't make up a way to interpret it that makes sense to me, which unsuspended my disbelief a little. 
 That said, this goes to the top of my Hugo 2016 Novella list: for the perspective, the story, and the quality of the writing, in that order.