Great Coming of Age story!

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rachellwood Avatar

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I enjoyed this book because It really illustrates the struggle for immigrants (especially children with immigrant parents) and the reality of the quandary of being divided between two different cultures as well as the common familial pressure to pursue a “successful” career such as lawyer or doctor. Interspersed with beautiful and moving poetry, it is a wonderful read.

Adanna was a relatable character and I really liked her relationships with her friends and family. The Nigerian representation was refreshing, especially because it is so real and Nigerians are not represented nearly enough in literature. The Canadian setting enhanced it as well.

Overall, I think this is a solid coming-of-age story. At times, the book seemed to lag, especially the wedding part, but it was not too bad. I thought that Louisa Onomé also did an excellent job of being able to represent the juxtaposition of the roles siblings have to fill when an older one is out of the picture. The heartwrenching ways she carries her parents burdens will draw you in - and bring you into the complexities of BIPOC characters- which are way too underrepresented in literature. While the conclusion seemed kind of rushed, I did like it, but wished to see more resolution.
This is my first time reading a Louisa Onomé book, but I’ll definitely be looking forward to reading more of her work.