Two black babies are born five minutes apart in a UK hospital.
The narrator follows the lives and destinies of the two girls as they grow into young women. Yewande is immersed in her rich cultural heritage which is kept alive by her strong mother. She is also able to hear her ancestors’ voices – a double edged sword that heightens her spiritual awareness but brings horrifying revelations about her family’s past. It is a gift that offers wisdom, joy and heartache. in complete contrast, Mary’s mother has abandoned her African roots and has adopted the worst of British beliefs and behaviour as she tries to blend into a small town in suburban England.
How will each girl survive her childhood legacies on her journey to adulthood?
This is a challenging book that tackles issues of abuse and self-esteem, racism and roots. Olukemi Amala writes with style and originality with passages of breath-taking magical realism. This is a big, important novel studded with episodes of astonishing beauty.
UK-born Nigerian writer Olukemi Amala lives in Manchester. Black, lesbian and disabled, she defines herself as a critical thinker and writer who occupies a space on the margins of life.
