Tag: kwame alexander

 

The Door of No Return is set in the fictional village of Upper Kwanta, a community that Kwame Alexander has imagined from his visits to real-life villages in Ghana and inspired by the histories of the Asante people.

Alexander does not immediately place this story in a specific time in history. Instead, the story is rooted around the protagonist, the eleven-year-old Kofi. The beginning of this novel is a coming-of-age story as Kofi falls in love, deals with his bully cousin, navigates his identity within his family, and desperately seeks to be treated like the man he will soon become. When an unexpected tragedy occurs, Kofi’s life is changed forever and this story takes a much darker turn, becoming a tale of capture, violence and fear.

Alexander tells this story through verse. His masterful use of rhythm, pacing and language creates fluidity and lyricism that draws the reader into the world of Upper Kwanta. While this novel deals with difficult themes and dark parts of our world’s history, Alexander also beautifully illustrates moments of hope, the strength of family and the power of storytelling.

Recommended for readers of historical fiction, coming-of-age, and poetry. An important addition to the genre of historical fiction, The Door of No Return is a stunning portrait of African culture and history.

Órla Carr