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Kelvin, known in school as "computer brain," desperately wants his father's approval and craves the same respect his father shows to Kelvin's siblings. Meanwhile, even though Kelvin continues proving his academic worth, his father makes life for Kelvin harsher and more unbearable, threatening to take away his school sponsorship and demanding more of him than he does his other children. As Kelvin focuses more and more on the individual freedom and potential escape that academic excellence could offer him, he battles isolation, flirts with impending romance, and begins to understand the truth about his identity. Set against the backdrop of Nigeria's struggles with extortion, a crippled government, and renewed discussion for the Biafran people, Kelvin transforms into a socially-conscious man on the verge of freeing himself from his father's, and the system's, clutches.
In the spirit of African writers like Chinua Achebe and Mariama Ba, this book frames an individual's existence in the context of a nation's political, economic, cultural, and spiritual turmoil. Its discussions of political unrest, familial and cultural disconnect, and the grind of the individual against the whetstone of conformity will resonate with readers who love to see the underprivileged and underrepresented succeed. With its intelligent, inspiring main character, this story shares similarities with the rousing independent film Freetown. Contemporary readers interested in the ever-changing landscape of African politics and literature need to add this book to their must-read lists. In addition, those seeking a gateway into the diverse, engaging realm of African literature will find this book the perfect starting point. Meanwhile, more academic readers will appreciate the novel's intellectual depth and strong character development.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review