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A family saga that revolves around the death of Nkechi, the family matriarch, reveals Nigerian traditions and customs and showcases a tremendously authentic portrayal of splintering families when the question of wills and contributions arises. Shields does justice to the perspective of each sibling, good or bad, painting profound images ranging from intense sibling rivalries to a tenuous divide between male and female siblings. At its core, having all siblings arrive from different locations for their mother’s funeral (even those that did not have the highest regard for her), is a celebration of Nkechi’s life. Seeing the family in disarray after her loss is a testament to how much of a giant she was in the family.
The novel opens on an ominous note. The news of Nkechi’s passing is delivered by her daughter and caretaker, Ifeoma, to Nkechi’s only biological child, Ejituru. Despite the remainder being stepchildren, nearly all admit that she treated them even better than their own biological mother, Onyeka, who was always regarded as secondary to Nkechi by the children's’ father. Nkechi’s emphasis on educational values was the primary area where this care was noticeable. However, not all of her stepkids reciprocated or even understood the love. The main culprit, Chinyere, exhibited a level of bitterness toward Nkechi that knew no ends.
As custom dictates, each surviving child must contribute what they can to their parent’s burial. The crux of the plot surrounds each and every child’s own financial situation, and perhaps their envy toward the US-based biological child, Ejituru, whose position as a medical practitioner certainly adds an additional burden of responsibility in all family practices. While Ejituru and Ifeoma have a blossoming relationship, the reality is that Ejituru finds herself distanced from her step-siblings. While Chinyere is still irate at Nkechi over not being notified when her own mother, Onyeka, passed, she blames Ejituru because of her biological connection. At the same time, another stepsister, Udo, lives in London and ignites an unnecessary rivalry from afar with Ejituru. The male siblings, particularly Nwankwo and Emeka, allegedly have sold off their mother’s jewelry, while Michael leaves no stone unturned in gaining maximum advantage from his mother while she is under his care.
In a story filled with nostalgia and childhood memories, the tension comes to a head when all the characters actually come together to complete the final rites of the mother. To add insult to injury, another “step-sibling,” Sarah, who for all intents and purposes considers herself the child of Nkechi, has her own wrinkle to add into the family dynamic. Despite attempts at cordial interactions among the siblings, they all are afraid their dirty laundry may come out during the reading of the will. This push and pull between the family is what makes this narrative a refreshing and wholesome novel, one that any audience of any age can likely relate to and point to when comparing their own families. No character is all bad, but really every character is simply reliant upon the circumstances that he or she has created, either financially or domestically.
More importantly, the novel brings to light the important phases of family life, particularly the death of a parent. On the one hand, most of the children are certainly mourning for their mother, but at the same time, they are concerned about the 1.5 million naira they must come up with in order to contribute to her funeral. In many ways, even the contributions become a competition between certain siblings, while other siblings simply expect Ejituru to pay. Nkechi’s family is emblematic of all large families in general: there is some love; there is some bitterness; there is the feeling of betrayal and deceit; there is the desire to bring everyone together. How all of these factors interact in this novel is what yields a product that is both entertaining and insightful, making for a meaningful read.