Play Book Tag discussion

Chude-Sokei shares his coming of age story as a memoir. Born to a Jamaican mother and a Nigerian father who met in England, he loses his father while young to the Biafran conflict of which his father was a leader. When his mom realized she was expected to marry her husband's brother as widow, she fled to a nearby refugee camp created by the conflict eventually returning home to Jamaica. However she soon emigrates to the US, leaving Louis in a Seventh Day Adventist home with other children left behind until the parent can send for them to the US.

Once he joins his mother in the US, Chude-Sokei grows up striving to fit in as an African-American while carefully be cautioned by his African and Caribbean relatives and family friends that they are black but not "that kind" of black. Trying to balance to two worlds especially as young black man in LA in the 80's with his neighborhood overrun by local gangs, its difficult to stand out and he finds ways to hide his love of learning and books.

The memoir is thoughtful from the eyes of a perpetual outsider, not quite African, not quite Caribbean and not quite African-American. I loved hearing about his visit back to Nigeria to visit his father's family and learning that history. I would be interested to hear more about his life.

Ooh, glad to see that you liked this one! I started the audio a few months ago but didn't love the narration - it seems like it'd be worth picking the physical book up at some point.

Love your review, Jen. I would find the book to be very interesting. (When I was working with black teens, they would often hide their love of learning and books from their peers, just like Chude-Sokei.)

forsanolim wrote: "Ooh, glad to see that you liked this one! I started the audio a few months ago but didn't love the narration - it seems like it'd be worth picking the physical book up at some point."

I actually did the audio but didn't have a problem with the narration. I will say that I enjoyed the book more when he was older in LA and wrestling with his identity than as such a small child at the start. I hope you enjoy!

Holly R W wrote: "Love your review, Jen. I would find the book to be very interesting. (When I was working with black teens, they would often hide their love of learning and books from their peers, just like Chude-S..."

Some of his teachers seemed amazing to get it and smuggle him books while letting him maintain his street cred.