A poignant story of two sisters desperate to escape a toxic home.

It's so amazing to me how a book can be nothing like you were expecting, and sometimes you still love it and other times you emphatically do not. I'm glad to say that this is a case of the former. I thought, based on the description, that I'd see these sisters into their adult lives. It's surprising that only a few months pass in the book, and yet SO MUCH has happened from the start.

Let me also state now that there are several content warnings for this book: verbal & physical abuse (in fact, the book opens with a scene where a father is beating his daughter), child molestation & pedophilia (and the school/church turning a blind eye), drug use/addiction & sales, and sugar dating. And that's in addition to the less prominent (though prevalent) themes of poverty, colorism, and the ignoring of mental health issues throughout.

As usual, I liked that this story is written from both Cheta and Zam's perspectives. This is a case where it's extremely necessary because we as the reader become privy to things that the other sister is not. For example, Zam doesn't understand why Cheta dislikes her but we can clearly see and understand Cheta's resentment for Zam.

On another note, I was surprised to discover (as I'm sure Zam was) that though luxurious in comparison to her home, life for Zam in her uncle's house isn't care-free. It's definitely an upgrade but still a very different way of life, and her tumultuous relationship with her cousin didn't help. However, it's hard to feel bad for her when you consider Cheta. I can tell that Onoseta meant for it to be difficult to choose a side, but I couldn't help seeing Cheta as the underdog in this story. That's not to say that I agree with her choices or the way she handled certain situations (I don't) but I do at least understand her drive if nothing else.

Without spoiling it, I think if you're expecting this book to end with Cheta and Zam hugging it out and everything being suddenly okay via unspoken apologies and an erasure of the past, you're going to be disappointed. While I would love to see how these girls' lives unfold into adulthood, I can recognize and appreciate that this story has been concluded.

I gave this book four stars -- it's emotional and definitely has some sad moments, but I really enjoy stories that showcase various family dynamics. There's so much in this book to be discussed and dissected, and to me, that makes it a great story. (Shout out to this being Onoseta's debut novel!) However, I was a little confused by Cheta's timeline -- *mini spoiler* her meeting Samson and everything that happened after that, which I thought was after Zam's BIG move but was apparently concurrent. And there were some aspects of Cheta and Zam's individual and join stories that I wish had been explored in a little more depth. But overall this was a great debut and I look forward to reading more from Rimma Onoseta.

This book was so amazing!! I fell in love with the cover, the title and the synopsis and was very happy to love the story itself. You definitely learn how to grow wings and it's wonderful.

This book really moved me. A family torn apart by grief and a young girl longing to have her own freedom.

The book addresses themes of abuse, colorism, class, generational trauma, patriarchy.

How to Grow Wings is a story about two sisters set on two different paths. The book is told from the alternating first-person point of view of each sister. Cheta, the eldest sister, and Zam, the youngest sister, are raised in an abusive home in rural Nigeria. Cheta and Zam’s personalities are vastly different. Cheta is the outspoken sister while Zam is timid and reserved. Cheta takes the brunt of the criticism and physical abuse from their mother. Zam is spared the worst of the abuse. Zam is obviously the mother’s favorite daughter due to her light skin compared to Cheta’s darker complexion. Their mother’s favoring Zam over Cheta is complicated by her own self-esteem issues, as she bleaches her own skin to achieve a lighter complexion. Their father, who has slowly stopped talking after his mother’s death, is physically present but emotionally absent.

The sisters have a rich uncle named Emeke who lives in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. Uncle Emeke, who has gained his riches from oil, sends money back to the village to cover everything from expenses for the local church to assistance for individual families. In a stroke of good luck, uncle Emeke and his wife Aunty Sophie send for Zam to live with them in Abuja. In Abuja, Zam discovers a new world of wealth and luxury. She eventually forges a relationship akin to sisterhood with her cousin Kaira and family friend Ginika, which helps her to find her voice and “grow wings.” Meanwhile, Cheta is resentful that she is left behind and she begins searching for a way out of the village and away from the mother’s abuse. In her desperation to escape, Cheta runs away to Benin city to live with a friend but her living circumstance only becomes more complicated which causes her to make some questionable life choices.

In the end, Zam is the only person who figures out just how much trouble Cheta has gotten into. Their mother’s favoritism of Zam and abuse of Cheta divided the sisters, but Zam’s promise to keep Cheta’s secret at the end brings the sisters closer together.

I really liked the writing style of the author. The alternating point of view style of the book kept my attention and was not at all confusing. I liked seeing the character growth of Zam. I wish we could have gotten more of Cheta's story at the end to see how everything ended up for her. Overall, the book was a quick, enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book for this review

A captivating story of two sisters, raised differently and both dream of leaving home. this story was sad and captivating which is strange to put together. Once I began I couldn't stop reading. Cheta is so strong, determined; she knows herself and loves her sister and all her efforts to be there for her and even their evil mother, go unnoticed. Zam is favored and oblivious to all that her sister goes through. The twist was so good. This is a wonderful debut

This book was really different than what I usually read. The writing style, the topics, the family dynamic. I found myself so frustrated with Zam at times, but in the end, this was really a beautiful tribute to an unspoken bond between sisters, and how those sisters might not even be aware of that bond until their trust in one another is truly tested.

A beautiful, heart wrenching book. Onoseta has such a beautiful writing style and I can't wait to read more by them.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!

I admit I went into this novel blind. I knew it was a story of two sisters who get separated and eventually find their way back to each other, but I wish I done a bit more research as this story features a dense list of triggering events.

Objectively, I'm giving this story a 4 star rating because I desperately want more books published by Black women about, well, whatever they want to write about! For me, personally, this would be a 3 star read only because topics of colorism, physical and verbal abuse, children in unsafe family environments as well as favoritism within close knit families hit too close to home from me to truly enjoy the story.

All that said, it's a fantastic debut by Rimma Onoseta, and I hope she continues to share her stories!

📖 Overview:

Two sisters growing up in Nigeria that are treated completely different by their mother. One sister is the “outcast” who speaks her mind and can’t seem to do anything right while the other sister keeps her mouth shut and goes with the flow that her mother has seemed to create for her. This has caused a divide in the sisters and a lot of anger. See how the two sisters face their battles living two completely different lives.

💭 Review:

Wow what a beautiful debut this is. This is a dual POV between the sisters. Read as the sisters mother treats these two girls completely different. The internal struggles that each family member faces but keeps to themselves.

I love getting to read each sisters prospective, it really makes you fall in love with each one in their own way. There is a raw realness to this story that tugs at the heart strings. There are even a few “oh shit” moments that came out of no where that I really enjoyed as well.

If you are looking for a unique compelling contemporary, pick up How You Grow Wings.

Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Special thanks to the author, @algonquinyr & @netgalley for my advanced copy.

First just let me say WOOOOW!!!!! It was tough writing a review because this was such an amazing YA novel. Like almost to good not to be adult fiction. I loved the writing style and the many topic discussed throughout. Every character involved added depth to the story. I loved seeing things unfold from the perspective of both sisters.

I sympathized with all of the young women especially Zam and Cheta. The physical and verbal abuse Cheta endured from her mother was terrible. The mental abuse Zam endured trying to steer clear of both her mother and sister wasn’t any better. The environment they grew up in was so toxic and the favoritism shown to Zam over her sister by their mother caused tension between the two of them.

It was disheartening to see every female character have a bad relationship with their mother and weren’t treated any better by their fathers.

Although this was a bit of an emotional read the last 2-3 chapters was why I gave it a solid 5 stars. I won’t spoil it by saying to much but talk about a major twist I didn’t see coming. Everything flowed so perfectly I don’t think the author could’ve ended the novel any better.

So, I definitely recommend because I was left wanting more!!!!

This book is such an emotional family drama. Zam and Cheta are sisters. They have the same parents, live in the same house and receive the same education, but could not be more different. Cheta is so resentful toward Zam because she thinks that their mother prefers Zam because she has lighter skin. Their mother is verbally and physically abusive to Cheta, but not Zam, and when Zam is sent away to live with their very wealthy uncle and aunt, Cheta becomes even more convinced of their mother's preference for Zam.

Cheta becomes so jealous of Zam's ability to yet again escape the prison of their home and the abuse of their mother. Cheta leaves home and seeks to make it on her own. She soon realizes that may be harder than she expected. She bunks with friends and takes on jobs, some of which are far from glamorous, which only deepens her mother's hatred for her.

Meanwhile Zam is living in the lap of luxury with her aunt, uncle, cousin and family friend. A little plot twist shakes up the dynamic of this seemingly perfect family and their uncle is determined to get to the bottom of it and make whoever is responsible pay the consequences.

Will things every be right between Cheta and Zam? Can they ever have a real sisterly relationship without the toxicity of their mother poisoning their bond?

I really enjoyed this debut novel. It was beautifully written and kept my attention for the most part. I felt so bad for Cheta. She was dealt a rough hand, and while Zam was dealt a better hand, she still had struggles of her own. I loved the character development between the two sisters and the ending was the best part.

Special thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An emotionally intense titles that explores the effects colonization has on social emotional development and mental health; as well as, the intersectionality of colorism and classism.
Cheta and Zam are two sisters with a dysfunctional home life. Aside from a demanding, authoritarian mother and a passive father, these two sisters couldn't be more different. Cheta is very passionate and outspoken, while Zam is very demure. Both of them manage to escape their toxic household, but have differing life experiences in life outside of their childhood home. Cheta has experienced second-hand racial trauma in the form of colorism that came directly from her mother. Due to her mother's addiction to dangerous skin lightening creams, we can assume that this trauma is intergenerational. Additionally, the sisters have pretty much been conditioned to hate one another. Will these two girls ever heal? Will they be able to live a life where they are healthy, happy, and whole? Will these two girls ever mend their relationship?

We dive right into this book with Zam walking home from school – and in short order we meet her whole family, learn about the family dynamics, and learn about some of their local customs. Zam and Cheta live with their parents in a small town in modern day Nigeria.

Zam gets out of her anger-filled home by moving in with her rich aunt and uncle. She gets this proposal because of how well she’s doing at school, and Cheta immediately resents that she was never offered this deal.

Their uncle is super rich (in the oil business), and life at his house takes some time to adjust to. There are two other teenage girls in the house – Kaira, Zam’s cousin, and Ginika, a family friend who often stays with them while her parents are traveling abroad. Kaira is initially standoffish, but Ginika is sociable. They both harbor anger at their mothers, and the girls all eventually bond over this common problem.

Cheta comes to visit for one week. She has recently graduated from high school, and comes with the idea that she will ingratiate herself to their aunt and get a job with her. It doesn’t work. She was already so set on leaving home, though, that she does it anyway, without a real plan.

After an incident leaves Zam’s aunt and uncle feeling shaken, they decide to move – with all three girls – to London. Kaira is finally able to start breaking down the wall that had grown up between her and her mom, before the girls leave for boarding school. Another family member who is helping them there also sheds some light on Zam and Cheta’s family, and how the two girls actually got along better when they were younger. Zam feels compelled to reach out, but gets no answer.

On a trip home for Christmas, Zam sees her family again, after months of being away. Cheta also rolls back into town from Benin, where she’s been keeping her distance. Their mother treats Cheta like she is basically disowned already, but Zam still wants to try to help her sister. There is one startling revelation near the end of the book, and Zam has to make a drastic decision. Finally, both girls head back out into their separate worlds.

I don’t want to reveal too much about the ending, but I will say that I’ll be thinking about it for quite some time!

How You Grow Wings is an intense, character-driven, dual POV story about two sisters in Nigeria who have vastly different experiences within their family. Zam is favored by her mother while Cheta is abused physically and verbally by that same mother. Neither sister likes their life at home, and circumstances come about that move both sisters out-Zam to live with her rich Uncle and Aunt, and Cheta to a friend's house. Their lives diverge and reconnect a few times, with some good character growth for both of them and an understanding between the two by the end.

I did want a little more from the story, mainly because I struggle with more character-driven books, but overall it was a smooth, quick-moving read that was pretty interesting!

Thanks to Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the e-ARC!

Poignant and beautiful, Rimma paints a beautiful tale about two sisters' struggles to find themselves and their place in the world. Despite the stark differences in how the world has treated them, Cheta and Zam realize that perhaps, they're not so different as they once thought.

DNF @ 15%. The domestic abuse was too much for me, which is not a critique at all, just that it's not the moment for me to read this book. Apart from that, what I can say from the beginning is that it was flooded with names from people who were never introduced, and you're supposed to pick it up from context. It's a choice, but not ym favorite type of storytelling.

Set in Nigeria. Two sisters raised in the same household yet treated differently. Cheta, the oldest, grew up physically and verbally abused by the mother because she’s rebellious. Meanwhile Zam was shown favoritism causing animosity between the sisters. The father barely spoke or interfered.

A debut, coming of age book with dual POVs. It depicts each girls’ journey. While one struggles, the other thrives. It also depicted classism, colorism, family dynamics, authoritarian, and mental disorders.

This book is poignant, moving, and thought provoking. Despite the trigger warnings, there were camaraderie between the female characters, mother-daughter relationship on the mend, and the twist at the end. That was unexpected. I thought the book was slow pacing but well executed.

How you grow wings by Rimma Onoseta
This is a very interesting book set in Nigeria about two very different sisters. I really enjoyed the characterisation of the two sisters - particularly the different points of view which depicts how circumstances and the drive to survive forces one sister to take certain irrevocable steps.

I agree with other reviewers that it is can be easy to judge one sister and her actions, the different points of view help with understanding the often poignant inner life of the two sisters. The characterisation of Cheta is rich, complex and depicts various issues found in the African context, the drive to succeed, sibling rivalry, parental - child relationships in post-colonial Africa, coming of age in the African context. I found the characterisation of Zam - not as complex as Cheta - and in some places I found her character frustrating as she seems to cause problems for other people without quite understanding or comprehending it.

This is a great book for African literature classes at secondary or university level- which can be used to explore many themes in post-colonial Africa. It also has potential to be a sequel or series of books. I would like to know what happens to Zam, Cheta and particularly their mother.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

There are a lot of mature themes such as varying types of abuse. Nothing happy really happens in it so it was tough for me to read since it was very heavy.

I did like the concept of a dual POV playing into the notion of nature vs nurture. My only issue was that I wasn’t attached to either of them.

It was a little tough to get into because of said topics and many characters, but it was a quick-ish read overall.

This is a great young adult book that comments on the complicatedness of family, privilege and finding our place in this world. It offers insight into the notions of love and loyalty, cycles of abuse and colourism. A tale of two sisters, it’s a relatable story even for someone coming from a loving home vastly different from the oppressive family of the story. The subject matter is somewhat heavy but it is still an enjoyable read and although is a young adult novel is one adults can enjoy and learn from as well.