4.5 rounded down

trigger warnings: abuse, physical abuse / beatings, verbal abuse, one time mention of pseudo-incest (not related by blood but family members who grew up together), skin bleaching, inappropriate teacher/student relationships (mentioned), death of a grandparent, on page panic attack (x2), kidnapping, gun violence, drugs & selling drugs, mentions of drug abuse

this was a stunning debut of rimma onoseta, and i truly cannot recommend it to all of my friends enough. i did round down from 5 stars, as it was a bit dense at points and it was very abuse-heavy. i also found it slightly difficult to start and get in to, but once i was a few chapters in, the story very quickly picked up.

do not go into this book expecting a plot driven, large scale adventure. this book is a small story, it focuses on a small cast and their life experiences and is heavily character driven. but that does not make it any less powerful. there is a focus on color, on race, on class, on family dynamics, and on wealth disparities.

i loved the alternating POVs between the sisters; we were able to sympathize with both situations, even if they weren't able to empathize with each other. this story is profound and stays with you long after you close the book and read the last sentence.

i will be picking up this author's future works. i highly recommend.

thank you to Algonquin Young Readers, Rimma Onoseta, and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

SUCH a good book. It instantly grabbed me. The story is heartbreaking and so well observed and real. I look forward to reading further books from Rimma Onoseta.

A fluid and gorgeously written exploration of family dynamics and oppression, backed by a ton of heart and lovable, complex characters. I'm a sucker for a good family story (especially one about siblings), because I feel like it's still an underexplored dynamic. Onoseta's sharp prose carries the twists and falls of Cheta and Zam's fraught relationship. I really cared about the characters in this book. This isn't a loud story, but it doesn't have to be. It dwells beautifully in small moments and approaches issues of class, color, and relationships with nuance.

While billed as YA, I hope adult readers don't look past this one, because it would be a great fit for upmarket readers.

Wow! Just such an eye opening book showing how different people have different experiences compared to people close to them. I loved to learn about the relationship dynamic between Zam and Cheta. This book successfully teaches you about racism, colourism and classism. Definitely recommend.

I have heard little to no talk about this beautiful story and that needs to dramatically change - this is a stunner!!

Thank you for allowing me to read this book. It took me awhile to finish due to the holidays. I was impressed with the writing and the plot throughout. The message given would be a great book for school age children to read and interact with.

This is a great debut. I certainly see the comparison to Ibi Zoboi (who I love). What I liked about this book best was the relationships - between the sisters, between the 3 girls, and especially between mothers and daughters. It was relatable and paints a vivid picture about the difficulties of mother/daughter relationships. The line "Now, I finally understood existing should not be painful. Speaking to her just made me feel the squeeze of the serpent again" made me put the book down and think about how powerful that line is. I feel that encapsulates the mood of the relationships in the book. There was also a great twist I was not expecting! I would recommend this book.

Cheta and Zam are sisters who grew up very differently in the same home and that experience soured their relationship with each other and the world. Zam is her mother’s favorite daughter, meek, smart and willing to do whatever she is told. Cheta is abused mentally, emotionally and physically by her mother and it has made she qnd Zam enemies. When both girls leave their mother’s house on very different paths they both have to learn to grow the wings they need to get away from their home and possibly back to each other. This was a beautiful book that deals with some ugly truths such as colorism, racism, classism and economic disparity in modern Nigeria and beyond.

Cheta and Zam are sisters in an oppressive family in Nigeria. Cheta is sharp and abrasive, constantly battling with her abusive mother and ignored by her silent father. Zam is quiet and compliant, meaning that she suffers less at home, leading to animosity between the sisters. When Zam is selected to live with her wealthy aunt’s family, their relationship becomes even more fraught as they make their way into adulthood in vastly different situations. The dual perspectives of the sisters mean we deeply empathise with each sister’s predicament. This is a nuanced and provocative novel that confronts family dynamics, colourism, classism and racism – and it is eminently readable with gripping psychological insights into how we react to complex and difficult life circumstances. Highly recommended!

Zam and Cheta are sisters but they don't get along so well. Growing up, they are surrounded with people who prefer light-skinned people over dark-skinned people. They live in a society where there is a broad gap between castes and between rich and poor people. Will they be able to patch things up and be like what normal sisters are?

The book is rich of cultural and feminist perspectives that will delight and enlighten readers. It is a good literary piece to use in embedding culture in the curriculum.

A superb tome! A must-read!

This was a really well done exploration of family dynamics, siblings and parents. It looked at how race and class plays out in homes and families and all the ways that people trust and mistrust and love and hate and connect with and disregard each other. It wasn't a fun book and it wasn't hugely plot driven, but it was quiet and compelling.

This is an unbiased review from an advance NetGalley proof.

Highly recommend this book! This was my first book to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters and the story stay with you long after you finish the book. One of the best books I have read in a long time.

This book/story is hard to shake from my mind. I feel a little shook about the relationships. Although this was set in a different country with different expectations from family, children everywhere have a basic need of compassion and acceptance from family. A message that needs to be taught to everyone around the world. We also need to be more aware of why children may be acting out or are withdrawn.. It has been a while since I have read a book that has stirred up these emotions. Good job!