LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
March 2023 Book of the Month
Beginning in 1860, Kwame Alexander’s The Door of No Return — the first powerfully poetic book in a trilogy — shares the stirring story of a family who live in Upper Kwanta in the Asante Kingdom (present-day Ghana).
Revealing hidden history and brutal truths, this masterfully conjured novel-in-verse is underpinned by the author’s intention to show that, “while the brutal captivity and bondage of Africans was a part of my story, it was not the first chapter, or even the second…I wrote this story because people need to know that the middle was not our beginning. I wanted to speak the truth about the history of African Americans, because while most of us are aware of the American part, it’s time for us to know more about the African part, right?”
While sharing this important history, The Door of No Return is also brilliant at evoking relatable emotions, with the story centred around eleven-year-old Kofi — a boy who loves swimming in the river, loves a “girl/who makes my stomach wobble/and my heart beat”, and loves playing oware with his wise grandfather, Nana Mosi, the village storyteller. At school, though, Kofi wonders why they’re forced to learn so much British history, “why we do not spend/as much time/learning the history/of our own kingdom”, and why pupils are forbidden from speaking Twi.
Alongside such cultural oppression, an annual festival honouring a peace treaty sees Kofi’s older brother face Lower Kwanta’s heir to the throne when he’s selected to fight for Upper Kwanta. The result of the contest unleashes a tsunami of trouble, and Kofi faces a “door of no return”. Forced to take a “slow passage/over troubled waters” in brutal conditions, he finds some solace in memories, dreams, and singing praise songs to his family. The heart- stopping ending will leave readers desperate to find out what Kofi does next.
Joanne Owen
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About
The Door of No Return Synopsis
From the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winning author Kwame Alexander, comes the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family.
In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his family, playing oware with his grandfather and swimming in the river Offin. He's warned though, to never go to the river at night. His brother tells him "There are things about the water you do not know. " Like what? Kofi asks. "The beasts." His brother answers.
One fateful night, the unthinkable happens and in a flash, Kofi's world turns upside down. Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life and what happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves.
This spellbinding novel by the author of The Crossover and Booked will take you on an unforgettable adventure that will open your eyes and break your heart.
The Door of No Return is an excellent choice for independent reading, sharing in the classroom, book groups, and homeschooling.
An instant #1 New York Times Bestseller!
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780316441964 |
| Publication date: |
7th May 2024 |
| Author: |
Kwame Alexander |
| Publisher: |
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
432 pages |
| Series: |
The Door of No Return Series |
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Press Reviews
Kwame Alexander Press Reviews
At once vivid and simple, lyrical and surgical, expressive and exacting, comforting and cutting Absolutely spellbinding: Kwame Alexander weaves together storytelling, poetry, music and history like no one else can. An unforgettable journey to be treasured and shared across generations -- Rick Riordan
Interweaving moments of joyful exuberance and heartbreaking sadness via sensate lines by turns sweet and stinging, Alexander's sweeping novel conjures a captivating, resonant world of African tradition, life, and ancestral wisdom -- Publishers Weekly - starred review
Alexander's rich language is lyrical and haunting as the water, long a source of comfort for Kofi, becomes full of uncertainty and danger. A riveting, not-to-be-missed trilogy opener that will leave readers invested in what is to come -- Kirkus - starred review
Alexander turns the nightmare of the past into an epic story for all times and all people. The Door of No Return is a breathtaking, heartbreaking triumph and an instant classic -- Lev Grossman - New York Times bestselling author of The Magicians
Alexander weaves a breathtaking tale that is ripe with the juxtaposing emotions that come with any coming-of-age story. Alexander has written a masterpiece, one that powerfully and truthfully gives agency to the Black voices of the past. Profound and important reading -- Booklist - starred review
Author
About Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander is a poet, children's book author, playwright, producer, public speaker, performer, and winner of the Newbery Medal for his novel-in-verse, The Crossover. He conducts creative writing workshops in middle and high schools, often reaching more than five hundred students monthly. He lives with his wife and two daughters in the Washington, D.C. area. You can follow Kwame on Instagram @kwamealexander
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