"If you were a mango I would peel you,
keep your for myself then reveal you.
If you disappeared I would find you,
treat you like gold and then mine you.
If you were a secret I would carry you,
between my two lips and then marry you,
is what I want to say to the girl who makes my stomach wobble and my heart beat like a drum, but what actually comes out of my salty mouth is would you like some nuts?"

TW: rape, violence, death.

The Door of No Return, based on the real door based in Cape Coast Castle in Ghana which is often credited as the location whereby the transatlantic slave trade began. This middle-grade reader (something I didn't realise prior to reading), masterfully covered the presentation of complex familial ties, complicit parties to an unknown attrocity, the strength of perseverance and an insight into Ghanaian culture and traditions.

"We dream to heal our memory or to face the unimagineable truth. Dreams are hints from the beyond, but they can also be warnings."

As a result of the intended audience, the language is simple and playfully delivers deceptively heavy content intertwined between following the young protagonist trying to find his way through society, his family obligations and society, against the backdrop of the beginning of the slave trade. Unaware of the risks around, small hints allude to what is yet to come throughout, although only finally appear at the last minute when there's no chance to go back.

Short but sweet, this book packs THE punch. I teared up reading it on the tube and still think about it. Strongly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc.

#TheDoorofNoReturn is the 1st book in a brilliant new verse novel trilogy from @kwamealexander
19th c. Ghana 11, year old Kofi Offin's life is turned upside down when a he is captured by rival village & he is sold into slavery.
@DHFSUpdate
@NetGalley

Set in Western Africa amongst the Asante kingdom, this beautiful verse novel depicts the story of Offin as he endures school, taunting by his bigger cousin, first love and preparation for his initiation in to manhood. The rhythm of the prose at times languid and comforting is juxtaposed by the rapid fire descriptions of key scenes. Spiritual guidance, folklore and the long reach of colonialism are all explored by Alexander as he leads the reader to a devastating climax. The richness of place conjured by minimal prose is a testament to the skill of the author, who evokes the vibrancy and danger of the environment.

The Door of No Return will not take long to read, savour it.

I loved the narrator, and it was great to discover a setting and time period that isn't very commonly found in fiction, let alone in fiction for children and young people.

I've had a proof of The Door of No Return for a while (thanks @AndersenPress), published in the UK as an ebook in Oct22, in print in Mar23. @kwamealexander's usual beautiful verse but 1st historical novel...knowing what was coming made it a hard read, am on tenterhooks for part 2

Kofi is like many children, he concerned with the things right in front of him, his daily struggles with the teacher determined to force him to speak in English, catching the eye of a girl he likes and trying to best to triumph over his annoying cousin at swimming. But he is a curious boy who gets wrapped up in the tales that his grandfather tells about the history of his land. Tragedy is about to is about to spin his life out of control making him grow up too quickly.

I was introduced to the works of Kwame Alexander from The Crossover which drew me in due to the subject of basketball, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this historical tale. I found this an interesting experience, learning about Kofi’s culture, as there isn’t many books that focus on Ghana for this age group. Likewise, I loved that you weren’t sure where the story was going to end up, and it was fascinating taking those steps with Kofi with each turn of the page.

I would be interested in listening to an audiobook version of this book to hear the author's rhythm of the text as I think that would make the powerful words even more impactful.

This verse novel took my breath away! Although it doesn’t take too long to read, it was full of twists and heartbreaking plot points. This book stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

Upsetting and powerful - first in an historical trilogy.

I have read the author before, knew this was in verse, and that pretty much meant I was going to read it. I didn't actually read a synopsis first, so the eventual direction of the story knocked me sideways really, when I realised what was going on.

In Ghana, an 11-year-old is on the cusp of adolescence. With feelings for a girl his cousin also wishes to pursue, problems with a teacher who wishes him to learn English, the same meal at home again and again, Kofi could be almost any young adult anywhere.

But this isn't the story. Not by any means. With many references to local languages and customs, traditional stories and how they relate to his everyday life, Kofi's village and community is about to take part in ceremonies that his elder brother is proud to feature in.

Yet even this is not where the story eventually takes Kofi either. If you don't already know the synopsis I don't want to rob you of that 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' realisation, when it all clarifies in your mind.

The verse structure means this keeps the lyricism a poem can bring, but also keeps things tight and taut and minimal in many ways. And it's still heart-breaking, I cried. It feels like a real lived experience.

I've now seen other reviews talking about timelines and dates and locations. To me, that doesn't really matter so much as the content, the life, the voice of Kofi and what he and many, many others like him were forced to live through.

I'm not sure I have it in me to read what happens to him next, but I see the importance and beauty of this book, and think KS3 and KS4 classes will benefit from it in related lessons.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

This is the first book in a series following a young African boy, Kofi. It starts in the mid-nineteenth century in the Asante kingdoms. Kofi is a normal boy, attending school where the language of 'the wonderfuls' (i.e. English) uncomfortably butts up against the indigenous language. He has all the normal 'problems' of friendship, bullying, first love, wanting to become a man, questioning his elders. However, while the upper kingdom, where Kofi lives, has gold to trade, the lower kingdom must survive by any means as it can. The annual 'friendly' competition between the two kingdoms leads to a tragedy with terrible consequences and Kofi becomes a victim of the lower kingdom's 'any means' of survival.
I would suggest this book for older readers (14+) due to the graphic description of some events. They are a necessary part of the story but I found them quite shocking and upsetting.
Kwame's verse style makes this quite a quick read and definitely felt like an introduction to a much bigger story so I look forward to further instalments.

Wow! Just wow!

Kwame Alexander has done it again - with careful, delicate control of language he whisks us into the world of Kofi Offin. In the beginning Kofi's biggest concerns are getting through the school day, learning to swim faster and his crush on Ama. Importantly, crucially, Kwame shows us the 'before'. Then. Overnight. Kofi's world is shaken upside down in a devestating turn of events - what unfolds is a heartbreaking, hearthumping journey for Kofi and the reader. Alexander's carefully controlled narrative scoops us along in this unforgettable tale. Alexander takes us on a, at times harrowing journey, showing how the Asante people were quite literally torn from their beds and sold into slavery. This is a must-read, the first part in a trilogy.

This book taught me a lot. But it really shines visual with how the poems and stories are presented. Well worth a read.