The Door of No Return

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

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.

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.