Overview

A QUARTER FINALIST FOR THE 2023 BOOKLIFE PRIZE FOR FICTION From the time she could hold a stitching needle, Olawu has studied medicine under the watchful eye of her father. In her village, the men are the only ones allowed to work a trade or be educated, and the women who try are punished. As the village's sole physician, her father's influence casts a long shadow, but Olawu is still taught in secret. Trouble arrives in the form of the Dikebe tribe, led by the conquering warlord Dike and his arrogant son, Dikembe. Though the invading tribe has different views about women, their arrival in the village brings calamity with it, snatching away Olawu's hope to follow in her father's footsteps and thrusting her into a role she never wanted. Without her father's protection, Olawu's family is left vulnerable to the strict rules of their village, including the forced marriage ritual known as the Choosing. The consequences are clear: disobeying the village elders means punishment for her and starvation for her family. But accepting an unwanted marriage means casting off everything her father taught her. And she is her father's daughter. With few options and even less time, Olawu seeks out Dikembe in an act of desperation, hoping their family's past connection will be enough to convince him to help. But Dikembe is stubborn and Olawu is proud, a combination that leads to disaster, heartbreak, and a sequence of events that neither ever expected.

Full Product Details

9798950210006

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

P. J. Leigh is an avid booklover and fervent writer. Her biggest motivations for writing are the two beautiful girls she has at home, which is why her writing showcases female characters of color. She enjoys writing narratives with strong characterization that encourage curiosity, exploration, audacity, and empathy. Her stories can often be enjoyed by both kids and adults (as she has a voracious young reader at home who demands to read everything she writes). Awards include 1st place in the WCPL Short Story Contest for ""Take Me Away,"" 1st place in the Prose monthly challenge for ""The Earth Sighed Seven Times,"" and 6th place in the Writer's Digest Short Story Competition for ""The Shifter."" Her debut novel, ""Olawu,"" earned a spot as a Quarter Finalist in the 2023 BookLife Prize for Fiction sponsored by Publishers Weekly. If she's not plotting and scheming, she's typically reading, crying over K-dramas, or, inevitably, doing laundry. Learn more about her projects and where to connect with her on her website at pjleigh.com.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available