To Fill a Yellow House
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- £5.49
Publisher Description
'Heartbreaking, hopeful . . . nothing short of a joy' Caleb Azumah Nelson, author of Open Water
Rupert's eclectic charity shop, The Chest of Small Wonders, sits on an ever-changing high street in an ever-changing corner of London. He once had big dreams for the place, but times are tough, and without his beloved wife by his side he is close to giving up.
When lonely teenager Kwasi takes refuge in the shop, escaping school bullies and the watchful eyes of his extended family, the Chest becomes a place of possibility again. Man and boy unite to save the shop and an unexpected friendship begins, but as tensions escalate around them both Kwasi and Rupert must decide who their allies are and where their futures lie.
Lyrical, witty, moving and timely, To Fill a Yellow House is a story of community, friendship and the power of creativity and connection. It is as vibrant and surprising as the city it is set in and marks the arrival of a bright and bold new talent.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Anie's poignant debut revolves around two London outcasts who find solace in each other during the 2014 recession. No sooner has Kwasi, 14, moved into a new house with his mother than the house starts filling with aunties. He misses his father, who's in Ghana building a house for the family, and struggles to fit in at school. He needs space and a place to belong, and unexpectedly finds both one Halloween night at a charity shop called Chest of Small Wonders, which he darts into while fleeing from bullies. Enter Rupert, the shopkeeper, who has been isolated ever since the death of his wife (community members suspect his illicit and potent tea was responsible). Kwasi and Rupert's friendship develops as the shopkeeper nurtures the boy's passion for drawing, and Kwasi helps bring the shop back to its former glory. Though the author gets off to a slow start and fails to set up much of the third act's drama (drugs, weapons, a fire), she confidently handles the theme of building a surrogate home ("Home is in these moments of connection too, of seeing people who get it, who are moving towards this same space that calls him too"). Despite the flaws, it's hard not to be moved.
