The Door of No Return
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4.5 • 8 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
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!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Newbery Medalist Alexander's gripping historical novel in verse, a trilogy opener rooted in the Asante Kingdom in 1860, centers 11-year-old Kofi Offin—a child deeply connected to water. In early, lyrical chapters that evoke a dreamlike childhood, Kofi lives with his family in Upper Kwanta, where he swims in the river that is his namesake, engages with best mate Ebo, crushes on longtime friend Ama, and listens to the tales of his village-storyteller grandfather, Nana Mosi—who details "the past/ like it lives/ in him,/ like it still matters." He also clashes with his cousin, a bully, and Mr. Goodluck Phillip, the schoolteacher imparting "the Queen's English" and Shakespeare to students speaking their native Twi. When an annual festival pits wrestlers from Upper and Lower Kwanta against one another, and Kofi's older brother, Kwasi, is set to represent their village, an unexpected death sets off a series of tragedies that upend Kofi's world. 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. Ages 10–up.
Customer Reviews
Wonderful for Mature Readers
Powerful story, wonderfully written. The format was very engaging and made for quick reading. The story reminded me a bit of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. I have given it 5 stars based on its many merits, however, a novel with explicit depiction of gory murder, death and the horrors of the African slave trade, as well as implicit rape and suicide are very mature for the apparently intended audience. I bought this book for my child on a whim in the "youth" novel section at Target and am glad I read it before giving it to her. My children will read this when they are more grown up, but I'm confused about how this is being marketed to an audience who barely knows about sex, much less rape. The brutal murders of multiple characters are truly the stuff of nightmares. So aside from the "miss" on the genre, it was an excellent book and I highly recommend for mature audiences.
The Door of No Return
The novel is breathtaking in expression. Brimming with artistry, it tells the story of a searing adventure with even more hope awaiting.
Wings
This is a story every child needs to read…then tell it word for word to their parents.