  | Children of the quicksands Author: Traore, Efua | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
In a remote Nigerian village, thirteen-year-old Simi is desperate to uncover a family secret. Ajao is nothing like Lagos -- no cell phones, no running water or electricity. Her witchlike grandmother dispenses advice and herbal medicine to the village, but she's tight lipped about their family history. When Simi disobeys her grandmother and goes exploring to find out, she sinks in nearby quicksands and enters a parallel world. Children are disappearing and Simi must discover the truth.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (05/15/22)
Booklist (07/01/22)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 07/01/2022 When Simi has to leave her home in Lagos to stay with her grandmother in a remote village, she isn’t happy about being separated from the only life she knows. Simi quickly learns that the village is harboring a secret, one that involves a magical lake and the village’s missing children. With the help of her priestess grandmother and new friends, Simi must use her wits to save the village from the ire of warring goddesses and a nefarious, magical bird. Traoré’s writing is enchanting, and it immerses readers into the colorful, rich world of Yoruba mythology. Simi is a protagonist readers can root for, while the charming cast of side characters provides the reader with a multitude of personalities to enjoy. Traoré’s world building is admirable, easily moving from the cityscape of Lagos to the quaint Ajao to the land where the children of quicksand live. This vibrant and imaginative fantasy celebrates the beauty and complexity of Nigeria and will appeal to fans of mythology-based fantasy adventures. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
Booklist - 07/01/2022 - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
