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How a Mother's Strength Became a Daughter's Purpose
by Uzo Aduba
A powerful, timely memoir of Black immigrant identity, the story of an unforgettable matriarch, and a unique coming-of-age story by Nigerian American actress Uzo Aduba.
The actress Uzo Aduba came of age grappling with a master juggling act: as one of few Black families in their white Massachusetts suburb, she and her siblings were the unexpected presence in whatever school room or sports team they joined. But Aduba was also rooted by a fierce and nonnegotiable sense of belonging and extraordinary worth that stemmed from her mother's powerful vision for her children, and their connection to generations of family in Nigeria. The alchemy of being out of place yet driven by fearless conviction powered Aduba to success.
The Road Is Good is more than the journey of a young woman determined to survive young adulthood — and to create a workable identity for herself. It is the story of an incredible mother and a testament to matriarchal power. When Aduba's mother falls ill, the origin of her own power crystallizes and Aduba leaps into a caretaker role, uniquely prepared by the history and tools her mother passed along to become steward of her ancestoral legacy.
Deeply mining her family history—gripping anecdotes her mother, aunts, and uncles shared in passing at family celebrations and her own discoveries through countless auditions in New York and her travels to Nigeria—Aduba pieces together a life story imbued with guiding lessons that are both personal and profoundly universal.
"With wit, insight, and heart, Aduba constructs a captivating self-portrait that doubles as an ode to her remarkable mother. Even readers unfamiliar with Aduba's acting work will be spellbound." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Poignant and well-written, this memoir not only celebrates the achievements and talents of its author but also grounds readers in the customs of Nigeria. It is a must-have for fans of Aduba or Orange Is the New Black and for those wanting to read about the African diaspora." —Library Journal (starred review)
"Fans will enjoy this generous account of life as a Nigerian American daughter, sister, and actress." —Kirkus Reviews
"This modest, thoughtful memoir pays less attention to [Aduba's] successes than to her family, cultural heritage, Christian faith, and particularly her strong relationship with her mother. Reflective and infused with gratitude, the memoir is as much about the conflicts and comforts of growing up Nigerian-American as about those of becoming a working actor." —Booklist
This information about The Road Is Good was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Uzo Aduba is an award-winning actress whose work spans television, film, and theater. In addition to her acting work, Uzo is a fierce advocate for women's and human rights and serves as Heifer International's ambassador to Africa as well as an ambassador for Stand Up to Cancer. She currently resides in New York City.
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