Summary and Reviews of Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta

Media Reviews

Kirkus Reviews Starred Review. Here is writing rich in the beautiful intimacies of people who love each other - and wise about the importance of holding onto those precious connections in a world that is, more often than not, dangerous and cold.

Booklist Even if Ijeoma's character is too often defined only by her orientation, this is a remarkable portrait of a young woman's coming-of-age in a society where rigid interpretations of the Bible label same-sex relationships as an 'abomination,' and where violence is all too often part of the 'solution.'

Library Journal This absorbing story parallels the ongoing struggle for equality in Nigeria and is a powerful contribution to LGBT and African literature. Readers will finish the book hoping that every however-flawed character will find his or her own version of happiness.

Publishers Weekly Okparanta's characters are just as compelling as teenagers as they are as adults and readers will be swept up in this tale of the power of love.

 Edwidge Danticat, author of Claire of the Sea Light and many others Exceeding the extraordinary promise of Happiness Like Water, her stunning story collection, Chinelo Okparanta has written a remarkable and exquisite first novel about wars - both external and internal - endurance, survival, and love. A coming of age story that demands not just to be not just read, but felt, Under the Udala Trees, wraps us in the spell of an exceptionally talented writer and storyteller.

 Justin Torres, author of We the Animals Under the Udala Tree is is an evocative, fiercely told story about a woman's life, about family and love, and about becoming who you are meant to be. Chinelo Okparanta is an incendiary, essential voice.

 Maaza Mengiste, author of Beneath the Lion's Gaze With this novel, Chinelo Okparanta has firmly placed her name amongst the ranks of some of our most talented and unflinching writers. Using words with both precision and sensitivity, Okparanta tells a tale of conflict and compromise, of love and power, and of family - those we are born into, and those we make for ourselves. A stunning book. Unforgettable.

 Taiye Selasi, author of Ghana Must Go Boldly unadorned and utterly heartbreaking - Okparanta dares to tell a story that the world desperately needs to hear. Almost fable-like in its simplicity, Under the Udala Trees interrogates constructions of womanhood, of nationhood, and of sexuality. In these elegant folds of restrained prose lies a searing condemnation: of violence, religion and patriarchy in modern day Nigeria. Raw, emotionally intelligent and unflinchingly honest, Under the Udala Trees is a triumph.

 Tayari Jones, author of Silver Sparrow and others Chinelo Okparanta is major new voice not only because of her mesmerizing storytelling, but for her bravery and originality. She is a truth teller and soothsayer. In this debut novel, she brings us two unforgettable heroines, exposes the past - with a lens both panoramic and kaleidoscopic - and predicts a future heavy with struggle yet glowing with hope. Under the Udala Trees is breathtaking, rich with history and heart

Reader Reviews

Books with similar themes

• Literary Fiction
  
• Africa
  
• Northern & Western Africa
  
• 20th Century (multiple decades)
  
• Debuts
  
• Coming of Age
  
• Adult-YA Crossover Fiction
  
• Black Authors
  
• Strong Women
  
• LGBTQ+