Young Nneka Uchendu never listens to anyone but herself, and her inquisitiveness and bravery worry her grandmother, Ogonna. It is 1967, and Ogonna’s home in Onitsha, Nigeria, is getting dangerous. The Biafran War has just begun, and Hausa fighters are out in full force. Ogonna dreads Nneka running into the brutal soldiers. Even her ordinary, unassuming neighbors could be spies for the other side.
When Ogonna realizes that Onitsha will soon completely fall, she comes up with a daring plan to spirit her beloved granddaughter away from the violence. Her plan succeeds, but the war follows them out into the country. Ogonna can sell her jewels one by one to help the family, but they won’t last forever.
Olivia Zikora’s powerful novel is about what happens when the only thing left is hope. Ogonna does whatever she can to protect her granddaughter, and the old woman’s strength in the worst of circumstances inspires and bolsters Nneka during her own ordeals.
Zikora hopes to inspire everyone to educate themselves about the ongoing conflicts in Nigeria. In a world where Boko Haram still violently attacks young girls every day, Zikora emphasizes the importance of celebrating the strength and endurance of women.
