"A sensitive and delightful story of tension and reconciliation in
a Ghanaian family in London." Professor A N Mensah, Retired
Professor of English, University of Ghana "Esi is a teenager living
in Ghana. She has been living with her grandmother, auntie and
cousin ever since her mother, Maggie, moved to London six years
ago. It was long known that one day Esi would join her mother in
London but when the plans are finally made, Esi becomes nervous and
depressed. The story follows Esi as she moves to a new city, in a
new country, with a mother she hardly knows. Looking Up is a breezy
read that gives great insight into teenage life, immigrant
viewpoints, and multicultural perspectives. Through her migration
and adjustment story, we learn more about her family roots and
cultural traditions in Ghana. Esi's grandmothers and school friends
are critical characters. Some are the source of her challenges
while others guide her through tough times. The story covers the
topics of bullying, parenting styles, divorce, the role of extended
family, and ethnocentrism/racism. For example, Esi is put in
lower-level classes because of assumptions made of her previous
schooling in "Africa." She is mistreated by friends because of the
way she talks and who she hangs out with. My favorite part of the
story is when Esi befriends a kid with Bangladeshi roots and she
makes connections between her Ghanaian culture and his. I also
enjoyed the many female characters who are not portrayed as
heroines or villains, but complex, nuanced women. This book would
foster great discussion among teenagers ...Highly
Recommended."Reviewed by Anastasia Shown, MSW, University of
Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and PracticePublished in
Africa Access Review (October 1, 2019)
"From the moment Esi reluctantly boards the plane at Kotoka bound
for Heathrow, the excitement build ups to when she arrives in her
new home. Does Esi settle into her new school? Will Kojo's attitude
and frozen heart thaw? What of the family secrets? Enter the
paternal grandmother Asantewa. What follows are unexpected twists
in this family drama as Esi uncovered more truths or more
precisely, draws them out from her straight-talking grandmother,
Asantewa. Esi is her namesake after all. Abena Eyeson's writing
draws in the reader with carefully placed reveals, challenges the
reader's assumptions, whilst all the time offering warm, flowing
and witty conversations. The characters are well rounded and rich
that I could see them on screen. Abena is a truly engaging writer
who could write about any subject and engage readers. I thoroughly
enjoyed reading this book, especially the intergenerational
interactions and how changes affect societies. I loved increasing
my knowledge of the language of Twi from just akwaba to more words
including medaase or phrases such as brebiara ye. Welcome, thank
you and everything will be ok is now in your vocab. "Yes, life is
looking up!" for Esi Asantewa. Get a copy to find out how the story
of Esi ends in this drama that can be read by the young and adults
alike. Medaase Abena for providing the Kindle Book." Nataka Book
Reviews 2021 Looking Up (natakabooks.co.uk)
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