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Locations
Call Number: Fiction, Adult Book / Fiction / General / Bulawayo, NoViolet
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Pittsfield Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fiction	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fiction	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	Fiction	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Pittsfield Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Fiction / General / Bulawayo, NoViolet	4-week checkout	On Shelf

Follows ten-year-old Zimbabwe native, Darling, as she escapes the closed schools and paramilitary police control of her homeland in search of opportunity and freedom with an aunt in America.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Modern African Childhood submitted by sdunav on June 16, 2013, 9:21am This book has one of the most original narrators I've encountered in a long time. Her description of growing up in a shantytown in Zimbabwe is amazing - though sometimes disturbing. Based on the author blurb, I'm guessing it is somewhat autobiographical.

As a young teen, the author (and the main character in the story) moved to join family in Michigan, and her insights into the African ex-pat community were pretty interesting, too.

I had a hard time putting this down. This may be the best novel I've read this year.

Blunt and Interesting submitted by Maria Maguire on August 9, 2018, 11:51am Based on the description of this book, I expected most of the novel to take place in the United States. However, most of the novel follows Darling as she lives in Zimbabwe. I didn't mind though, as this was where the story was most interesting to me. The narrator is very blunt and matter of fact about what happens where she lives, even things the reader finds disturbing.

The story was a little hard for me to stay drawn into at times, because there is no solid plot or main conflict. However, the story never truly got boring or repetitive.

What really made the book memorable for me were three short chapters spaced throughout Darling's story: How They Appeared, How They Left, and How They Lived. These three sections aren't narrated by Darling, but are a more general description of people who've fled their homes. The chapters are beautifully written, and alone are enough to make the book worth reading.

Brilliant submitted by booksandhibernation on December 18, 2021, 3:32pm Singular, original, memorable.