Daughter in Exile: A Novel

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Description

The acclaimed author ofThe Teller of Secretsreturns with a gut-wrenching, yet heartwarming, story about a young Ghanaian womans struggle to make a life in the US, and the challenges she must overcome.

Lola is twenty-one, and her life in Senegal couldnt be better. An aspiring writer and university graduate, she has a great job, a nice apartment, a vibrant social life, and a future filled with possibility. But fate disrupts her world when she falls for Armand, an American Marine stationed at the U.S. Embassy. Her mother, a high court judge in Ghana, disapproves of her choice, but nothing will stop Lola from boarding a plane for Armand and America.

That fateful flight is only the beginning of an extraordinary journey; she has traded her carefree existence in Senegal for the perilous position of an undocumented immigrant in 1990s America.

Lola encounters adversity that would crush a less-determined woman. Her fate hangs on whether or not shell grow in courage to forge a different life from one shed imagined, whether shell succeed in putting herself and family together again. Daughter in Exile is a hope-filled story about mother love, resilience, and unyielding strength.

Reviews

"Adjapon's dramatic and engaging character-driven story captures the trauma of living as an undocumented immigrant. Lolas fortitude sends a clear message that human kindness and compassion can make all the difference." Booklist (starred review) "Fast-paced. Riveting. Heartbreaking. Far from the madding crowds of immigrant novels, AdjaponsDaughter in Exilehighlights the cultural differences that divide us and, ultimately, the shared humanity that brings us together." Alka Joshi, author of The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur "Adjapons crackling dialogue and barbed humor feel close to the bone. Themes of classism, racism, and fierce feminism will appeal to book groups and readers of Mbolo MbuesBehold the Dreamersor Chimamanda Ngozi AdichesAmericanah." Library Journal "Lolas experience of sisterhood and solidarity among women reshapes her understanding of her relationship with her own mother." The New Yorker "Through Lolas heartbreaking plight, Adjapon illustrates the impossibilities of the immigrant experience in America. A thought-provoking read." Oyinkan Braithwaite, author of My Sister, the Serial Killer Sensuous and intelligent, insightful, and riveting, Daughter in Exile is a deft exploration of motherhood and love, told through the eyes of a young woman determined to create her world on her terms. Bisi Adjapon uses language like a finely tuned instrument, alternating moments of warmth with devastating revelations about identity, family, and those lies we tell ourselves in order to keep moving forward. This is a must-read." Maaza Mengiste, author of The Shadow King, finalist for the Booker Prize "In Daughter in Exile,Adjapon shows the indomitability of the human spirit while using words sparingly. A fantastic meldingof art meeting message, Daughter in Exile is that must-read novel that we didn't know we needed until we got it." Zukiswa Wanner, author of London, Cape Town, Joburg and Goethe Medal Recipient Daughter in Exiletugs at the heartstrings. Bisi Adjapons adorable Lola goes through some downright harrowing experiences, but the writing is so smooth, one cant stop reading and rooting for her." Ayesha Harruna Attah, author of Zainab Takes New York Bisi Adjapon's second novel confirms the promise she showed in her first novel. This is a beautifully written book about family, home and what it means to be human in this world. Helon Habila, Commonwealth Writers' Prize winner and author of Travelers "What a rollercoaster! Daughter in Exileis an unflinching tale of what immigration to the West can be. It is also the humanity that is America, the contradiction that is the church and the resilience of an African woman: Bisi Adjapon does not hold back. It was hard to put down." Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Windham Campbell Prize recipient and author of The First Woman "Adjapons fast-moving, character-driven narrative illuminates the challenges faced by immigrants." Publishers Weekly "Daughter in Exile is an admirable addition to an impressive body of works producedby immigrant women writers: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies Americanah, ImboloMbuesBehold the Dreamers, and Yaa Gyasis Homegoing. This novel is definitely worth reading." World Literature Today

Author Bio

Bisi Adjapon's writing has been featured in journals and newspapers such as McSweeney's Quarterly, Washington Times, Daily Graphic and Chicken Bones. She founded and ran The Young Shakespeare company for four years in America, and as an International Affairs Specialist for the US Foreign Agricultural Service, won the Civil Rights Award for Human Relations. Her short story, "Of Women and Frogs," was nominated for the Caine Prize.