Children of the Quicksands
A richly imagined magical adventure set in West Africa by a prize-winning new voice in children's writing, Children of the Quicksands introduces readers to Yoruba myths and legends while showcasing the wealth of culture, traditions, adventure, joy, pride, and love found in Nigeria.
In a remote Nigerian village, thirteen-year-old Simi is desperate to uncover a family secret. Ajao is nothing like Lagos -- no cells phones, no running water or electricity. Not a single human-made sound can be heard at night, just the noise of birds and animals rustling in the dark forest outside. Her witchlike grandmother dispenses advice and herbal medicine to the village, but she's tight lipped about their family history. Something must have happened, but what?
Determined to find out, Simi disobeys her grandmother and goes exploring only to find herself sinking in the red quicksand of a forbidden lake and into the strange parallel world that lies beneath. It must have been a dream… right?
Wrong. Something isn’t right. Children are disappearing and it’s up to Simi to discover the truth.
Book At A Glance
# of Pages: 304
Book Binding: Hardcover
Year of Publication: 2022
Publisher: Chicken House
Language: en
ISBN: 9781338781922
Creator Bio
Efua Traoré is a Nigerian writer and playwright. Born and raised in Lagos, she developed a passion for storytelling at a young age. She later pursued her love for literature by studying English and Literature at the University of Lagos. Her work often explores themes of identity, culture, and societal issues. In addition to writing, Traoré is also an educator and has taught English and Creative Writing in various schools and workshops. Her debut novel, Children of the Quicksands, has received critical acclaim for its powerful depiction of the impact of societal expectations on young girls. Traoré continues to use her writing to shed light on important social issues and inspire change.
