Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta is a coming-of-age novel set in Nigeria during the late 1960s civil war. The story follows Ijeoma, a young girl who faces the challenges of war, loss, love, and self-discovery in a society where being LGBTQ is heavily stigmatized. The novel delicately explores the struggles of Ijeoma as she navigates her desires and cultural expectations amidst a backdrop of political turmoil and societal intolerance. The writing style is described as simple, straightforward, and emotionally moving, offering a glimpse into the harsh realities of living in Nigeria during a tumultuous period.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include themes of war, violence, parental rejection, homophobia, and the psychological impact of societal expectations on personal identity.
Has Romance?
Under the Udala Trees prominently features a romantic relationship between the two main characters, Ijeoma and Amina, exploring their love amid societal constraints.
From The Publisher:
"If you've ever wondered if love can conquer all, read [this] stunning coming-of-age debut." - Marie Claire
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
Named a Best Book of the Year by
NPR * BuzzFeed * Bustle * Shelf Awareness * Publishers Lunch
"[This] love story has hypnotic power."-The New Yorker
Ijeoma comes of age as her nation does. Born before independence, she is eleven when civil war breaks out in the young republic of Nigeria. Sent away to safety, she meets another displaced child and they, star-crossed, fall in love. They are from different ethnic communities. They are also both girls. But when their love is discovered, Ijeoma learns that she will have to hide this part of herself-and there is a cost to living inside a lie.
Inspired by Nigeria's folktales and its war, Chinelo Okparanta shows us, in "graceful and precise" prose (New York Times Book Review), how the struggles and divisions of a nation are inscribed on the souls of its citizens. "Powerful and heartbreaking, Under the Udala Trees is a deeply moving commentary on identity, prejudice, and forbidden love" (BuzzFeed).
"An important and timely read, imbued with both political ferocity and mythic beauty." - Bustle
"A real talent. [Under the Udala Trees is] the kind of book that should have come with a cold compress kit. It's sad and sensual and full of heat." - John Freeman, Electric Literature
"Demands not just to be read, but felt." - Edwidge Danticat
Ratings (6)
Incredible (3) | |
Loved It (1) | |
Liked It (2) |
Reader Stats (18):
Read It (6) | |
Want To Read (9) | |
Not Interested (3) |
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About the Author:
CHINELO OKPARANTA was born and raised in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Her debut short story collection, Happiness, Like Water, was nominated for the Nigerian Writers Award, long-listed for the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, and was a finalist for the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award, as well as the Etisalat Prize for Literature. Her first novel, Under the Udala Trees, was nominated for numerous awards, including the Kirkus Prize and Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, and was a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice. She has published work in The New Yorker, Granta, Tin House, the Kenyon Review, AGNI, and other venues, and was named one of Granta's Best of Young American Novelists. She received her MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and she is currently Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing at Swarthmore College.
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