A fabulously imaginative middle grade novel that is diverse and full of contemporary themes, but is also a love letter to books and the people who have read them.
Plot in a Nutshell
When ten-year-old Mayowa’s mother leaves for a major career opportunity, she spends the summer with her paternal grandfather at his crumbling country mansion. There, she discovers a family secret: she has the ability to enter books and release the emotions felt by their readers. As she begins to understand and train this power, Mayowa must also learn its limits. Not everyone who shares this gift uses it with care, and her growing sense of responsibility brings her into conflict with someone far less considered.
Thoughts
The world-building was excellent. I loved the creative idea of being able to jump into a book and release the emotions felt by its readers. It feels like a new and refreshing take on the power of stories and how they make us feel. Onuzo spends time and care building a credible sense of how this works. In showing Mayowa and her grandfather study and learn, the magic unfolds naturally. Mayowa is exposed to new ideas and training, and this adds a richness that feels more substantial than if she had become an ‘insta hero’.
Mayowa is also a compelling character who I was really rooting for. She is proud of her mixed heritage and her mixed name, given to her by her two grandfathers, which I really enjoyed. As the first in a series, this idea of her dual heritage providing her gifts from both sides of her family is beautifully foreshadowed.
She is not an idealised character. Whilst she is kind to her friends, thoughtful, and loving to her parents, she also pushes boundaries in a way that feels very real. She grapples with the power she has found and learns the hard way that she must respect both the gift she has and the boundaries her grandfather has laid down. She is not in any way too good to be true.
The adults are also present on their own terms, although we see them through Mayowa’s eyes. Her mother is a skilled musician who is also blind, and a guiding hand for her daughter. I particularly liked her gently correcting Mayowa against using labels to describe her new friend. The opportunity to tour the US, and her need for accompaniment, sets up why Mayowa spends her summer with her grandfather. Her dad is a maths teacher who is loving and thoughtful, even if he doesn’t share the skill of his father and daughter.
Her grandfather is also interesting and, for me, the anchor of the story. He is an impoverished aristocrat, a student and lifelong documenter of his skills, but also socially and politically active. He mentors Mayowa through her logosaltering training, as well as her growing awareness of the world.
That wider social context is where the novel becomes more pointed. Through her grandfather’s position in the House of Lords, Mayowa is exposed to issues of fear, racism, and xenophobia in contemporary Britain. These themes are handled with care and are age-appropriate, but also honest and highly contemporary. Whilst there is a speedy resolution that is upbeat, there are also some uncomfortable truths explored.
My only slight reservation is the footnotes, which are peppered throughout the text. Many are fun, offering humorous and playful comments on the main narrative, whilst others are informative and engaging. However, there are more than a couple which tip towards a more knowing or slightly sardonic tone that sits less comfortably with the rest of the narrative and pulls the reader away.
A thoughtful and well-crafted opening to what will be a larger story, with a strong central character and a highly imaginative fantasy centre. I’m interested to see how Mayowa’s abilities, and her sense of responsibility, develop from here.