mochagirl's review against another edition
3.0
Powder Necklace is a debut novel from Ekua Brew-Hammond with a Bildungsroman-ish vibe featuring Lila, a quiet and shy teen living with her divorced, immigrant mother in modern London. Although she is a good student, she is somewhat of an outsider, a bit withdrawn and largely friendless. Her life is turned upside down when her mother misinterprets an innocent encounter as a carnal act of disobedience. Her mother seemingly overreacts by shipping Lila unaccompanied to Ghana the next day.
Lila has a keen eye and it is in these first-person passages where the author excels in the depiction of her experiences with Ghanaian society and tradition. The imagery and voices allowed this American reader to experience culture shock along with Lila during the airport arrival, her aunt's lodgings and hospitality, the boarding school ordeal and all events in between. Within six months, the ever-observant Lila adapts to the ingrained "quid-pro-quo" lifestyle, survives the scarcity of water, endures the torment of enemies, and learns the value of friendship. As quickly as she was dispatched to Africa, her mother then suddenly recalls her to London and upon rebelling there in the worst ways, she is again abruptly whisked away to live with her distant "thrice-a-year phone-calling" father and his family in New York City. At this point, the direction of the novel veers unexpectedly toward evangelical themes when a travel-weary Lila struggles to make sense of her parents' actions, their relationships, the effects their decisions have on her life, and the age-old "why me" question.
At its core, the novel explores issues of identity, dislocation, and belonging as Lila is thrust into differing and difficult situations in the UK (London), Ghana and the USA (New York City). It is in these places and from deep within her heart that she must find her own voice and the inner strength to survive often without the shelter, guidance, and protection of her dysfunctional family. A side note: This novel should probably be marketed or labeled as Young Adult because there were too many unanswered questions, underdeveloped adult characters, and a neatly wrapped ending (which also felt a bit forced and abrupt); however, even from an adult viewpoint, it was still an enlightening and educational story - the boarding school experiences are truly unforgettable. Recommended for all with an interest in cross-cultural experiences featuring a female, coming-of-age, teen protagonist.
Lila has a keen eye and it is in these first-person passages where the author excels in the depiction of her experiences with Ghanaian society and tradition. The imagery and voices allowed this American reader to experience culture shock along with Lila during the airport arrival, her aunt's lodgings and hospitality, the boarding school ordeal and all events in between. Within six months, the ever-observant Lila adapts to the ingrained "quid-pro-quo" lifestyle, survives the scarcity of water, endures the torment of enemies, and learns the value of friendship. As quickly as she was dispatched to Africa, her mother then suddenly recalls her to London and upon rebelling there in the worst ways, she is again abruptly whisked away to live with her distant "thrice-a-year phone-calling" father and his family in New York City. At this point, the direction of the novel veers unexpectedly toward evangelical themes when a travel-weary Lila struggles to make sense of her parents' actions, their relationships, the effects their decisions have on her life, and the age-old "why me" question.
At its core, the novel explores issues of identity, dislocation, and belonging as Lila is thrust into differing and difficult situations in the UK (London), Ghana and the USA (New York City). It is in these places and from deep within her heart that she must find her own voice and the inner strength to survive often without the shelter, guidance, and protection of her dysfunctional family. A side note: This novel should probably be marketed or labeled as Young Adult because there were too many unanswered questions, underdeveloped adult characters, and a neatly wrapped ending (which also felt a bit forced and abrupt); however, even from an adult viewpoint, it was still an enlightening and educational story - the boarding school experiences are truly unforgettable. Recommended for all with an interest in cross-cultural experiences featuring a female, coming-of-age, teen protagonist.
tonianni's review
3.0
Starts off whine-y but I like the smart writing, especially the boarding school parts which brought back memories
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