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jazzmarie22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
What a heartbreaking story that, despite in my heart of hearts knowing something like this would befall Kofi and his loved ones, from an unassuming, slice-of-life first half it still shocked me!
This was full of laughter, friendships and childhood rivalries between cousins, a glimpse of life in upper Kwanta and suddenly a series of tragic events pertaining to accidental death, a sick sense of justice and slavery. My heart kept skipping over the anguish I felt.
This story was beautifully and perfectly captured within the art of prose and the layout of the words on the page helped to emphasise certain scenes through the power of the words used to describe them and how they were fashioned.
A sorrowful tale, but not withot hope. One that is important to read.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
lawbooks600's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Score: Nine out of ten.
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander circled my recommendations for months until the library finally purchased it and I soon picked it up. I glanced at the blurb, making it seem heavy, yet intriguing, and the ratings were high. I don't see poetry novels every day, and it was another hit when I closed the final page.
It starts with Kofi Offin living in the Asante Kingdom in 1860. Well that was a breath of fresh air. I wanted to read a piece of historical fiction that isn't white history or entirely set in a Western country for once. The opening pages look typical until I read 150 pages, and that's when the central storyline darkens the tone from there. It was heavy enough when Kofi's teacher forced him to speak English and not his first language, Twi, but now his future looks uncertain after he accidentally killed his opponent from the other part of the kingdom.
But wait! It gets worse. Kofi's life worsens when he is captured and is now a slave. It's a simplistic plot that's easy to follow, but it's a fascinating look into what slavery was like through Kofi's POV. The pacing is slow, almost lasting 400 pages, but it didn't feel tedious or repetitive as there was always something happening. The Door of No Return isn't a coming of age story like a quote on the front cover told me, it's more like a piece of historical fiction in verse. Alexander executed the writing style well, meeting my expectations, since he wrote compositions I enjoyed before this one. The final pages were heartbreaking as Kofi's fate is up in the air. Other than that one miss I still regard him as an excellent writer. The Door of No Return is the first instalment of a planned trilogy, which explains the abrupt conclusion, so I'm excited to see what happens next.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Slavery, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Full trigger warnings: Death and murder of a brother and another person by suicide in a body of water, near-death experiences, shipwreck, blood, grief and loss depiction, caning, physical assault and injury, slavery, colonisationimsoverycool's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, and Deportation
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
styxx's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
atamano's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Rape, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War
cindi_ess's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
queer_bookwyrm's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"Dreams are today's answers for tomorrow's questions."
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander is a historical fiction written in verse about a young Twi boy (modern day Nigeria). This was a beautiful and quick read. It kind of reminded me of Things Fall Apart.
We follow Kofi, an 11 year old boy of Upper Kwante, who asks many questions, has a crush on a girl, and has a rivalry with his cousin of the same name. Kofi has a good life with his family until he and others in his family are kidnapped by people from Lower Kwante in retaliation for something Kofi's older brother did.
I loved Kwame Alexander's writing in this. It was so accessible and beautiful and poetic. We learn a lot about how history and wisdom is wrapped up in oral storytelling. We also see the affects of the slave trade with England and America. The emergence of guns, and the brutality the people of the Gold Coast faced. Although it was a sad story, it ends on a note of hope.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Slavery, and Violence
paigereitz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, and Colonisation
justgraceanne's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Torture, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault