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A review by jencunn2024
An Ordinary Wonder by Buki Papillon
4.0
I stumbled onto this for one of my last February audiobook picks on Hoopla. And what a delight! I loved the narration by British actress Adjoa Andoh of Bridgerton and Witcher fame.
This is a debut novel about an intersex Nigerian girl named Oto/Lori who is raised as a boy and has a twin sister named Wura. This is an LGBTQ coming-of-age story about not fitting into your own family and community. Most of the story is set at age 12 or age 16 with flashbacks, memories, and stories of other parts of life. This is a debut novel by Nigerian-British author Buki Papillon. The story is full an complete; it is wrapped up well in a bow of hope, love and aspiration. As most coming-of-age stories do, there is plenty of adversity and some darkness faced by the protagonist throughout her experiences. I read some other reviews after finishing it that described this as triggering and having some heavy abuse. I will say there are a few moments that may definitely be uncomfortable for some, but overall I think this is a novel that demonstrates both stereotypical and atypical obstacles that have to be lived through and overcome, including suicidal ideation and an attempt. It also seems that this book was well written and well researched, particularly with included facts, science, and religious/social responses, particularly related to intersex, transgender, and gender identity. I enjoyed and appreciated this book even more then The Girl With A Louding Voice.
This is a debut novel about an intersex Nigerian girl named Oto/Lori who is raised as a boy and has a twin sister named Wura. This is an LGBTQ coming-of-age story about not fitting into your own family and community. Most of the story is set at age 12 or age 16 with flashbacks, memories, and stories of other parts of life. This is a debut novel by Nigerian-British author Buki Papillon. The story is full an complete; it is wrapped up well in a bow of hope, love and aspiration. As most coming-of-age stories do, there is plenty of adversity and some darkness faced by the protagonist throughout her experiences. I read some other reviews after finishing it that described this as triggering and having some heavy abuse. I will say there are a few moments that may definitely be uncomfortable for some, but overall I think this is a novel that demonstrates both stereotypical and atypical obstacles that have to be lived through and overcome, including suicidal ideation and an attempt. It also seems that this book was well written and well researched, particularly with included facts, science, and religious/social responses, particularly related to intersex, transgender, and gender identity. I enjoyed and appreciated this book even more then The Girl With A Louding Voice.