"A sensitive and delightful story of tension and reconciliation
in a Ghanaian family in London." Professor A N Mensah, Retired
Professor of English, University of Ghana "Esi is a
teenager living in Ghana. She has been living with her grandmother,
auntie and cousin ever since her mother, Maggie, moved to London
six years ago. It was long known that one day Esi would join her
mother in London but when the plans are finally made, Esi becomes
nervous and depressed. The story follows Esi as she moves to a new
city, in a new country, with a mother she hardly knows. Looking
Up is a breezy read that gives great insight into teenage
life, immigrant viewpoints, and multicultural perspectives. Through
her migration and adjustment story, we learn more about her family
roots and cultural traditions in Ghana. Esi's grandmothers and
school friends are critical characters. Some are the source of her
challenges while others guide her through tough times. The story
covers the topics of bullying, parenting styles, divorce, the role
of extended family, and ethnocentrism/racism. For example, Esi is
put in lower-level classes because of assumptions made of her
previous schooling in "Africa." She is mistreated by friends
because of the way she talks and who she hangs out with. My
favorite part of the story is when Esi befriends a kid with
Bangladeshi roots and she makes connections between her Ghanaian
culture and his. I also enjoyed the many female characters who are
not portrayed as heroines or villains, but complex, nuanced women.
This book would foster great discussion among teenagers ...Highly
Recommended."Reviewed by Anastasia Shown, MSW, University of
Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and PracticePublished in
Africa Access Review (October 1, 2019)
"From the moment Esi reluctantly boards the plane at Kotoka bound
for Heathrow, the excitement build ups to when she arrives in her
new home. Does Esi settle into her new school? Will Kojo's attitude
and frozen heart thaw? What of the family secrets? Enter the
paternal grandmother Asantewa. What follows are unexpected twists
in this family drama as Esi uncovered more truths or more
precisely, draws them out from her straight-talking grandmother,
Asantewa. Esi is her namesake after all. Abena Eyeson's writing
draws in the reader with carefully placed reveals, challenges the
reader's assumptions, whilst all the time offering warm, flowing
and witty conversations. The characters are well rounded and rich
that I could see them on screen. Abena is a truly engaging writer
who could write about any subject and engage readers. I thoroughly
enjoyed reading this book, especially the intergenerational
interactions and how changes affect societies. I loved increasing
my knowledge of the language of Twi from just
akwaba to more words including
medaase or phrases such as
brebiara ye. Welcome, thank you and
everything will be ok is now in your vocab. "Yes, life is looking
up!" for Esi Asantewa. Get a copy to find out how the story of Esi
ends in this drama that can be read by the young and adults alike.
Medaase Abena for providing the Kindle Book." Nataka Book Reviews
2021 Looking Up (natakabooks.co.uk)
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