An Ordinary Wonder: Heartbreaking and charming coming-of-age fiction about love, loss and taking chances - Softcover

Papillon, Buki

Softcover

ISBN 10: 034970127X ISBN 13: 9780349701271

Publisher: Dialogue Books, 2022

Synopsis

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'OMG!!! This has to be my best book of the year!... Made me laugh and it made me cry!... So heartbreaking but inspiring at the same time. Loved it!' Goodreads Reviewer

A powerful novel about an intersex Nigerian teenager and the courage to be yourself.

Raised as a boy in a grand but unhappy family in Nigeria, Otolorin Akinro escapes to boarding school knowing two things: she is truly a girl, and to stay safe, she must hide that truth.

Away from the cruelty of her childhood home, Oto blooms even as she strives to be the best boy she can, finding true friendship and working hard to earn a scholarship to an American university, hoping someone out there might help her understand the secrets her body holds.

But she cannot stay away forever. Back home for the holidays, though Oto and her beloved twin sister are overjoyed to see each other, their mother's violence erupts once more and when a terrible incident rips their lives apart, Oto is left alone.

As her world goes up in flames, can Otolorin rebuild a life from the ashes of her true self?

An Ordinary Wonder is an utterly gripping, heartbreaking and uplifting coming-of-age story about family, identity, gender and culture and discovering your whole, true self. If you loved The Vanishing Half, The Girl with the Louding Voice or The Death of Vivek Oji, you'll adore this moving book.

What readers are saying about An Ordinary Wonder:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'WOW!!!! I absolutely LOVED this book... A powerful, engrossing, sad, but also joyous book. I could not stop listening and reading once I started it.' Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This story was so sad!!!... Just broke my heart.' Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'One of the best, most beautiful and most incredible books I've ever read in my entire life.' Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I thought I was going to make it all the way through to end of this book without crying. Turns out, I was very wrong... After the tears, you're cheering with the characters all the way to the end.' Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Wow! This book is so totally awesome!... An amazing story.' Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Moved me to tears but also filled me with hope. An emotional, heartbreaking read, with a plot that kept me gripped and stunning writing. I'm still thinking about this book months after reading it.' Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Brilliant... The tension builds up and honestly the author squeezed every emotion out of me!' Reader review

About this title

About the Author

Buki Papillon was born in Nigeria, the oldest of six. After studying law at Hull University in the UK, she completed an MFA in Creative Writing at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. An Ordinary Wonder, her debut novel, has received glowing reviews and mentions in the The New York Times, Ms. Magazine, Essence and Cosmopolitan UK, and is brilliantly narrated in audiobook by Bridgerton actor, Adjoa Andoh.

Buki has received several fellowships and awards for her writing and is an alumnus of Key West Literary, Vermont Studio Center and Vona Voices residencies and workshops. Her work was published in Post Road Magazine and The Del Sol Review. She has in the past been a travel adviser, events host and chef. Buki currently lives in Boston, where she is resigned to finding inspiration in the long winters.

From the Back Cover

'Rich, moving and uplifting' Stylist

Sometimes courage can be found in the most unexpected places...

Otolorin Akinro leaves his grand, rural Nigerian home for boarding school with a plan: be the best boy he can, earn a scholarship to an American university and until he gets there, hide the side of himself that has caused him so much hurt.

Life at his new school is a revelation. Away from the cruelty he experienced throughout his childhood, Oto blooms, joining the art studio and designing sets for the school play. For the first time in his life, he makes friends easily, soon becoming inseparable from his handsome and talented roommate.

But he cannot stay away forever. Back home for the holidays, Oto and his twin sister are overjoyed to see each other, but their mother's violence and abuse erupt once again. Although she loves him deeply, a terrible incident drags the twins apart and Oto is left alone.

As his world goes up in flames, can Otolorin rebuild his life with the part of himself that has been hidden for so long?

An Ordinary Wonder is a captivating, emotional and uplifting coming-of-age story about family, identity, gender and culture and discovering your whole, true self.

'A spellbinding tale that prompts deep reflection around concepts of gender and identity... Has a vivid beauty that kept me enthralled throughout' Angela Chadwick

'Brilliant and ultimately uplifting... A story of hope and optimism towards possible futures. Utterly stunning' Isabel Waidner

'Blew me away with its tender portrait of innocence, vulnerability and strength. Deftly, wisely, Papillon weaves together strands of history and identity which are too often separated' Okechukwu Nzelu

'Profoundly moving... All the more so for featuring an unforgettable protagonist in Otolorin, who will captivate readers with her hope, humour and joy of life' Elodie Harper

Edition details

• Publisher: Dialogue Books
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 034970127X
• ISBN 13: 9780349701271
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320