14 Cows for America

by Carmen Agra Deedy, Thomas Gonzalez and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. 2009. Peachtree: Atlanta.

Summary
A young man named Kimeli returns from the United States to his African home. among the Maasai, shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As a show of support, Kimeli wishes to send his only cow as a gift to the devastated Americans. But the elders decide that this is not enough, and they send for an American diplomat to receive their gift...

My Review
A beautiful, complex tale is told here in simple language, with lush illustrations. Parental guidance is advised with younger readers.

Book Information
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy, Thomas Gonzalez and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. 2009. Peachtree: Atlanta.

Notes
This book caught my eye in my public library. The illustrations inside are a feast for the eyes, while the story (based on Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah's experiences) shows real generosity.

Aya: The Secrets Come Out

Book Information

Aya: The Secrets Come Out. By Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie. Translated by Helge Dascher. Drawn & Quarterly, 2009.

My Summary/Review

Aya: The Secrets Come Out is full of complicated romances and social change. It's the third book in the award-winning Aya series. Aya, the main character in this colourful graphic book series, is a studious African teenager growing up on the dynamic Ivory Coast of the 1970s.


In this book, Aya patiently prepares her friends Bintou, Adjoua, and Felicite for the local beauty pageant, and provides ongoing support for them throughout all the difficulties they face. The tensions in this book come to a head quickly, when Aya's father's mistress brings her children for a visit and abandons them. Added to this, Bintou's father decides to marry one of Aya's friends, and Bintou plans to leave.


Readers will find that Abouet's writing and Oubrerie's illustrations tell Aya's story in a way that is sensitive, realistic, and at times, even humorous. Additionally, the recipes, tips and glossary at the back of the book give readers a light-hearted wider view of African culture.