10 Unforgettable Books From My Childhood

Eze Goes to School by Michael Crowder and Onuora Nzekwu

Eze is determined to go to school but with the death of his father and the misuse of his father’s wealth by relatives to being the man of the house, Eze has to face a lot of challenges to achieve his dream. It has a sequel called Eze Goes to College which funny enough I never read. Eze Goes to School is one of the earliest books I can remember reading. It shows the mentality most Nigerians have that a good education equals a good life or more opportunities in life. But in present times that is not the case as many graduates are unemployed and the Nigerian education system is in decay.

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Written by the “father of Modern African Writing”, Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart follows the life of Okonkwo, a famous Igbo wrestler who lives a good life until he is kept in charge of a boy called Ikemefuna and makes a wrong choice which sets off a series of events leading to Okonkwo’s fall from grace.

One of the first books I read that portrayed pre-colonial Igbo society, the effects colonisation had on culture in Nigeria, and in which the protagonist was flawed and not perfect like most novels I used to read then. I loved the book and it was full of so many proverbs. It is part of the African trilogy which includes No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God. You can get it on Amazon HERE  or at any major bookstore around you.

Without A Silver Spoon by Eddie Iroh

This book tells the story of  Ure, a boy from a poor family who in order to continue his schooling becomes the houseboy of a teacher. He meets new people, makes new friends and learns several lessons along the way especially when he is accused of a crime he did not commit. The major moral lesson in the book is that honesty is the best policy. It is a really interesting and funny book.

Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe

Chike lives with his uncle in the city but longs to cross the Niger River on the ferry and go to Asaba city. The book is about his adventures trying to get the money needed to board the ferry and what happens when he finally gets it and crosses the river. To be honest, when I first read this book in primary school, I really liked it because I was planning to run away from home to see new places (thank God I didn’t!) so I could relate to Chike. Needless to say, I forgot all about my runaway plan 😂.

An African Nights Entertainment by Cyprian Ekwensi

Story of a man who wants a male child at all costs, the lengths he goes to get one, and the consequences it has on himself and the child he so desperately wanted. This story in this book is a perfect example of karma, where the evil you do comes with its consequences no matter how long it takes for you to see it or how long you run from it.

The Year in San Fernando by Michael Anthony

Tells the story of Francis, a boy who leaves his village and his poor widowed mother and family to go to the city of San Fernando and be the houseboy to old Mrs Chandler and her son.

What I loved about the book was its simplicity and the way the places in the book were described. Even though I have never been to San Fernando in Trinidad and Tobago, it felt like I was there, looking through his eyes, seeing the local delicacies, and smelling the burning sugarcane fields. So much happened in his year at San Fernando. This is one book I reread so many times as a teenager. You can get it on Amazon HERE.

Homecoming for Kezzie by Theresa Breslin

Kezzie comes home with her younger sister Lucy to stay with her grandpa, her only other living relative in Scotland. But war arrives right on her heels bringing death, fear and hatred. Kezzie has to deal with it all and along the way makes new friends, saves lives and shares in the grief of the many people she meets along the way.

This is the first novel I read that was about World War Two. I practically read it more times than I could count because I love historical fiction and the main character is so strong, she doesn’t wait for someone to save her, she rolls up her sleeves and makes her way out into the world. There was just something special about this book. It takes you through a rollercoaster of emotions and at the end leaves you with this warm feeling. You can get it on Amazon HERE.

The Incorruptible Judge by D. Olu Olagoke

In this book, we meet Ajala a graduate who is looking for a job but is asked to pay a bribe to the officer in charge in order to get the job. He complies but not before alerting the police and the officer is caught in the act and taken to court until finally justice is served by a judge who refuses to be bribed.

When I first read this book, I was in primary school so I didn’t think much of it. It’s a play so the format was fun for me and in my class we’d act it out. Years later I understood Ajala’s struggle a lot more as there are many unemployed graduates in Nigeria looking for jobs who are used by corrupt officials as a money-making source. Corruption has eaten so deep into the country that giving and receiving a bribe is almost seen as a normal affair. Regardless of all that I still love my country Nigeria. We are a strong, diverse people with a lot to offer the world and I believe better days are coming for Nigeria.

The Bottled Leopard by Chukwuemeka Ike

Tells the story of a schoolboy who is chosen to bear a mystical power, the power to control Leopards. Amobi, a first-year secondary school student is troubled by dreams of a leopard. Worried by the mysterious illness, his parents consult a Dibia who shows them the mystical link between Amobi and the leopard who plagues his dreams. This leads to a lot of trials and tribulations for Amobi both at home and at school when the secret gets out. We never really get to see Amobi wield his powers though as the Dibia claims to have bottled his power hence the name of the book.

The Bottled Leopard by Chukwuemeka Ike

Another great book by Chukwuemeka Ike, this novel follows Obuechina, an eight-year-old boy who is clever but lazy and spoilt and the only brother of six older sisters. His father decides to send him to be the servant of  Teacher Zaccheus and his fearsome wife Madam Deborah at his school in the hopes of improving his character. Obu goes, suffers various hardships and comes back home quite different.

This book touches on several subjects like the patriarchal society which places importance on having a male child and the pressure this places on parents, how this leads to other issues in society (eg. misogyny), how society treats those branded as Ogbanje, and other local beliefs and traditions.