Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away
Paperback published in the UK by
Quercus
January 2012

Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away
First published in the UK by
Quercus
March 2011

Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away
Published in the USA by
Other Press
May 2011

Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away
Published in Nigeria by
Casava Republic
Spring 2011

Books

– Nominated for the 2012 Costa First Novel award –

Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away

Everything changed after Mama found Father lying on top of another woman. Mama, my fourteen-year-old brother Ezikiel, and I were forced to leave our Lagos apartment, which had air-conditioning so effective we had to wear woollen jumpers, and move to Warri to my grandfather Alhaji's compound, which had no electricity at all.

Alhaji ruled the compound and made us into Muslims... but really, Grandma ruled the world. Alhaji took a second wife, Celestine, a Professional Town Mourner who loved to wear Lycra. Grandma, a Birth Attendant, had much to say about that. But by then I was her apprentice, and I knew there were worse things than Lycra.

Then Ezikiel changed suddenly after he was shot picking snails. Surviving a bullet made him think he was invincible. He joined the Freedom Fighters of the Izon Nation, threw his asthma inhaler into the river, and said that his bracelet would protect him. I did not see how. It was only made of string.

But things really fell apart when Mama met Dan, a white oil worker. Dan was our new Father. He was so white he was see-through. Dan was kidnapped from the compound on their wedding day, with tragic consequences for all of us...

Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away is the story of twelve-year-old Blessing, as told to her own daughter, of how some families can survive anything – almost.

► Click here to read an extract from Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away.