Reviews

"For the vigour of its characters and the pace of its prose, with a smartly controlled balance of uplift and upheaval, Christie Watson's affecting but unsentimental debut earns its place in the sun."
  — The Independent

"Set in the Niger Delta during a time of unrest and boy soldiers, Watson tells a heart-wrenching story... Beautifully written, this powerful coming of age story shows us an Africa and their people that we would otherwise not know."
  — The New London Day

"Teens will especially appreciate the struggles and joys of the sibling relationship, and the lyrical, yet clear, writing style."
  — School Library Journal

"Equal parts plot and character – I never seemed to reach a good place to stop, so I read it in two days, staying up past my bedtime for 'just one more page'."
  — BookBrowse

"[A] cleanly told coming-of-age story [that] generates real narrative momentum."
  — Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The gripping story of a young girl trying to make sense of the world around her – a world dominated by violence and political tensions, superstition and local wisdom, and full of contradictions... Lyrical and powerfully written."
  — The Missourian

"Resoundingly universal in its depiction of a family struggling to rise above hard and dangerous times... a compelling and often wrenching portrait of resilience. [A generous and] triumphant book."
  — Miami Herald

"Unshakable but dangerous traditions and the relentless carelessness of the modern world... Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away is the witty and beautifully written story of one family's attempt to survive a new life they could never have imagined."
  — GoodReads

"Perfect pitch is not reserved for musicians; some novelists have it, too. From the very first page of her very first book, Christie Watson proves she possesses it... Narrated by a 12-year-old whose family life in Lagos is disrupted by passions, politics, and poverty, [it is] both heart-wrenching and consoling... as only the most telling fiction can be."
  — Barnes & Noble 'longlist'

"Life changes irrevocably [amid] the complexities of family, politics and race. [A] colourful, bittersweet [and] affecting novel."
  — Sunday Times

"[An] absorbing first novel... measured, flowing prose [and] an appealing pre-teen protagonist."
  — Kirkus Reviews

"Born storyteller that she is, Christie Watson steps directly into her narrative, and, taking her reader by the hand, casts a spell that lies unbroken until the last page."
  — BookGroup

"A sure-footed debut."
  — People Magazine

"Only a strong writer can create a lyrical novel that has the gripping quality of nonfiction, yet Watson captures this in her debut... Confronting issues of race, class, and religion, this work ponders idealistic ignorance in a way that is reminiscent of Chinua Achebe."
  — Library journal

"Superbly-researched and beguiling."
  — The Book People

"A breakthrough novel... Watson tells her story of culture clash without heavy messages, but the issues are sure to spark intense discussion."
  — Booklist

"Watson's nuanced portrayal of daily life in Nigeria is peopled with flawed but tenacious characters who fight not only for survival but for dignity. Blessing is a wonderful narrator whose vivid impressions enliven Watson's sensual prose."
  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Religious tensions, the multiple hazards of female circumcision and the ecological toll of the oil industry are just some of the topics woven into a tale that nevertheless jangles with bittersweet laughter."
  — Daily Mail

"Funny, tragic and moving in all the right places. A must-read."
  — PRIDE (Book of the Month)

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  — Star magazine

A recommended read from The Book People

A featured debut in reading group bible NewBooks Magazine

"An excellent novel. It takes the reader deep into the reality of ordinary life in Nigeria and is also funny, moving and politically alert."
  — Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland

"Christie Watson's debut novel, set in the troubled Niger Delta, does what fiction does best, it captures place and characters so well that you feel you are also there. It is sincere, it is powerfully written, and it deserves to be read."
  — Helon Habila, author of Oil on Water, winner of the Commonwealth Prize

"Watson has written an immensely absorbing novel. It is both heart wrenching and consoling."
  — Chika Unigwe, author of On Black Sisters' Street

"A fascinating, poignant story that had me laughing in places and deeply moved in others."
  — Ike Anya

"Lyrical and beautifully drawn, a poignant coming-of-age tale, set in an Africa few readers will have experienced. A must-read."
  — Lesley Lokko, author of Sundowners, Saffron Skies, Bitter Chocolate and One Secret Summer

"The gripping, triumphant tale of a girl who chooses life over loss, in a sweet but savage world where oil is bled from the earth."
  — Lola Shoneyin, author of The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives

"So good I had to lie down after reading it."
  — Trezza Azzopardi author of The Song House