Cover Image: An Ordinary Wonder

An Ordinary Wonder

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

arresting, emotive and extremely moving. I really enjoyed seeing how this interwove African mythology with its story. I found this often a hard book to get through, considering what the book tackles, but it was done with grace and care and love. A great debut.

Was this review helpful?

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Was this review helpful?

Beautifully written book with an amazing storyline, engaging characters and captivating plot.  An Ordinary Wonder deals with subjects like identity, family, and gender in a unique and poignant way.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Was this review helpful?

Being a teenager comes with its own problems and when you’re ‘different’ those problems are multiplied. In Buki Papillon’s coming-of-age novel ‘No Ordinary Wonder,’ set in Nigeria, Otolorin is an intersex teenager who identifies as a girl but is forced to project herself as a boy. Oto’s mother favours her twin sister and treats Oto with disdain. However, Oto soon gets an opportunity to go to a residential school, which gives her the space to be herself. But then, there are new problems she needs to face.

I’m sure you’re thinking at this point that this is not an easy read. It's not, yes, in many parts. Where Oto is forced to go through exorcism rituals. Where she is treated badly by her own family. Where she struggles to find her voice.

Yet, there is hope in the friendship she forms with Derin. In the guidance she gets from the head of school. In the good things that do happen to her.

I loved how Papillon makes it strongly rooted in African culture and traditions by interweaving folklore and proverbs. Papillon’s writing is engaging and kept me fairly engrossed.

Where I felt the book lost steam was in the structure. The narrative moves back and forth in time and eventually merges, which I felt was unnecessary given the gap explored was not much. I also felt that at times certain turns in the story were kind of cliched and predictable.

Where Papillon shines is when she vocalises the turmoil in Oto’s head. The shame, the guilt, the frustration. It’s very easy to make the story out to be about Oto and her identity but there’s so much more to Oto than just that. Papillon does a fine sketch of Oto’s character along with some compelling storytelling, with strong emphasis on resilience and hope.

I thank NetGalley and Little Brown publishing for my copy.

Was this review helpful?

Of the many coming-of-age novels I've read about individuals who grow up feeling intensely alienated and different from those around them, I've never encountered a story like “An Ordinary Wonder”. It follows Oto who is raised within a relatively-privileged family in Nigeria in the 1980s and 90s. Oto has a twin sister Wura who is considered “normal” but Oto is made to feel like a “monster” because although Oto feels herself to be a girl she has been raised as a boy. This is something Oto's conservative and superstitious family have been try to suppress, but as Oto becomes a teenager the disjunction between how she feels, her appearance and how she's forced to present herself can no longer be suppressed. The narrative moves backwards and forwards in time between Oto's childhood with her abusive mother and teenage years at a boarding school. Gradually Oto becomes empowered to perceive herself in a way that is very different from how the authority figures in her early life made her feel worthless and unwanted. There are some inspiring individuals who support and befriend Oto while others seek to abuse, diminish and take advantage of her because she is at such a vulnerable and confused point in her life. It's a heartrending tale and Buki Papillon artfully crafts a story which carries you through Oto's journey with many revelations and dramatic surprises along the way.

It's was interesting reading this new novel so soon after reading the early-20th century classic “The Well of Loneliness”. Although these stories are very different in many ways they both concern gender confusion and individuals who feel extremely isolated and beleaguered until they learn a language with which to define themselves. Where Stephen found a freedom in calling herself an “invert”, Oto finds it liberating when she discovers that she was born intersex and that there are other people like her. Aside from providing an opportunity to feel part of a group and take medical and legal steps to fully embrace her identity, having this language provides a frame within which Oto can positively view herself in a way which is radically different from how her parents and local community perceived her. What's even more inspiring is how Oto gradually discovers that her family contains many secrets and hidden facets which reveal that her mistreatment isn't isolated but part of larger social structures built upon rigid notions of gender identity and patriarchal power.

I must admit I felt wary at some points in the story when an examination of Oto's body occurs - not because I was repulsed by the physical characteristics being described but I was worried the story was becoming almost voyeuristic. Since our society so often feels uncomfortable not knowing whether an individual can be labelled female or male people can take a prurient interest in the genitals and bodies of people whose outward appearance doesn't conform to a certain gender. I don't want to participate in that kind of invasive gaze and would rather allow people to define themselves. Since Oto declares early on in the novel that she is a girl this is the only evidence I needed to see. But I think the author is careful in using descriptions of Oto examining her body as a way of demonstrating a part of her journey to understanding exactly who she is and how she can integrate into a society that she's been cast out of. This is something that needs to be handled sensitively and I think Papillon does an admirable job of relating details in a way which feels respectful to Oto herself.

“An Ordinary Wonder” is such an inspiring and valuable story. The apparent contradiction in this novel's title speaks to how every individual is special in their own way, but the unique aspects of our identities should simply be treated as normal variations within a richly diverse community of people.

Was this review helpful?

I devoured this book! An Ordinary Wonder is an exquisite, fantastic novel that draws you in from the first page. A coming of age story which follows our narrator and protagonist, Oto through childhood and teenage years. Oto is an intersex twin who identifies as a girl but has been forced to live as a boy, and has faced extreme physical and mental abuse from birth. The way that traditions, culture and folk tales have been so expertly and intrinsically intertwined, is genius. I was fully convinced by the difficult and intense relationships of the character as they were so well written and authentic. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. Please note TW: Sexual, physical and mental abuse.

Was this review helpful?

This was a really refreshing read, it felt like a really important fresh take on the struggles of an intersex child growing up in Nigeria. Oto is raised as a boy, despite feeling she is a girl, Lori, and her longing to liver her life as a girl. The tension builds up and honestly the author squeezed every emotion out of me! By the end I was willing with every ounce of my being for a happy ending.

Was this review helpful?

A beautiful exploration of gender, sexuality, religion and family. A book which I thought I would enjoy but didn't realise how much I would love.

When I first saw this book on NetGalley, I was instantly intrigued by the bright cover showing a silhouette of a boy in a long flowing white dress. On reading the synopsis and having recently read the amazing Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi, I knew this was a book I wanted to request. So it was with much excitement I started to read the book when the request was accepted.

We join Oto, a young Nigerian whose gender identity does not match the one he has been raised and socialised as. Oto knows deep down that he is a girl, whilst the people around him tell him he is a boy. Set in the early 1990's and over four years of his teenage life, we follow him as he struggles to fight for the life he truly wants. Through family issues, the influence of opposing religions, falling for his roommate at his new boarding school, Oto finds that there are many who don't understand him, but that there also are some who do.

This is a book with so much to say. The issues in the book are varied and tackled in a manner that shows the reality and darkness behind them. It certainly doesn't hold back any punches; there are many scenes that saddened and shocked me and sometimes I had to put the book down to process what I had just read. The way Papillion portrayed these events I felt was realistically done, though some may find them triggering and hard to stomach. It also may border or go into torture porn territory for some. I personally felt that I wasn't being forced to feel something and that my emotions were genuine reactions to what I was seeing.

Thankfully the book is also not all doom and gloom. There are some wonderful scenes of enlightenment, joy and triumph. There were scenes that had me grinning from ear to ear, cheering for Oto and playfully cursing the book for some of the twists.

I loved several of the characters in the book. They felt so real to me and although all were flawed, those of the kind of characters I can relate and root for. Oto's perspective really showed his pain but also his strength. There were some strong and wonderful relationships developed throughout the book and I felt Papillion did a great job of showing how important a good support network is.

I did have a couple of issues with the book but thankfully they weren't throughout the book. There were some odd pacing issues in a couple of scenes. These included rushed paragraphs, quick time jumps and additions which didn't seem to add much to the story. Whereas the rest of the book felt well-paced and is something I felt was done well. I also wasn't a fan of one particular character who though important, just kept showing up and causing drama when I felt wasn't necessary. It was clear this character was a thorn in Oto's side but sometimes his appearance just made me roll my eyes and distracted me from what was going on. I feel like he could have been in the book less and his impact would have still been the same.

Overall, however, this is a book I would highly recommend. From Papillon's wonderful writing, descriptions and character work, the wonderful and accessible depiction of parts of Nigerian culture to the story and themes, this book has so much to dissect. I can go on about this book and will probably write a more in-depth discussion post sometime in the future once I have re-read it. I have, since receiving the eArc copy, bought a physical hardback copy and having no regrets.

Please note that this book explores several topics which readers may find disturbing or triggering. This includes but is not limited to child abuse of various forms, strong religious ideologies, sexual assault of a minor, drug use and suicide.

Was this review helpful?

🌿BOOK REVIEW🌿

An Ordinary Wonder

“See, if you act like your uniqueness is a great thing and you couldn’t care less about their opinion, they eventually give up. And that feels so good that you do it again and again until you truly believe it.”

This coming of age story revolves around Oto who is raised in Nigeria and branded a “monster” by those around him because of his ‘abnormal’ body. Oto is intersex and although he wishes he could live like a girl, like his beloved twin sister, cultural stigma and fears dictate that he must live an unhappy life as a boy.

His life becomes increasingly challenging with his family not accepting him, and being ashamed of him that he makes the decision in his early teens to leave for boarding school to escape the shame from his family. At school he tries as hard as possible to fit in and to not draw any unnecessary attention to himself. However, he becomes subject of relentless bullying from another boy in his year as he suspects something isn’t quite ‘normal’ about Oto. He does find comfort in Derin and one of his teachers who encourages Oto to be confident in his skin. While at school he learns what it means to be intersex and how in fact he is not a “monster” at all…

This was such a harrowing tale about acceptance and the impact of shame on a human being. Oto grew up being blamed for the failed marriage between his parents and he is periodically sent to cleansing to rid him of the devil. It teaches us to be accepting of those around us and to let others live in a way that brings happiness.

I adored the weaving of African folklore and proverbs throughout this novel!

CW// child abuse, body shaming, bullying, homophobia, sexual assault, suicide attempt

🌼🌼🌼🌼/5

Was this review helpful?

*An Ordinary Wonder by Buki Papillon*
🧜‍♀️
Attention all Booklovers! I think I may have found my first favourite book of 2021. Ah huh. I’ve called it!
🧜‍♀️
An Ordinary Wonder by @bukipapillon is a stunning debut story about the life of a Nigerian Twin boy called Oto, who is forced to hide his intersex identity. Woven with African Mythology and folk tales, this book, THIS BOOK, found it’s place in my heart from the very first page.
🧜‍♀️
“Creativity is the branch upon which human intellect blooms”
🧜‍♀️
Having been rejected by his wealthy, powerful Father from birth and suffering daily cruelty by his own Mother, as a result of him being ‘different’, Oto manages to convince his parents that boarding school is the perfect place for him to excel (and be free from them). At school, he indeed excels and also falls in love with his roommate and best friend, Derin, however, Oto comes to realise, for true freedom, he must seek out a new life in the United States.
🧜‍♀️
“..To love is to forgive. Again and again and again.”
🧜‍♀️
The bond between Oto and his Twin sister, Wura is one that will stay with me forever.
🧜‍♀️
“He fits in my heart like a key in a lock”
🧜‍♀️
The love between Oto’s best-friend and roommate, Derin, will have you weeping at the end. Some true ugly crying went down when I finished this book.
🧜‍♀️
“…I know he’ll always be my father. Because we chose each other. Family happens in different ways”.
🧜‍♀️
Oto’s relationship between the man who pretty much saved his life and was the Father figure - Mr D - was truly heartwarming.
🧜‍♀️
And ofcourse Yeyemi, who Oto meets in his dreams and is woven into the Nigerian mythology @bukipapillon so wonderfully weaves into this book - “I am the strength and fire in you, I am everything that is and was and ever will be. You are the stuff my stars are made of. I am you and you are me.”
🧜‍♀️
Huge thanks to @dialoguebooks for once again gifting me with yet another diamond.
🧜‍♀️
Out next week, I urge you all to pre-order ‘An Ordinary Wonder’. And thank me later.
🧜‍♀️
Oh and GUESS WHAT???!! ...@bukipapillon has said a resounding YES to sit down and chat with me next month and talk about her incredible!!!! Look out for news on this later this week - eeeeek!!!

Was this review helpful?

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.

Buki Papillon does an incredible job as she slowly works the tension to breaking point, until the reader is begging her to give poor Lori the freedom she deserves to explore and discover who she is and who she wants to become. She expertly throws the reader a few scraps of happiness, that, just like poor Lori, we leap upon and guzzle before it is snatched away by one of the antagonists.

The heartbreak you feel for the main character is beautifully balanced by the uplifting feeling of empowerment as Lori takes her destiny into her own hands. After the tears, you're cheering with the characters all the way to the end. It's not an easy book to read, but it certainly is a fulfilling one.

Was this review helpful?

There is nothing like a book that simply strikes me as being completely unlike any other that I’ve read before. Something about this wonderful, heart-rending story told me that it was the unique read I’ve been looking for and I’m so glad I discovered it.

In early 1990s Nigeria, Oto is finally about to escape his abusive childhood home and go to boarding school but he’s leaving behind his beloved twin sister Wura. He knows that he must hide who he really is from everyone at school and when he finds herself falling for his roommate, he realises that things will be even harder than he imagined. At home, family matters become difficult to manage, terrible secrets emerge and even Oto and Wura’s seemingly unbreakable bond is at stake. Can Oto finally find the strength and courage to become who he was always meant to be -a beautiful, ambitious girl named Lori?

I need to warn you straightaway that this novel contains A LOT of physical, mental and some sexual abuse. There is a lot of misery and darkness, particularly for a big chunk of the beginning of the book, so please be aware of this before giving it a read.

Oto suffers a lot of severe mistreatment at the hands of her family members and it was incredibly distressing to read. I shed a few tears over the gruelling punishments and horrific mistreatment that she suffers at the hands of those who are supposed to protect her. Dreams of Oto and Wura running far away into the sunset together certainly crossed my mind but I knew it would never be an easy road.

The bond between Oto and Wura is so beautiful. Although Wura doesn’t know everything about her sibling, they really seem to be two halves of a whole. I read the significance of the matching watches as a metaphor for their relationship -they are each other’s world. The reoccurance of the watches at the end of the book brings the story full circle, much like the journey that their relationship takes.

When Oto first arrives at ISS (International Secondary School), she goes through many of the typical new-kid emotions albeit heightened ones because of her secret. She vows to blend in and abandon her true self, which broke my heart but which is obviously the safest thing to do.

However, Lori is forever present in the way that she notices cute boys, her admiration of Wura’s outfits and her budding obsession with romance novels. Because of this, I could never really read Oto as a wholly male or female character. Although we know that Oto is intersex, has been raised as male but feels female from the very beginning of the book, Papillon does such an excellent job of writing her as someone whose gender is ambiguous.

Oto’s roommate Derin is, without a doubt, one of my favourite characters that I’ve come across in a coming-of-age novel. He is so wonderfully wise and non-judgemental for a teenage boy and I knew he’d be a great source of light for Oto. If only everyone had a Derin while we were growing up, some of us would be much kinder, better-adjusted adults.

I loved the way the book tackled very real examples of the struggles that intersex people undoubtedly go through. Their basic biology is, of course, ignored by science textbooks and teaching, so they grow up not having a clue which version of puberty they are likely to go through. Will they grow facial hair or get a period? Maybe it will be both? These are questions that Oto constantly asks but the reality is, there aren’t any definite answers to them.

There is a section of this book that really choked me up and caused my heart to break. Oto finds herself in hospital after a very serious incident but at this point, she has such a low opinion of herself that she is convinced that she isn’t worth the doctor’s time. These feelings of extremely low self-worth ring so true for anyone who is a victim of long-term abuse. If you can relate to that directly, I really would advise you to be aware that An Ordinary Wonder contains some very distressing events and emotions conjured up by that. Just a little warning before you rush to pick it up!

In times of great need, an ethereal entity known as Yeyemi comes to Oto. ‘Yeye-mi’ translates from Yoruba as ‘my mother’ and she certainly plays the role of an ideal, nurturing mother figure to Oto that she has never had in her reality. Yeyemi is a source of comfort, guidance and wisdom, which is exactly what folktales are for so many cultures. I knew that under Yeyemi’s unwavering, powerful protection that Oto would flourish. Having this element of Nigerian folklore in the novel gave it an authentic unique dimension and these immersive scenes were so beautifully written.

Thankfully, towards the end of the book, Oto starts to get some validation and acceptance. Her relationship with art teacher Mr Dickson is wonderfully uplifting and it’s this in part that finally gives her the strength to live life exactly as she wants to. Despite the harrowing beginnings of the book, the light at the end of the tunnel is shone bright throughout the final 20%.

An Ordinary Wonder is a very unique, powerful novel with themes of gender, identity, incredible resilience and Nigerian family culture. One of the most inspiring things about Oto is her immovable determination to become Lori, despite having been repeatedly told her whole life that she is a boy. It’s a story of battling against all odds to be true to who you know you really are and allowing that person to live life and shine bright.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the chance to read this ARC!

I don't think I can describe this book properly in a review, except say that it was worth reading slowly. I feel like the writer could have written this a bit better as there were sections that I had to skim. Personally I wasn't a big fan of the thing between that guy, Wura and the cousin; that was a weird way to wrap things up.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this story of intersex Nigerian teenager Otolorin, who is being raised as a boy despite feeling strongly that she is a girl. Her family have taught her to be ashamed of her unusual body and her mother in particular treats her appallingly, favouring her female twin sister over her and abusing Oto verbally, emotionally and physically.

There were some tough passages of the book, but it wasn't all unrelenting horror. Oto found love and support in unexpected places and I really enjoyed getting to know her as a sympathetic and well-rounded character.

A recommended read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this e-arc thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: attempted rape, sexual abuse, toxic relationship, body shaming, hallucinations, anxiety, mentions of self-harm, suicide attempt, physical abuse, drowning, bullying, homophobia, assault, torture, mental abuse, death, blackmail

** SPOILERS BELOW **

I wasn’t sure whether i’d enjoy this book but the blurb had intrigued me so I thought i’d give it a go.

I absolutely loved it. It’s a dark, challenging and emotional book but it’s just wonderful.

It’s just truly horrific what Lori went through - the abuse, body shaming, attempted rape, attempted drowning, suicide attempt and generally toxic relationship with most of her family. I just wanted everything to be okay for her! I really rooted for her happiness! And i’m so glad that she got it. All she wanted was to be herself, her true self, not the version that she was told to be. I just loved the ending. It was just perfect.

Was this review helpful?

DRC provided by Dialogue Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation: Yoruba intersex protagonist, Ghanaian secondary character, Nigerian secondary and tertiary characters.

Content Warning: violence, child endangerment, sexual, physical and emotional abuse, bullying, attempted rape, toxic masculinity, homophobia, attempted suicide, assault, blackmail, death, rape mentions, torture.

An Ordinary Wonder by Buki Papillon is a powerful debut about an intersex girl and her fight to be who she is, set in Nigeria in the nineties.

Otolorin is told, since her birth, she is a boy, but she knows in heart that is wrong, An Ordinary Wonder follows Lori’s story during her teenage years in Nigeria, her life at a boarding school and the beginning of a new chapter in New York.

I undoubtedly liked Buki’s way with words and the book’s structure, which reminded me of a journal. I felt as if I was reading Lori’s diary’s entries of when she was in her teens.

This novel, though, definitely is a heavy and dark read despite the joyous ending. Lori’s fight to live her life as she wants, and as she should have lived since her birth. is painful and so strenuous she almost gives up. There is this cloud of melancholy, which rains over and overshadows the narration with only feeble rays of lights and hope shining through here and there, that forced me to stop reading for nearly a week. And I think, perhaps, that is what is making me so hesitating about the rating. Its darkness was too much for me. I could not stand how her parents mistreated and abused her and how they did not intervene when others did it, how she found herself so alone because of the secret she had to hide, how the continuous hardships in her life almost broke her.

My favourite part of the book is certainly the one after she starts living with her art teacher. It is the part when she starts to retake control of her life: she mends the bond with her best friend torn by her fear of what he would think of her once he knew her truth; her hard and unceasing work in her studies is repaid when she gets the chance to study in the United States; she manages to break down the thick emotional wall that separated her from her beloved twin sister Wura. Their relationship is also one of the best parts of the whole book. It is often said that there is a link between twins that is unparalleled by any other pair of siblings and indeed, Wura’s and Lori’s bond can attest to that.

To conclude, I cannot say I completely loved An Ordinary Wonder, but I can say it is an incredibly impressive novel and putting it on your radar would never be a mistake.

Was this review helpful?

I will be honest and say I am not one hundred percent sure what I make of this book.

It’s the story of twins in Nigeria, one of them intersex. It’s about Oto who is forced to live as a boy and an outcast within his own family despite feeling like she is Lori and a girl like the other twin.

Lots of cruelty and horrendous pain is inflicted on Lori until she can become who she is.

The reason why I am conflicted is because I don’t know enough about intersex to know if the representation is ok. I feel that I cannot be and should not be judging that.

I liked the links to Nigerian myths and folklore with regards to intersex.

I think that this is more a Young Adult novel and not as it is marketed an Adult novel. I personally don’t care about these distinctions but I always think that this type of marketing does the author absolutely no favour because people will pick it up having completely wrong expectations and then being disappointed.

So overall a weird post right? Reading this book has shown me one thing: I know very little about Nigeria and next to nothing about intersex in order to say anything more about the book. And you know I think that’s ok. I don’t have to have opinions about everything. I am looking forward to seeing the thoughts of others who are more clued up. I just don’t know.

Was this review helpful?

What an extraordinary book! "An Ordinary Wonder" by Buki Papillon is anything but average. It deals with issues of identity, which one would struggle with in the UK growing up but transfer this to Nigeria, and add in that one twin is born hermaphrodite then it all gets a little bit complicated.

There are characters you will love and those you will hate. At it's heart, it is an old-fashioned love story, and so pleased of the happy ending!

Was this review helpful?

The coming of age story of Oto, intersex raised as a boy in Nigeria, soon labeled as a "monster". Going back and forth between 1989 and 1991 in part 1, when Oto is respectively 12 and 14 (which in my opinion is not a gap that big to justify two different timelines), we see shame, ignorance, curiosity but also some of the familiar, weird social constructs typical of 14-year-old boys.

The story of Oto that from an early age felt like a girl, not a boy. But Oto has no choice in the matter and has to find her own ways to survive in a family that despises her without knowing exactly who she is, where her only ally is her twin sister Wura. At least most of the times.

In part 2 the two storylines merge together (as they could've been from the beginning) and we see how her life goes on and how she survives and overcomes any difficulties that comes her way. Towards the end though the structure of the novel became way too predictable and way too "classic" for my taste. There was one specific passage during which I though "I'm
reading that X happened, so SURELY now Y will happen", and it did. And from there, it just got more and more predictable. As we approach the ending, it gets very much into a proper, fairly cheesy YA novel (which is absolutely fine if you're reading a YA novel, but that's not what I thought I was doing) so it put me off a bit. I'm also unsure how a by-then 16 year old could achieve so many things and impose over a variety of adults so easily.

That said, I do love the way Buki Papillon writes and how she managed to bring me straight into a completely different world. I love her use of the book of proverbs throughout the book. I just felt this book got off to a great start, and then kind of got itself into a sort of Spy Kids plot.

Was this review helpful?

Engaging and well-written; Papillon's "An Ordinary Wonder" is an empowering coming-of-age novel that draws from african folklore to comment on the themes of identity.

Was this review helpful?