My Life As A Chameleon

by Diana Anyakwo

Freedom comes with the courage to be seen

15-year-old Lily has been sent from her home in Lagos, Nigeria, to a new school and a new family in Manchester, England. She thought it would be a chance to reinvent herself, become the shiny-happy-confident girl that everyone wants to be around. But it hasn’t turned out like that.

Here, without friends or someone to confide in, she struggles to fit in – and being ‘different’ feels newly dangerous, vulnerable and provocative.

Lily looks back at her childhood and confronts the family trauma that turned her young life upside down, triggering the series of events that brought her here. Can she rely on the strength she built for herself back then, in order to save herself now?

My Life as a Chameleon is a powerful story of resilience and belonging, about family secrets and how they can destroy even the deepest bonds. It is a story about finding your place in the world and realising you deserve to be there.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Coming Of Age, School Stories, Africa, Nigeria

288 pages, Hardcover

Published August 27, 2024

Reviews

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely book depicting a teenage girl reflecting on her experiences living in her native Nigeria, as well as part-time living in Manchester, England. The book paddle boards back and forth between the eighties and 1990 when her father has been dead 5 years. The book is delivered at a young adult level of writing, which as a senior citizen I found very comfortable to read. Lily navigates the family trauma of her father being a schizophrenic, whilst not knowing exactly what is causing his erratic and frightening behavior- until her mother feels she is old enough to understand. When "The Incident" occurs, Mom feels it is best to send Lily off to live in England with her older brother for a while.

Lily experiences a multitude of challenges dealing with bullying, fair weather friends in school, puberty, anxiety over her unstable father- and much more. Her character was richly authentic which made it such a pleasure to share in her thoughts. Lily's mother was Irish and her father Nigerian, so it was interesting to read about her mixed heritage and the different cultures of living in Nigeria and England. This is a nice book for a young adult to read, as well as a comfy/nostalgic read for us adults.

Thank you to the publisher lgKids who provided an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Headlines:
Overlooked and unseen
Finding a place
Coming of age

My Life As A Chameleon was a refreshing read, engaging and insightful. Written in elegant and accessible prose, this story brought you into the world of Lily, a 15 year old narrator who had lived between Nigeria and Manchester. Lily was removed from her peers by skin colour but also from her siblings by age difference. She grew up amongst difficult parental relationships and illness.

While I think of this as a contemporary YA story, it was told between the 1980s and 1990s. However you want to align this genre-wise, it was a coming-of-age story, a finding of roots. This story took a back and forth viewpoint, life in Nigeria in earlier years, then reflecting back on a current era in Manchester, UK.

Lily seemed lonely and isolated in so many ways, it made me think of Trevor Noah's memoir and his similar experience of being unlike others. Lily's narrative was compelling as she navigated her family relationships and peer friendships with difficulty.

This was something of a melancholy tale, it didn't glamorise life nor Lily's struggles and I appreciated the rawness of her experiences.

Thank you to Atom Books for the review copy.

Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

And this is why we love a debut 🙌 This is a beautiful and moving coming of age story from an exciting new voice in fiction, which I couldn’t put down and read in a single afternoon.

Lily’s story is set between her life in Lagos and Manchester, as she tries to find where she belongs and learn to accept herself as she is. I loved the chameleon metaphor, as Lily initially lacks such confidence and is scared of certain things around her so tries to blend into the background in the hopes of avoiding attention. This novel deals with some tough topics like mental health illness, bullying, abuse and racism, but it also shows love, friendship and optimism, and being a YA novel, it reads in a really accessible and compelling way. My heart went out to Lily and it was so lovely to watch her relax a little more in her own skin - I think this story will mean so much to so many readers, and I can’t wait to see what’s next from Diana!

[Jen Burrows · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Life As A Chameleon is an engaging coming of age story following Nigerian-Irish girl Lily as she finds her own identity amidst a mix of cultural influences.

In some ways the book itself is a bit of a chameleon, constantly shifting between identities. Is it autobiographical, or straight-up fiction? The tone feels comfortably middle-grade, but some of the content is definitely geared towards a more mature YA audience. Coupled with some very varied pacing, the overall effect is a little directionless.

There's lots to like, with its engaging characters and effortless prose, but I felt that it needed just a little more consistency of structure to reach its full potential.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Dylan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional and heartfelt. Very clearly inspired by elements of the authors life, which meant an incredible realism throughout. The complex issues such as racism and her dad's mental state are very palatable, while still being horrific, through the eyes of a child. I learned a lot about Nigerian culture, and appreciated the simple but effective descriptions of characters and locations that made them easy to imagine.

Y11, y12, y13

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I initially rated this only four stars but as I’m reflecting on the story and Lily’s experiences, I’m realizing what a wonderful book Ms. Anyakwo has written. I keep thinking about Lily’s struggles and how well told, structured, and reflective My Life as a Chameleon is.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This coming of age story follows Lily, a young girl growing up in Lagos, who is born to a Nigerian father and an Irish mother. Lily's father is a doctor, and her mum has a good job at a foreign company, but despite their affluence, her life is far from happy.

As the youngest, by far, of four children, Lily is often very lonely. Even before they leave home for foreign boarding schools and university classes, there is a cameraderie between her two older sisters and her brother that somehow excludes her - and Lily knows that it is not only because of her age that she is left out from their charmed siblings' circle.

This sense of alienation also mirrors the distance between Lily and her father, who is extremely volatile and prone to dark moods. As a result, the little girl loves and fears her father in almost equal measure. Her mother is more approachable, but seems to have little time free in which to give her youngest child the affection that she so desperately craves.

As the only one of the four children still living at home, Lily eventually becomes the lone witness to the apparent deterioration of her parents' relationship, a gradual decay that culminates in a traumatic incident. So soon after that, when the opportunity comes to join her brother in Manchester, Lily seizes it.

Manchester is nothing like what she expected, and Lily's challenges are far from over. But the move does give her a chance to experience how other families navigate their relationships, and provides her with more insight into her own familial dynamics.

The book addresses a range of issues that are woven into Lily's story, including matters of race, class and social acceptance from peers. I was particularly interested to read about the phenomenon of Nigerwives, white women married to Nigerian men, who were not accorded the privileged status of the expatriates working in Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s.

I really enjoyed reading My Life as a Chameleon. My only issue was that the transitions marked out in terms of time and locale seemed a bit unnecessary. But the storytelling has an unmistakable ring of authenticity and flows well, even if the story itself is often bittersweet in the telling.

[Erin Reads The World · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teens and lovers of YA are absolutely spoilt for choice these days. There are so many great books that tackle important issues with honesty and heart, and Diana Anyakwo's debut novel 'My Life as a Chameleon' is one such book.

Lily is 16 and living in Manchester. It's been 5 years since her father died and she is about to return to Nigeria to reunite with her mother and older siblings. It's here that she looks back on her experiences growing up.

The book has dual timelines, one set in Manchester in 1990, and another set mostly in Lagos in the 1980s. As Lily looks back on her childhood she gains a greater understanding of the secrets, relationships and experiences she couldn't quite grasp as a young child.

Lily is the baby of the family, by several years. When Lily is 8 her other siblings are at university and boarding school. At home in Lagos it's just Lily, her Irish mother, and her Nigerian father.

Her father struggles with an illness Lily doesn't understand. Some days his illness means he can't leave his bed, other days Lily needs to tiptoe around him so she doesn't set him off.

As a mixed-race girl Lily doesn't quite seem to fit in at school either. At both home and school there's a sense of tension bubbling just under the surface. So Lily learns to adapt and blend in. To feel like she belongs and to feel safe, she learns to live like a chameleon.

So many teens can relate to that feeling of not fitting in. I think a lot of people try on lots of different identities until they begin to gain a better understanding of themselves and their place in the world.

Much of the story is based on Anyakwo's experiences and memories of growing up mixed race in Nigeria, and this brings so much tenderness and understanding to her novel.

This is a powerful, introspective book. It's engaging and will pull on your heart strings. It's a book for anyone who's felt lonely, misunderstood or out of place.

Thanks to Diana Anyakwo and Little Brown Book Group for the gifted ebook.

[Tara Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 review: My Life as a Chameleon out May 2023

Just finished this wonderful UKYA debut by Diana Anyakwo

Set between Manchester and Lagos it tells the story of Lily- a young girl whose father is Nigerian and mother is Irish-her search for acceptance and identity both within her family and amongst her peer groups across two contrasting continents.

Written in the form of two timelines (Manchester 1990 and Lagos/Manchester during the 80s) Lily describes her experiences trying to fit in to both places while also coping with the effects of a mysterious illness her father is struggling with.

I liked the way the story gave the perspective of Lily ‘now’ reflecting back on her past, and the Lily ‘then’ in the midst of her confusing childhood.

I really felt for her as a character as she tries to navigate the different social hierarchies in both Lagos and Manchester and desperately does her best to fit in to both communities with little success-particularly in the early part of the story. My heart broke as she experienced the cruelty and fickleness of her peers at school - her difficult search for true friendship and where she fits in.

The complicated relationship she has with her parents and the fact that people around her are coping with their own difficulties means they barely seem to notice the difficulties she is dealing which made me sad.

However, as the story moves on, there is a sense of Lily growing more independent, developing her self-esteem and inner strength. As the truth of her father’s illness is revealed, she begins to have some understanding of the decisions and behaviour of her mother. She comes to feel more secure in who she is and with that in turn comes a more hopeful outlook for the future.

I think this will be enjoyed by many YA readers and look forward to seeing more from this author 🧡📚

[Jasper Dymoke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique piece of fiction, and part auto-biographical (picked up in Jo’burg airport). It charts the story of a mixed race girl (Nigerian father and Irish mother), seemingly although not explicitly following her from the ages of around 6 - 18 (1980s - 1990s). She spends time in both Lagos and Manchester. It is eye opening in that it details very personal struggles of the difficulties of not fitting in: on the face of it this seems to be primarily because of the colour of her skin, neither black nor white, but I think the author deliberately makes it clear that this was not the only reason as she refers to other mixed race kids who are popular and also reveals other tensions in her life, in particular her father being mentally unwell and the impact of that on her mother (and consequently her relationship with her mother).

I’m sure it speaks strongly to anyone of mixed race heritage but also anyone who’s felt in any way an outsider before, which I’m sure is most.

The other interesting element for me was the contradiction in that she was from a wealthy family in Nigeria but lived with a very poor family in Manchester: on benefits living in Moss Side. I wasn’t sure if this was deliberate, it wasn’t clear. I’m skeptical because she appears to have been from the elite in Lagos (going to the best international schools) and in Africa more than most, it’s very easy to live in a bubble. But that doesn’t detract at all from her own experiences, which were clearly troubling and long lasting.

8/10

[rina dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to read My Life As A Chameleon, so I was thrilled when Diana reached out and asked if I would like a copy.
What an engaging, beautiful debut this is! Books like My Life As A Chameleon are why I champion YA fiction so much! Because what a gem!
This is Lily's story of navigating life between Lagos and Manchester. Born to an Irish Mother and A Nigerian Father It's about growing up, finding yourself, and where you belong, of self-acceptance, and learning to love the skin you're in.
There's so much to unpack in this story from mental illness to racism but it never feels preachy. Diana almost strips her writing back so the emotion shines through. It's not pretentious or overly complicated it's about the characters, and I loved that. Lily invokes empathy in fact, I felt empathy for the whole family because it really delves into how illness affects the whole unit. It's heartbreaking at times, but there's no doubt in my mind that Lily will flourish. Using the Chameleon metaphor is clever and affective because she really does make every effort to adapt to her circumstances.
Overall I really enjoyed this coming of age novel and would highly recommend it!

[Audrey Shipp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This YA novel does an excellent job portraying a young girl of mixed Nigerian and Irish heritage grappling with issues that confound even adults in contemporary society. She is faced with the circumstances surrounding her dad's poor health, fitting in as the youngest child in a large family, living between two distinct cultures, Nigerian politics, police brutality, and racism.

As someone who has taught reluctant readers in secondary school, I realize the power of Anyakwo's novel to draw readers in and get them to discuss and write about meaningful topics we see in the world today. Adult readers will enjoy her book as well.

It's a great read for the reasons stated above and also if you want to witness a character attempting to stay out of the limelight who ends up, in the end, center stage.

[Kilgore Trout · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was pretty balls.
It goes way too fast to actually convey a message, and this speed also impacts the coherency of the story. It covered 5 years in 250 pages.
Weird amount of unnecessary descriptions of women undressing, I was starting to think the big revelation at the end was that Lily was gay.
I have no idea what message that book wanted to convey. The issues of being black in Manchester? How mental illness can damage families? Instability in Nigeria? The problems of being an immigrant woman in Nigeria? Fitting in in new places?

If you're looking for a book similar to this, just read March Forward Girl.

I need to rate this out of 100 though,
63/100

Pros:
insight into cultures most people aren't familiar with

[Lesedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was really good, it covered many important topics like mental illness, bullying, friendships, feeling good in your own skin etc. However was very fast paced, it covered 7 years in less than 300 pages and the constant switch between places and times (sometimes it switches to Lily at 16 and others back to her before) could be very confusing.

I loved the part when she was in the American school and when she was in England, although it was heart-breaking, and when Martha and her friends "burned the poor girl, I was horrified and speechless! I literally just sat with my mouth open, I was so shocked""
Anyway, overall I really liked this book.

[Heather Browning · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet book that explores what it's like to grow up across different cultures, in the shadow of mental illness, trying to learn how to fit in. The narrator comes across as far too self-aware, consistently correctly identifying her own feelings and motivations which though illuminating, seems out of place for a child or teen. Still, there's a lot that's interesting in learning about what it's like to grow up in 1980s/90s Nigeria, as well as the always relatable childhood experiences of shifting friendships and self-discovery.

[Lola Akinmade Åkerström · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tender, melancholic, and effortless, Diana Anyakwo writes deceptively simple yet steady prose which immediately draws readers into Lily's rose-colored world. We navigate alongside her through the shattering of those innocent lenses as she discovers with each experience the complexities of life in this beautiful coming-of-age story. A gorgeous tale that leaves you wanting to hug the protagonist and assure her of a lifetime of tender moments.

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixteen year old Lily looks back on her growing up years as the much younger child in a complex family - two older sisters and an older brother have happy memories of life in Lagos with their Igbo father and Irish mother, but Lily’s childhood is torn apart by her father’s schizophrenia and her mother’s focus on her father’s illness. The ensuing chaos results in many moves, new schools, and a deep insecurity that colors all Lily’s interactions. EARC from Edelweiss.

[Georgia Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this YA coming of age book. The life style of Nigeria and how Lily adapted to moving to Manchester was interesting, I really felt for her with everything she went through. I got slightly confused by the time & location changes throughout the book,but other than that it was an enjoyable weekend read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowee- I haven’t for a little while had a book that I was so desperate to keep reading. After winning this book on a Twitter competition, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I loved following a young girl’s story growing up in Lagos and moving to Manchester to cope with her dad’s illness.

I loved it and highly recommend!

[Luisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An evocative and beautifully told tale of Lily's experiences of growing up across two unique cultures, more when her education at international schools are added. Parental mental health issues from a young girl's perspective are told with honesty and innocence. I highly recommend this book.

[Zahrah Sheikh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book, to be an extremely moving debut of the tumultuous times of growing up. I resonated with many passages, in this book and would recommend it to women of all ages everywhere, a 5 star read!

[Julie Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading My Life as a Chameleon . It is very well written and immersive. Most people would relate to Lily’s character at some stage in their life . I would highly recommend it.

[Sarah C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book exploring lots of topical issues and enjoyable to read. Would recommend!

[Precious Dikko · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant story about finding yourself when you feel you don't belong anywhere. I will definitely be reading more by Diana.

[thewizardbek · Rating 5 out of 5]

very raw book, tugs at your heartstrings. the complex dynamics between lily and her family, those around her, and the new world she finds herself in... we are all rooting for you, lily!

[readsbyclaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know when you start a book and desperately want to dislike it yeah that’s how I felt but this book is so intricately and beautifully written. Didn’t think I’d love it so much.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t say I enjoyed this book. It’s the lonely, bleak existence of an insecure girl who is excluded and bullied everywhere she goes.

[Amina (aminasbookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading this book, it was on track to be a potential five star. The writing is very impressive, hitting that sweet spot between literary and commercial, and the main character is loveable. As the youngest child in a big, mixed family that had more wealth and status before my birth, I identify with Lily and feel the themes of mental health, migration and family relationships are keenly observed.

However, the lack of climax and abrupt ending meant it just fell shy of my top rating. This novel has so much promise but it doesn’t seem to fit the genre conventions of YA, which left me wanting a bit more drama/plot/conclusion. The scope is very wide and key areas like colourism and political instability could have been a bigger force in the novel.

Despite this, I believe it’s an impressive debut that I’d certainly recommend and I’m interested to see what the author writes next.

Read my full review on aminasbookshelf.com / IG @aminasbookshelf

[Eleanor Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful coming of age story about Lily's struggle to navigate two very different worlds. Beautiful description of her early life in Lagos and the challenges she faces as an Irish/Nigerian student in1980's England. I will be recommending this book to my students.

[Corky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Lily's narration of her life and I wanted to see what would happen next.
Overall this fell short for me. Very 'diary' style that became a bit grating by the end.