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The Year of Return
In December 2019, as Ghana's vibrant streets buzz with the climax of the "Year of Return," an initiative marking 400 years since the first enslaved Africans were forcibly taken to Virginia, Adwapa, a Ghanaian journalist living in the U.S., decides to journey back to her homeland. Accompanied by friends, she seeks to reconnect with his roots during this historic commemoration, unaware that the trip will lead them into the heart of a mystery that transcends time and reality.
As the celebrations reach their zenith, the Atlantic Ocean, witness to untold horrors of the past, begins to stir with an ancient and restless energy. From its depths emerge the spirits of the enslaved, those who perished in the harrowing Middle Passage, returning not in peace but in turmoil. Their emergence sends shockwaves around the globe, transforming the "Year of Return" into a haunting spectacle of reawakened histories and unresolved grievances.
As the line between the living and the dead blurs, Adwapa finds herself caught in a whirlwind of supernatural events and historical reckonings. With each passing day, the ghosts grow more powerful, their centuries-old sorrows manifesting in a series of chilling, vengeful acts that threaten to unravel the very fabric of the present
As the celebrations reach their zenith, the Atlantic Ocean, witness to untold horrors of the past, begins to stir with an ancient and restless energy. From its depths emerge the spirits of the enslaved, those who perished in the harrowing Middle Passage, returning not in peace but in turmoil. Their emergence sends shockwaves around the globe, transforming the "Year of Return" into a haunting spectacle of reawakened histories and unresolved grievances.
As the line between the living and the dead blurs, Adwapa finds herself caught in a whirlwind of supernatural events and historical reckonings. With each passing day, the ghosts grow more powerful, their centuries-old sorrows manifesting in a series of chilling, vengeful acts that threaten to unravel the very fabric of the present
1 pages, Audio CD
Published May 21, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 16, 2024
What a clever little story this is! I want to get a million copies and put this in the hands of everyone, but especially white folks (like myself) so they can begin to understand that generational, racist trauma stems deep. Ivana Akotowaa Ofori does a brilliant job of bringing together many of the key events during the height of the COVID pandemic and putting them in a science fiction short story that anyone could relate to.
From the lockdowns (where we saw the privileged of society whine the most), to disproportionately increased Asian discrimination, to Black Lives Matter protests; Ofori brings these elements together and uses them to show the generational trauma from African slavery. It’s so smart to take feelings we (as a world) have recently felt and change them subtly enough such that the reader can start (at least) to understand (or hopefully appreciate) some of the trauma involved in continuing (forever and ever) to atone for slavery. The weaving of this story brings elements together so well that it’s impossible (in my opinion as a white girl, for whatever that is worth) to deny the huge weight slavery still has today, especially on a population subject to diaspora around the world.
Ofori gives us a relatable main character with a degree in African Studies, from an Ivy League university (something her Ghana mother thinks is ridiculous) who is now a journalist. This gives our leading gal the ability to report on the many theories of the odd appearance of ‘ghosts’ and use the Internet to compile sightings, research, and provide her own theory and commentary on what is happening in the story. There is a cleverness to the core story that I also admire. I don’t want to say much about it as it could take away the creepiness and impact of each revelation that comes about.
This is the second short story by Ofori I have read and I am keeping my eye on her! She has an amazing way of sucking the reader into the story and feeling instant empathy for the characters and situation. If anyone can make people start to understand, even a fraction, of the trauma POC have experienced between generations of trauma, and the awful racism of today, I believe Ofori has the magic in her writing. Her stories and characters are relatable and current in a way I have not experienced before. I would put this story in the hands of every single white person in the world if I could, and even if only 1% of them started to think more about the long term, never going away, trauma of slavery then it would be well worth the effort.
Watch this writer! She has talent and I cannot wait to see what she brings us in the future.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
From the lockdowns (where we saw the privileged of society whine the most), to disproportionately increased Asian discrimination, to Black Lives Matter protests; Ofori brings these elements together and uses them to show the generational trauma from African slavery. It’s so smart to take feelings we (as a world) have recently felt and change them subtly enough such that the reader can start (at least) to understand (or hopefully appreciate) some of the trauma involved in continuing (forever and ever) to atone for slavery. The weaving of this story brings elements together so well that it’s impossible (in my opinion as a white girl, for whatever that is worth) to deny the huge weight slavery still has today, especially on a population subject to diaspora around the world.
Ofori gives us a relatable main character with a degree in African Studies, from an Ivy League university (something her Ghana mother thinks is ridiculous) who is now a journalist. This gives our leading gal the ability to report on the many theories of the odd appearance of ‘ghosts’ and use the Internet to compile sightings, research, and provide her own theory and commentary on what is happening in the story. There is a cleverness to the core story that I also admire. I don’t want to say much about it as it could take away the creepiness and impact of each revelation that comes about.
This is the second short story by Ofori I have read and I am keeping my eye on her! She has an amazing way of sucking the reader into the story and feeling instant empathy for the characters and situation. If anyone can make people start to understand, even a fraction, of the trauma POC have experienced between generations of trauma, and the awful racism of today, I believe Ofori has the magic in her writing. Her stories and characters are relatable and current in a way I have not experienced before. I would put this story in the hands of every single white person in the world if I could, and even if only 1% of them started to think more about the long term, never going away, trauma of slavery then it would be well worth the effort.
Watch this writer! She has talent and I cannot wait to see what she brings us in the future.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
December 28, 2024
3.25/3.5⭐️. This book is undeniable ambitious.
This novel delves into the transatlantic slave trade and its enduring impact on the African diaspora. Akotowaa's fast-paced narrative confronts the brutal realities of history with sensitivity, encouraging reflection rather than despair. Her thoughtful writing invites readers to engage deeply with themes of grief, spirituality, and historical trauma.
The story follows Adwapa and her friends, who return home for the December holidays. What begins as a sweet and ordinary holiday takes a harrowing turn when ghosts—enslaved Africans who drowned during the Middle Passage—emerge from the Atlantic Ocean. This supernatural phenomenon triggers months of global chaos, culminating in a series of vengeful homicides.
A central theme of the book is shared grief, which Akotowaa portrays so beautifully as both a personal and communal experience. The narrative captures the collective sorrow of the African diaspora, reflecting on how the pain of historical injustices is passed down through generations, shaping communities in profound ways. By acknowledging this shared grief, the novel creates a space for dialogue and healing, offering an empathetic portrayal of collective mourning that underscores its potential to unite and empower.
Spirituality also plays a vital role in the story, serving as a source of resilience and identity. She highlights its significance in healing and reconciling with historical wounds, positioning spirituality as a bridge between the past and the present.
Although I enjoyed the book, I found the part set in Britain very underwhelming and unnecessary and far removed from the plot. Additionally, the cliffhanger ending left me feeling unsatisfied, I kept asking myself after the story so what? as it lacked a sense of resolution for me. Nevertheless, Year of Return remains a powerful contribution to discussions on history, spirituality, and grief. Akotowaa offers a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective on the African diaspora experience and I love the reimagining of history.
This novel delves into the transatlantic slave trade and its enduring impact on the African diaspora. Akotowaa's fast-paced narrative confronts the brutal realities of history with sensitivity, encouraging reflection rather than despair. Her thoughtful writing invites readers to engage deeply with themes of grief, spirituality, and historical trauma.
The story follows Adwapa and her friends, who return home for the December holidays. What begins as a sweet and ordinary holiday takes a harrowing turn when ghosts—enslaved Africans who drowned during the Middle Passage—emerge from the Atlantic Ocean. This supernatural phenomenon triggers months of global chaos, culminating in a series of vengeful homicides.
A central theme of the book is shared grief, which Akotowaa portrays so beautifully as both a personal and communal experience. The narrative captures the collective sorrow of the African diaspora, reflecting on how the pain of historical injustices is passed down through generations, shaping communities in profound ways. By acknowledging this shared grief, the novel creates a space for dialogue and healing, offering an empathetic portrayal of collective mourning that underscores its potential to unite and empower.
Spirituality also plays a vital role in the story, serving as a source of resilience and identity. She highlights its significance in healing and reconciling with historical wounds, positioning spirituality as a bridge between the past and the present.
Although I enjoyed the book, I found the part set in Britain very underwhelming and unnecessary and far removed from the plot. Additionally, the cliffhanger ending left me feeling unsatisfied, I kept asking myself after the story so what? as it lacked a sense of resolution for me. Nevertheless, Year of Return remains a powerful contribution to discussions on history, spirituality, and grief. Akotowaa offers a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective on the African diaspora experience and I love the reimagining of history.
December 15, 2024
A great story, well told
A fascinating and thoughtful, and thought-provoking story. A perfect example of why it pays to read widely and step out of your comfort reads from time to time. Lovely writing, a strange and terrible tale. Recommended.
A fascinating and thoughtful, and thought-provoking story. A perfect example of why it pays to read widely and step out of your comfort reads from time to time. Lovely writing, a strange and terrible tale. Recommended.
June 25, 2024
An African Speculative Fiction novella that does its genius premise justice.
The world Ofori so deftly builds is such a creative way of exploring the different sides of very real, still-pressing questions that linger over the Transatlantic slave trade; from both African and African-American perspectives - a much harder feat to pull off than one might think.
This really, really needs to be adapted into other media because... damn!
The world Ofori so deftly builds is such a creative way of exploring the different sides of very real, still-pressing questions that linger over the Transatlantic slave trade; from both African and African-American perspectives - a much harder feat to pull off than one might think.
This really, really needs to be adapted into other media because... damn!
August 6, 2025
2019 erinnerte Ghana an die Verschleppung der ersten versklavten: 400 Jahre war dies her. Adwapa stammt aus Ghana, lebt jedoch seit einiger Zeit in den USA. Nun ist sie mit drei Freunden in ihr Geburtsland zurückgekehrt. Beim Besuch eines ehemaligen Sklavenforts beobachten sie etwas merkwürdiges: Aus dem Meer scheint plötzlich eine Gestalt zu erscheinen. In den nächsten Tagen mehren sich die Beobachtungen. Entlang der westafrikanischen Küste und später auch an weiteren Orten steigen Geister aus den Fluten, alle von ihnen nackt. Adwapa stellt Nachforschungen an und stellt fest, dass es sich um im Meer ertrunkene Sklaven handelt. Eine von ihnen dringt schließlich in Adwapas Mutter ein und ergreift von ihr Besitz. Gemeinsam mit ihrer Freundin Oneisha, die ein besonderes Gespür für übernatürliche Dinge hat, nehmen die Freunde Kontakt auf und erfahren haarsträubendes.
Das Jahr der Rückkehr ist eine Novelle der ghanaischen Autorin Ivana Akotowaa Ofori. Auf 110 Seiten beschreibt sie eindrucksvoll einen Teil der Geschichte, der in der westlichen Welt gerne übersehen wird. Wenn wir uns mit dem Leid der Sklaven beschäftigen, so geht es in der Regel um das Leid in der (nordamerikanischen) Sklaverei. Nur selten denken wir an die Verschleppungen, die furchtbaren Qualen und Ängste, die die Menschen noch in ihrem eigenen Land und später auf den Schiffen ertragen mussten. Um sie geht es in diesem Buch. Interessant wird dies vor allem auch durch die unterschiedlichen Perspektiven (potenzieller) Nachkommen von Verschleppten. Durch die Geister erschafft die Autorin zudem eine weitere Form der Verbindung.
Das Buch lässt sich sehr gut lesen und ist gleichzeitig sehr intensiv. Trotz der Kürze geschieht erstaunlich viel, ergeben sich ungeahnte Entwicklungen. Lasst euch bitte auch nicht von den Geistern abschrecken: das Buch ist keine Fantasy, die Geister stehen hier für etwas Größeres.
Ich freue mich sehr, wieder eine neue afrikanische Stimme entdeckt zu haben.
Das Jahr der Rückkehr ist eine Novelle der ghanaischen Autorin Ivana Akotowaa Ofori. Auf 110 Seiten beschreibt sie eindrucksvoll einen Teil der Geschichte, der in der westlichen Welt gerne übersehen wird. Wenn wir uns mit dem Leid der Sklaven beschäftigen, so geht es in der Regel um das Leid in der (nordamerikanischen) Sklaverei. Nur selten denken wir an die Verschleppungen, die furchtbaren Qualen und Ängste, die die Menschen noch in ihrem eigenen Land und später auf den Schiffen ertragen mussten. Um sie geht es in diesem Buch. Interessant wird dies vor allem auch durch die unterschiedlichen Perspektiven (potenzieller) Nachkommen von Verschleppten. Durch die Geister erschafft die Autorin zudem eine weitere Form der Verbindung.
Das Buch lässt sich sehr gut lesen und ist gleichzeitig sehr intensiv. Trotz der Kürze geschieht erstaunlich viel, ergeben sich ungeahnte Entwicklungen. Lasst euch bitte auch nicht von den Geistern abschrecken: das Buch ist keine Fantasy, die Geister stehen hier für etwas Größeres.
Ich freue mich sehr, wieder eine neue afrikanische Stimme entdeckt zu haben.
May 18, 2024
Rating: 4.5☆
Plot: 🇬🇭 Ghana - 2019
Adwapa, a 26-year-old Ghanian journalist living in the US, returns to her homeland to document the eerie paranormal apparitions appearing over the ocean.
This story follows the discovery of the apparitions as ancestral slaves, or 'Coasters', taken 400 years ago to Virginia, now returning in plain sight to rectify their unheard voices. Their appearance is global, creating shock waves of unravelling grief and truth.
"When Coasters walk away, we're left feeling like something is deeply wrong with the world and that we can't bear to continue being part of the problem. They spur us into action."
Thoughts: Ofori writes beautifully, and I'm really grateful to have come across a book from a culture I've never read/heard anything about! I was curious to look up Ghana's culture, political history and opted to translate a few of the phrases in the book. I love that the language (Twi) was incorporated as a flavour of this part of the world.
I enjoyed the characters' playfulness and warmth. Adwapa's friend Oneisha had a hyperempathic ability with spirits and people, which really catered to a softening depth of spiritual understanding to the nature of the paranormal grief.
The historical reimagining through the eerie parallels of the impacts of Covid, brought many of those similar conflicts to light. The disbelief, conspiracies, the global lockdowns, and familial rifts. The Year of Return stirs the collective unconscious to address the historical injustices and cruelties of slavery, in order to move forward with appropriate societal modifications.
Thank you to Netgalley, Ivana Akotowaa Ofori and Android Press/ BookBuzz.net for this advanced copy! Also big thanks to the publishers for my NetGalley auto-approval !
Publish date: 21 May 2024
Plot: 🇬🇭 Ghana - 2019
Adwapa, a 26-year-old Ghanian journalist living in the US, returns to her homeland to document the eerie paranormal apparitions appearing over the ocean.
This story follows the discovery of the apparitions as ancestral slaves, or 'Coasters', taken 400 years ago to Virginia, now returning in plain sight to rectify their unheard voices. Their appearance is global, creating shock waves of unravelling grief and truth.
"When Coasters walk away, we're left feeling like something is deeply wrong with the world and that we can't bear to continue being part of the problem. They spur us into action."
Thoughts: Ofori writes beautifully, and I'm really grateful to have come across a book from a culture I've never read/heard anything about! I was curious to look up Ghana's culture, political history and opted to translate a few of the phrases in the book. I love that the language (Twi) was incorporated as a flavour of this part of the world.
I enjoyed the characters' playfulness and warmth. Adwapa's friend Oneisha had a hyperempathic ability with spirits and people, which really catered to a softening depth of spiritual understanding to the nature of the paranormal grief.
The historical reimagining through the eerie parallels of the impacts of Covid, brought many of those similar conflicts to light. The disbelief, conspiracies, the global lockdowns, and familial rifts. The Year of Return stirs the collective unconscious to address the historical injustices and cruelties of slavery, in order to move forward with appropriate societal modifications.
Thank you to Netgalley, Ivana Akotowaa Ofori and Android Press/ BookBuzz.net for this advanced copy! Also big thanks to the publishers for my NetGalley auto-approval !
Publish date: 21 May 2024
March 22, 2025
I have spent time at both the Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle and the horrors that happened there over centuries are beyond compare. The Year of Return is brutal and beautiful. Read it along with Sky Full of Elephants, This Great Hemisphere, The Love Songs of W. E. B. du Bois, and Acts of Forgiveness, that is if you want to be challenged and enlightened. All of these books are great works of literature, not a Verity or Happy Place in the bunch.
July 21, 2025
Eine Fantasy-NOVELLE!!?? Wo bist du mein ganzes Leben lang gewesen?!! Ich mag dieses knappe, rasante Format für ein Genre, das sonst hauptsächlich Wälzer hervorbringt, mit denen eins Leute erschlagen kann.
Ivana Akotowaa Ofori gelingt es, in ihrem Erstling eine spannende Geistergeschichte mit politischer Aussage zu vereinen. Das erinnert in der Zusammenstellung an „Babel“ und ganz besonders an das großartige „The Deep“ von Rivers Solomon aus den USA, mit ähnlicher Handlung.
Hintergrund für „Das Jahr der Rückkehr“ ist eine reale Kampagne der ghanaischen Regierung im Jahr 2019, zum vierhundertsten Jahrestag der Verschleppung der ersten afrikanischen Menschen nach Virginia. Die Regierung versuchte, Menschen aus der afrikanischen Diaspora zurück nach Ghana zu locken, auf Kosten der Bevölkerung im Land, die Grund und Boden aufgeben musste und unter immensen Preissteigerungen litt.
Die 26-jährige Ich-Erzählerin Adwapa gehört zur Diaspora. Sie lebt und arbeitet als Journalistin in den Vereinigten Staaten, befindet sich jedoch mit ihrer Clique zum Anlass des Jahrestags wieder in der alten Heimat. Beim Besuch einer der größten Tourismusattraktionen in Ghana, dem Cape Coast Castle, einem ehemaligen Fort, in dessen Kerker entführte Menschen „gesammelt“ wurden, um sie in die Sklaverei zu verschiffen, wird Adwapa Zeugin einer unheimlichen Erscheinung. Eine Menschengestalt schwebt über dem Wasser und nähert sich dem Land. Bald werden ähnliche Phänomene auf der ganzen Welt beobachtet. Adwapa und ihr Freundeskreis, zu dem auch Oneisha, ein empathisches Medium, gehört, versuchen, das Geheimnis um die Geister zu lösen…
Was zunächst ein bisschen ???-Vibes versprüht, entwickelt sich bald zu einem spannenden Kommentar auf die Black-Lives-Matter-Bewegung, die Corona-Pandemie, das Wegschauen/ die Parteilichkeit der Medien, auf Verschwörungstheorien, Grenzschließungen und den Umgang mit Erinnerung. Mit einer Erinnerung, die allgegenwärtig und bedrohlich ist. Einer Erinnerung, vor der nur durch Auseinandersetzung Abbitte geleistet werden kann. Kann überhaupt Abbitte geleistet werden?
Ich fand es unheimlich smart, diese tonnenschweren Themen in so einen knappen, schnell lesbaren Text zu verpacken. Empfehlung!
#honortheancestors
#blackhistorymatters
Ivana Akotowaa Ofori gelingt es, in ihrem Erstling eine spannende Geistergeschichte mit politischer Aussage zu vereinen. Das erinnert in der Zusammenstellung an „Babel“ und ganz besonders an das großartige „The Deep“ von Rivers Solomon aus den USA, mit ähnlicher Handlung.
Hintergrund für „Das Jahr der Rückkehr“ ist eine reale Kampagne der ghanaischen Regierung im Jahr 2019, zum vierhundertsten Jahrestag der Verschleppung der ersten afrikanischen Menschen nach Virginia. Die Regierung versuchte, Menschen aus der afrikanischen Diaspora zurück nach Ghana zu locken, auf Kosten der Bevölkerung im Land, die Grund und Boden aufgeben musste und unter immensen Preissteigerungen litt.
Die 26-jährige Ich-Erzählerin Adwapa gehört zur Diaspora. Sie lebt und arbeitet als Journalistin in den Vereinigten Staaten, befindet sich jedoch mit ihrer Clique zum Anlass des Jahrestags wieder in der alten Heimat. Beim Besuch einer der größten Tourismusattraktionen in Ghana, dem Cape Coast Castle, einem ehemaligen Fort, in dessen Kerker entführte Menschen „gesammelt“ wurden, um sie in die Sklaverei zu verschiffen, wird Adwapa Zeugin einer unheimlichen Erscheinung. Eine Menschengestalt schwebt über dem Wasser und nähert sich dem Land. Bald werden ähnliche Phänomene auf der ganzen Welt beobachtet. Adwapa und ihr Freundeskreis, zu dem auch Oneisha, ein empathisches Medium, gehört, versuchen, das Geheimnis um die Geister zu lösen…
Was zunächst ein bisschen ???-Vibes versprüht, entwickelt sich bald zu einem spannenden Kommentar auf die Black-Lives-Matter-Bewegung, die Corona-Pandemie, das Wegschauen/ die Parteilichkeit der Medien, auf Verschwörungstheorien, Grenzschließungen und den Umgang mit Erinnerung. Mit einer Erinnerung, die allgegenwärtig und bedrohlich ist. Einer Erinnerung, vor der nur durch Auseinandersetzung Abbitte geleistet werden kann. Kann überhaupt Abbitte geleistet werden?
Ich fand es unheimlich smart, diese tonnenschweren Themen in so einen knappen, schnell lesbaren Text zu verpacken. Empfehlung!
#honortheancestors
#blackhistorymatters
June 8, 2024
The Year of Return is one of those books that makes you think about ancestral connections to those of us in the here and now. It’s a wonderfully written novella with a big message and a hard impact, a journalist, is going home for the holidays with three of her friends to visit with her mom, a hard non nonsense doctor. Her home is Ghana. As she is on the ship before docking, she sees a site that she can’t believe. A ghostly image of a black person naked and walking on the water. As days go by, a phenomenon begins to happen where more ghostly figures, the Coasters, are emerging from the coastal waters and heading into town, some looking for hosts. I will not say why as it is a big part of this story. The historical part of the journey happens here and it is tragic and beyond any comprehension as to the lengths white people have gone to enslave black citizens of Ghana and other countries.
I enjoyed all the characters, each with their own relationship to the story. I felt the pain of The Coasters and the absolute terror they felt.
I hands down would recommend this novella. It’s is part ghostly, supernatural and with a historical edge to it.
I enjoyed all the characters, each with their own relationship to the story. I felt the pain of The Coasters and the absolute terror they felt.
I hands down would recommend this novella. It’s is part ghostly, supernatural and with a historical edge to it.
May 6, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC!
For the size of this book, it does pack quite a punch with a low page count.
Honestly, it was utterly genius to have the 'Coasters' appearing in December 2019 and act as a sort of spiritual pandemic. How people, government and social media reacted to the phenomenon was so depressingly realistic that I had to chuckle (just so I wouldn't cry!).
Ofori did a fantastic job developing the main characters and making them feel like real people in such a short amount of time.
The concept of the book is fairly simple but does expertly drive home the extent of damage done by slavery, colonialism and racism that is still felt to this day.
As a white person, I can't say I feel bad for any of the white people at the end of the book. And that's all I'll say about that.
For the size of this book, it does pack quite a punch with a low page count.
Honestly, it was utterly genius to have the 'Coasters' appearing in December 2019 and act as a sort of spiritual pandemic. How people, government and social media reacted to the phenomenon was so depressingly realistic that I had to chuckle (just so I wouldn't cry!).
Ofori did a fantastic job developing the main characters and making them feel like real people in such a short amount of time.
The concept of the book is fairly simple but does expertly drive home the extent of damage done by slavery, colonialism and racism that is still felt to this day.
As a white person, I can't say I feel bad for any of the white people at the end of the book. And that's all I'll say about that.
May 22, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
In The Year of Return, Ofori introduces us to Adwapa, a Ghanaian journalist living in America, who’s back home when a strange phenomenon occurs that turns the world on its head.
The story takes place between December 2019 and Spring 2020 - a direct reference to the beginning of the COVID pandemic and the protests that took place in summer of 2020 - and covers the deep-seated generational trauma that’s still present from slavery, and how racism still affects us today.
It’s a powerful story considering its low page count, and as a black American who has not only experienced racism first-hand, but witnessed it in my family and community, it really hits home.
Thank you to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for the ward in exchange for my honest review.
In The Year of Return, Ofori introduces us to Adwapa, a Ghanaian journalist living in America, who’s back home when a strange phenomenon occurs that turns the world on its head.
The story takes place between December 2019 and Spring 2020 - a direct reference to the beginning of the COVID pandemic and the protests that took place in summer of 2020 - and covers the deep-seated generational trauma that’s still present from slavery, and how racism still affects us today.
It’s a powerful story considering its low page count, and as a black American who has not only experienced racism first-hand, but witnessed it in my family and community, it really hits home.
Thank you to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for the ward in exchange for my honest review.
October 3, 2024
Of course, I've always been horrified reading stories about the slave trade and the deadly journey across the Atlantic. This story starts with a journalist living in the U.S. who returns to Ghana for a 400-year commemoration of the first Africans being taken to Virginia. She brings friends, one of whom seems to be psychically sensitive. Adwapa feels her own unease but is shocked to see the spirits of the dead walking out of the ocean.
This becomes an international phenomenon, and some of the spirits possess the living. What are they doing here? Do they want something?
Even though this is a short book, it really packed a punch, and I still feel haunted.
This becomes an international phenomenon, and some of the spirits possess the living. What are they doing here? Do they want something?
Even though this is a short book, it really packed a punch, and I still feel haunted.
September 29, 2025
It is not without shortcomings but it is a nice, original and authentic novella.
I especially enjoyed the way the author incorporated the 2020 pandemic that we all experienced into her story and turned it into the moment of ethnic awakening and the rising awareness of the past.
Despite some loopholes in storytelling and several cliched twists and turns, the book is an enjoyable read that makes the author, the character and you as a reader think about lots of issues of race, identity and our place in the world — both at this moment and throughout history.
The novella definitely deserves more recognition.
I especially enjoyed the way the author incorporated the 2020 pandemic that we all experienced into her story and turned it into the moment of ethnic awakening and the rising awareness of the past.
Despite some loopholes in storytelling and several cliched twists and turns, the book is an enjoyable read that makes the author, the character and you as a reader think about lots of issues of race, identity and our place in the world — both at this moment and throughout history.
The novella definitely deserves more recognition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2024
The Year of Return by Ivana Akotowaa Ofori, is a unique and interesting story that grips the readers shortly after they start reading, I have to admit it does take a little bit to get into the story. But once the readers get passed the first couple of chapters or so, the story picks up its place and the readers are taken for a hauntingly, poignant, telling of some of the worst atrocities man has done to our fellow man, but still hope for a better future lives on in our descendants. This book will hold you in fear, and make you believe in miracles all at the same time.
May 23, 2024
Electric
What else to say? The horror here, if that’s what you’re looking for, is the horror of the Middle Passage, the pain, the fear, the despair.
It’s a hard read for that reason. Do you wish you could have witnessed, to have experienced it?
No, you really don’t.
Effective novella, I’ll give it that.
What else to say? The horror here, if that’s what you’re looking for, is the horror of the Middle Passage, the pain, the fear, the despair.
It’s a hard read for that reason. Do you wish you could have witnessed, to have experienced it?
No, you really don’t.
Effective novella, I’ll give it that.
July 25, 2024
One of the charms of The Year of Return is being this wonderful thing that's a book, a character, and a piece of narrative, while passing under the disguise of an easy fast read.
The story rolls along at a reasonable pace and the protagonist, is well constructed and strangely relatable.
Ofori knows who to create characters, nail the dialog, and build the tension.
It's a solid read.
The story rolls along at a reasonable pace and the protagonist, is well constructed and strangely relatable.
Ofori knows who to create characters, nail the dialog, and build the tension.
It's a solid read.
August 16, 2024
This clever piece of work Akotowaa Ofori has put together was unputdownable for me!
I am hoping with @/readingafterthoughts over at instagram that it becomes required reading for high schoolers in Ghana.
If you've read Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing or teach a class that uses it as class material, I encourage you to read and include Ofori's The Year of Return!
I am hoping with @/readingafterthoughts over at instagram that it becomes required reading for high schoolers in Ghana.
If you've read Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing or teach a class that uses it as class material, I encourage you to read and include Ofori's The Year of Return!
May 29, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a beautifully written and heartbreaking novella. The parallels between the trauma of colonialism and slavery to the pandemic were brilliant and effective.
This was a beautifully written and heartbreaking novella. The parallels between the trauma of colonialism and slavery to the pandemic were brilliant and effective.
June 26, 2024
A compelling premise that’s strengthened by solid storytelling, well-rounded characters, and nail-biting suspense.
The Year of Return is a wonderful piece of work with great action scenes and a fantastic journey that would be enjoyed by a wide audience.
July 22, 2024
Very well written, it get's you in, and there are some scenes and images that will linger in my mind the way that a well remembered dream stays with you after you awake.
Spooky stuff - and it's things like that which linger after the event has passed.
Spooky stuff - and it's things like that which linger after the event has passed.
September 25, 2024
A butleresque novella that is well worth your time.
It spins a gripping narrative about the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade that have yet to be reckoned with, even as other elements of that historical event have been bastardized, belittled, and profited from.
It spins a gripping narrative about the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade that have yet to be reckoned with, even as other elements of that historical event have been bastardized, belittled, and profited from.
September 7, 2024
Ivana writes beautifully and her words pack a punch! What a searing story that grips and never lets you go from beginning to end!!
December 18, 2024
Amazing work of art.
September 9, 2025
Be aware this book is about slavery and describes graphically the torture enslaved people had to endure.
In 2019 Ghana launched a campaign encouraging the African Diaspora to pay Ghana a visit or encourage the people to come hone for good. 2019 is a special year, marking the 400th anniversary of the first arrival of enslaved Africans in the former English colony of Virginia.
The protagonist of the story, Adwapa, a journalist living in the USA, is following the call and visits, along with her friends, her hometown in Ghana.
But during their visit something mysterious is happening: the spirits of ancient enslaved people are emerging from the Atlantic Ocean, wandering around and entering people’s body to tell their story. The horrific past of the transatlantic enslavement trade is literally coming to the surface.
“The Year of Return” is an exceptional and intense book. It may have only 129 pages but Ivana Akotowaa Ofori filled them masterfully with the brutal truth about a dark chapter of history.
In 2019 Ghana launched a campaign encouraging the African Diaspora to pay Ghana a visit or encourage the people to come hone for good. 2019 is a special year, marking the 400th anniversary of the first arrival of enslaved Africans in the former English colony of Virginia.
The protagonist of the story, Adwapa, a journalist living in the USA, is following the call and visits, along with her friends, her hometown in Ghana.
But during their visit something mysterious is happening: the spirits of ancient enslaved people are emerging from the Atlantic Ocean, wandering around and entering people’s body to tell their story. The horrific past of the transatlantic enslavement trade is literally coming to the surface.
“The Year of Return” is an exceptional and intense book. It may have only 129 pages but Ivana Akotowaa Ofori filled them masterfully with the brutal truth about a dark chapter of history.
March 4, 2025
The title of the book will make you believe that this year of return is Akuffo Addo’s declaration in 2020 to gentrify Accra under the guise of inviting Black diasporans back home in Ghana but it isn’t. It’s a story about retribution, about the coming back of slaves. It’s about slavery and its impact. Akotowaa uses fantasy to show the horrifying experience of slaves especially when they were being transported by ship. It’s a fast paced read which I enjoyed so much. I really love what Akotowaa did with the COVID pandemic and the lockdown. She reimagined that time as the slaves coming back and possessing their family members so they could share firsthand experiences instead of Covid - The slave pandemic. The only part that was confusing for me was the Britain part. I couldn’t connect the dots with the original story. I was wandering what was happening with that part. I felt the story pretty much wrapped up nicely when lockdown was over. It just felt like the story could have done without that part. Notwithstanding I enjoyed reading the story.
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