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Dancing Soul Trilogy
America's Daughter
In America's Daughter, the second book of the trilogy, the author arrives in the United States in the company of Catherine Murray, an American high-school teacher. Her adjustment to a new culture includes shocking doses of American-style racial discrimination and Nhambu's discovery that she must learn to be a Black American. She graduates from college, thus fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher, and teaches high school in the inner city. She marries, has two children, and establishes herself in the American way of life. Then a visit to Africa, and especially to Tanzania, reawakens the drumbeats and dancing that she carries in her soul. On her return home, she teaches Swahili and African Studies, performs African dance at schools, and creates Aerobics With Soul(R), a fitness workout based on African dance. She both finds and creates the family she longed for as a child and connects with her unknown background. The first book of the trilogy, Africa's Child, was released in 2016. The final book of her memoir series--Drum Beats, Heart Beats--reveals more of Nhambu's life as she searches for her father.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2017
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13388 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 25, 2019
America’s Daughter is the second book in the Dancing Souls trilogy by Maria Nhambu. It’s an incredibly powerful tale of overcoming adversity that continues to highlight Maria Nhambu’s strengths as a writer.
The journey at the heart of the story is one that grabs you from the opening page. Nhambu crafts a mesmerizing narrative that is not scared of tackling some seriously big issues in a frank and honest way. Nhambu is clearly a writer who knows how to build a strong emotional arc and she does a brilliant job here once again.
The book is an emotional rollercoaster that will inspire young women tackling adversity everywhere. Those who enjoyed the first book in the trilogy, Africa’s Child, are sure to get just as much, if not more, from America’s Daughter.
The journey at the heart of the story is one that grabs you from the opening page. Nhambu crafts a mesmerizing narrative that is not scared of tackling some seriously big issues in a frank and honest way. Nhambu is clearly a writer who knows how to build a strong emotional arc and she does a brilliant job here once again.
The book is an emotional rollercoaster that will inspire young women tackling adversity everywhere. Those who enjoyed the first book in the trilogy, Africa’s Child, are sure to get just as much, if not more, from America’s Daughter.
November 19, 2019
If you enjoy an inspirational memoir, look no further than 'America's Daughter' by Maria Nhambu. She is a truly remarkable woman who travelled from Tanzania to America, where she was adopted by a mother determined to give her all the opportunities she may have missed out on in her homeland. Maria had some deep struggles adjusting to American life and culture so alien to her own. But, she managed to triumph with each challenge, whilst finding herself and her purpose in life, being a teacher both to disadvantaged inner city children, and Swahili and African Dance after rediscovering her love for her birth country.
Maria Nhambu is a fierce and powerful woman, who has dedicated her life to helping others, whilst being a wife and mother. She really is an inspiration!
Maria Nhambu is a fierce and powerful woman, who has dedicated her life to helping others, whilst being a wife and mother. She really is an inspiration!
January 28, 2020
Americas Daughter is the second book in Maria’s trilogy and in my opinion the most powerful and realistic one yet. I love the honesty of Marias writing in this novel. She connects with the readers with her own compelling life story and experiences. The book is an emotional rollercoaster that I can imagine will inspire young women in unpleasant situations everywhere, and the struggle to overcome. It grabbed my attention right from the opening page and was an incredible read. Highly recommended.
December 2, 2019
I love Nhambu and I love her book!!!
Her life is filled with joy, sadness, growth, kindness and a total fascination with living every moment to its fullest.
A beautiful woman through and through.
Her life is filled with joy, sadness, growth, kindness and a total fascination with living every moment to its fullest.
A beautiful woman through and through.
January 20, 2020
Maria Nhambu's account of her adjustment to life in America after an awful childhood in an orphanage in Tanzania was compelling and moving. Struggling for acceptance in her new home, she encountered isolation and racial abuse, but she had a great inner strength that cannot be beaten. She graduates college and becomes a teacher, but it is a trip back to her birth country that would change the course of her life.
'America's Daughter' is an insightful, informative, upsetting, but also uplifting story of the experiences of one immigrant in America, which is sure to resonate with so many people. Despite the difficult themes tackled, the book is full of wisdom, hope, and humour.
'America's Daughter' is an insightful, informative, upsetting, but also uplifting story of the experiences of one immigrant in America, which is sure to resonate with so many people. Despite the difficult themes tackled, the book is full of wisdom, hope, and humour.
February 19, 2020
Whenever Nhambu stops dancing long enough to write, you can be sure of one thing: you will always know she is moving in sync with the Universal Drummer’s call. She is America’s daughter; she is spirit-kin. Dancing Soul Trilogy is a story belonging to any and all movers and shakers. Intentionally.
December 24, 2019
Coming of age novel triumphant in the worldwide success of America's Daughter. Mixed race woman revered as an author for her non-fiction storytelling. Born in Tanzania in Africa, raised in a poor part of the country, loniness and despair in the orphanage she was brought up in. Education was sparse, only a fourth grade education supplied by the orphanage. Any further education cost money, boarding schools that would take hours to travel to and still cost a fortune. Maria Nhambu recognized herself at an adolecent age, to have an abundance of wonder, faith, expression and creativity that a fourth grade education would not withstand. Don't let race, creed and life circumstances turn you away from this book. It is an important non-fiction, true life story. A human suffering explains the reaction of people's distinct outlook on how one person can change lives. Her journey of being poor, facing untenable style of living, situations as a child adults should only know, grew Maria to strive and work hard for everything. And become a spokesperson to help others. When Maria arrived in the United States, Catherine Murray, an American high-school teacher helped Maria to assimilate in a new society, country and work. An interview on Maria's website shows the bravery and humble and fierce woman exhibiting love and acceptance over her life. http://marianhambu.com/wp/ The author takes no short cuts in the production of her stories and the emotion that clearly comes through. I see it as an honor to be introduced to her writing and her. I often wonder who develops the words that touch my soul, make me cringe when harm is done, smile when good happens especially when bad stuff was first shown. The meld of consequence and thereafter solutions. This is why I viewed Maria's interview after reading her book. Don't let race, creed and life circumstances turn you away from this book. It is an important non-fiction, true life story. A human suffering explains the reaction of people's distinct outlook on how one person can change lives.
December 13, 2019
This story narrates the life of the author, Maria Nhambu- an orphaned mixed race Tanzanian woman, adopted by her American teacher, herself barely older than Maria. In the author’s words, this is ‘the story of how a somewhat bewildered, often overwhelmed and confused nineteen-year-old...from East Africa dealt with the challenges of a new life in America...’. The details of Maria’s childhood and her struggles and search for identity are covered in the first book of this trilogy, Africa’s Child.
Written in an engaging, confessional way that instantly won me over, Maria made me invested in following her story right from the beginning. She includes details of how everyday things in America were so different for her, which really provides a great insight into the perspective of an immigrant, new to the country and culture. She documents significant events in her life, including her marriage to a Norwegian man, the Apartheid they experienced, the family they raised and finally meeting her birth mother.
A heartfelt and genuine story, told with compassion and humour.
Written in an engaging, confessional way that instantly won me over, Maria made me invested in following her story right from the beginning. She includes details of how everyday things in America were so different for her, which really provides a great insight into the perspective of an immigrant, new to the country and culture. She documents significant events in her life, including her marriage to a Norwegian man, the Apartheid they experienced, the family they raised and finally meeting her birth mother.
A heartfelt and genuine story, told with compassion and humour.
December 14, 2019
America's Daughter by Maria Nhambu is inspiring and fascinating as you see America through the eyes of an immigrant. This novel is a continuation of Maria's life, this time after she is adopted and travels to America. The things we take for granted are new and confusing to a poor orphan from Africa. The material things of our country are easy to adjust to, it is the racial prejudice that she struggles with the most. Maria relies on her inner strength "Fat Mary" and dancing to work out the problems she faces.
Maria Nhambu opens her heart within the pages of America's Daughter. This is one of the best memoirs I have read. Her strength and resilient attitude is refreshing as she gives one hundred percent though periodically others try tearing her down. I was really intrigued by the perception Maria had during the time of race riots and civil right marches. Her insight on black people losing their ancestral identity just because of their skin color is correct. I loved how Maria brought her story to life and allowed the reader to visualize her years since arriving to our country.
Maria Nhambu opens her heart within the pages of America's Daughter. This is one of the best memoirs I have read. Her strength and resilient attitude is refreshing as she gives one hundred percent though periodically others try tearing her down. I was really intrigued by the perception Maria had during the time of race riots and civil right marches. Her insight on black people losing their ancestral identity just because of their skin color is correct. I loved how Maria brought her story to life and allowed the reader to visualize her years since arriving to our country.
November 24, 2019
Entering – and adjusting to – America. Valuable insights for all
Author Maria Nhambu initiated her three-part autobiography trilogy with AFRICA’S CHILD – an extraordinarily superb book that opened the celebration of her passion for Africa, her birthplace, African culture, and her passion for dance. Now she continues her experiences with AMERICA’S DAUGHTER. Maria has created Aerobics With Soul, a fitness program that marries dance with enhancing movement and health.
Said before, say again: Memoirs such as this are rare: the sharing of a problematic childhood that eventually blossoms into a celebration of those very beginnings that seemed dire into eventually becoming a path to self acceptance and understanding that would influence and benefit generations. Maria was born in Tanzania, East Africa, raised in an orphanage as a child who did not know her parents, tended by both German and American nuns, and experiencing not only physical and mental abuse, but also racial discrimination. But as she matured into a teenager she grew with her faith and resilience, becoming self reliant and independent, embraced education and her passion for African tribal dance to the point when she won scholarships to follow her destiny to America and university education.
In this second volume of her autobiography Maria shares her entry into America, as ‘arrives in the United States in the company of Catherine Murray, an American high-school teacher and her adoptive mother. Her adjustment to a new culture includes shocking doses of American-style racial discrimination and Nhambu’s discovery that she must learn to be a Black American. She graduates from college, thus fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher, and teaches high school in the inner city. She marries, has two children, and establishes herself in the American way of life. Then a visit to Africa, and especially to Tanzania, reawakens the drumbeats and dancing that she carries in her soul. On her return home, she teaches Swahili and African Studies, performs African dance at schools, and creates Aerobics With Soul®, a fitness workout based on African dance. She both finds and creates the family she longed for as a child and connects with her unknown background.’
Maria’s prose is polished, enhancing even the negative aspects with a sure sense of humor. Her first steps into the US are captured in opening sentences – ‘When we arrived in New York, I wondered if Cathy had played a joke on me. Had we come to America after all? There was no Statue of Liberty anywhere in sight at the airport. I looked everywhere. I guess I expected that as soon as my feet touched American soil, someone representing her and holding the torch of freedom would welcome me. No one had told me to look for her out in the harbor from the plane…’
Sensitive, insightful, and wonderfully endearing, this is a book with so many important messages that it deserves the attention of all readers – a fine instrument to understanding racial equality and perseverance. Recommended.
Merged review:
Entering – and adjusting to – America. Valuable insights for all
Author Maria Nhambu initiated her three-part autobiography trilogy with AFRICA’S CHILD – an extraordinarily superb book that opened the celebration of her passion for Africa, her birthplace, African culture, and her passion for dance. Now she continues her experiences with AMERICA’S DAUGHTER. Maria has created Aerobics With Soul, a fitness program that marries dance with enhancing movement and health.
Said before, say again: Memoirs such as this are rare: the sharing of a problematic childhood that eventually blossoms into a celebration of those very beginnings that seemed dire into eventually becoming a path to self acceptance and understanding that would influence and benefit generations. Maria was born in Tanzania, East Africa, raised in an orphanage as a child who did not know her parents, tended by both German and American nuns, and experiencing not only physical and mental abuse, but also racial discrimination. But as she matured into a teenager she grew with her faith and resilience, becoming self reliant and independent, embraced education and her passion for African tribal dance to the point when she won scholarships to follow her destiny to America and university education.
In this second volume of her autobiography Maria shares her entry into America, as ‘arrives in the United States in the company of Catherine Murray, an American high-school teacher and her adoptive mother. Her adjustment to a new culture includes shocking doses of American-style racial discrimination and Nhambu’s discovery that she must learn to be a Black American. She graduates from college, thus fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher, and teaches high school in the inner city. She marries, has two children, and establishes herself in the American way of life. Then a visit to Africa, and especially to Tanzania, reawakens the drumbeats and dancing that she carries in her soul. On her return home, she teaches Swahili and African Studies, performs African dance at schools, and creates Aerobics With Soul®, a fitness workout based on African dance. She both finds and creates the family she longed for as a child and connects with her unknown background.’
Maria’s prose is polished, enhancing even the negative aspects with a sure sense of humor. Her first steps into the US are captured in opening sentences – ‘When we arrived in New York, I wondered if Cathy had played a joke on me. Had we come to America after all? There was no Statue of Liberty anywhere in sight at the airport. I looked everywhere. I guess I expected that as soon as my feet touched American soil, someone representing her and holding the torch of freedom would welcome me. No one had told me to look for her out in the harbor from the plane…’
Sensitive, insightful, and wonderfully endearing, this is a book with so many important messages that it deserves the attention of all readers – a fine instrument to understanding racial equality and perseverance. Recommended.
Author Maria Nhambu initiated her three-part autobiography trilogy with AFRICA’S CHILD – an extraordinarily superb book that opened the celebration of her passion for Africa, her birthplace, African culture, and her passion for dance. Now she continues her experiences with AMERICA’S DAUGHTER. Maria has created Aerobics With Soul, a fitness program that marries dance with enhancing movement and health.
Said before, say again: Memoirs such as this are rare: the sharing of a problematic childhood that eventually blossoms into a celebration of those very beginnings that seemed dire into eventually becoming a path to self acceptance and understanding that would influence and benefit generations. Maria was born in Tanzania, East Africa, raised in an orphanage as a child who did not know her parents, tended by both German and American nuns, and experiencing not only physical and mental abuse, but also racial discrimination. But as she matured into a teenager she grew with her faith and resilience, becoming self reliant and independent, embraced education and her passion for African tribal dance to the point when she won scholarships to follow her destiny to America and university education.
In this second volume of her autobiography Maria shares her entry into America, as ‘arrives in the United States in the company of Catherine Murray, an American high-school teacher and her adoptive mother. Her adjustment to a new culture includes shocking doses of American-style racial discrimination and Nhambu’s discovery that she must learn to be a Black American. She graduates from college, thus fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher, and teaches high school in the inner city. She marries, has two children, and establishes herself in the American way of life. Then a visit to Africa, and especially to Tanzania, reawakens the drumbeats and dancing that she carries in her soul. On her return home, she teaches Swahili and African Studies, performs African dance at schools, and creates Aerobics With Soul®, a fitness workout based on African dance. She both finds and creates the family she longed for as a child and connects with her unknown background.’
Maria’s prose is polished, enhancing even the negative aspects with a sure sense of humor. Her first steps into the US are captured in opening sentences – ‘When we arrived in New York, I wondered if Cathy had played a joke on me. Had we come to America after all? There was no Statue of Liberty anywhere in sight at the airport. I looked everywhere. I guess I expected that as soon as my feet touched American soil, someone representing her and holding the torch of freedom would welcome me. No one had told me to look for her out in the harbor from the plane…’
Sensitive, insightful, and wonderfully endearing, this is a book with so many important messages that it deserves the attention of all readers – a fine instrument to understanding racial equality and perseverance. Recommended.
Merged review:
Entering – and adjusting to – America. Valuable insights for all
Author Maria Nhambu initiated her three-part autobiography trilogy with AFRICA’S CHILD – an extraordinarily superb book that opened the celebration of her passion for Africa, her birthplace, African culture, and her passion for dance. Now she continues her experiences with AMERICA’S DAUGHTER. Maria has created Aerobics With Soul, a fitness program that marries dance with enhancing movement and health.
Said before, say again: Memoirs such as this are rare: the sharing of a problematic childhood that eventually blossoms into a celebration of those very beginnings that seemed dire into eventually becoming a path to self acceptance and understanding that would influence and benefit generations. Maria was born in Tanzania, East Africa, raised in an orphanage as a child who did not know her parents, tended by both German and American nuns, and experiencing not only physical and mental abuse, but also racial discrimination. But as she matured into a teenager she grew with her faith and resilience, becoming self reliant and independent, embraced education and her passion for African tribal dance to the point when she won scholarships to follow her destiny to America and university education.
In this second volume of her autobiography Maria shares her entry into America, as ‘arrives in the United States in the company of Catherine Murray, an American high-school teacher and her adoptive mother. Her adjustment to a new culture includes shocking doses of American-style racial discrimination and Nhambu’s discovery that she must learn to be a Black American. She graduates from college, thus fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher, and teaches high school in the inner city. She marries, has two children, and establishes herself in the American way of life. Then a visit to Africa, and especially to Tanzania, reawakens the drumbeats and dancing that she carries in her soul. On her return home, she teaches Swahili and African Studies, performs African dance at schools, and creates Aerobics With Soul®, a fitness workout based on African dance. She both finds and creates the family she longed for as a child and connects with her unknown background.’
Maria’s prose is polished, enhancing even the negative aspects with a sure sense of humor. Her first steps into the US are captured in opening sentences – ‘When we arrived in New York, I wondered if Cathy had played a joke on me. Had we come to America after all? There was no Statue of Liberty anywhere in sight at the airport. I looked everywhere. I guess I expected that as soon as my feet touched American soil, someone representing her and holding the torch of freedom would welcome me. No one had told me to look for her out in the harbor from the plane…’
Sensitive, insightful, and wonderfully endearing, this is a book with so many important messages that it deserves the attention of all readers – a fine instrument to understanding racial equality and perseverance. Recommended.
August 13, 2020
This is Maria Nhambu’s second story in this series. Nhambu really bares her soul in this book and the struggles of transitioning to coming to America as an African. This is an amazing story and journey that really speaks to a lot of social and cultural issues, as well as the experience of someone not from America and coming into the states as a minority as a young adult…thrust into a new situation and how she learned, adapted, and best of all helped others through her experience, determination, and sheer ability to reach into the hearts of others.
Her bio says her name means “one who connects” and I absolutely think there couldn’t be a more fitting name for her. She just doesn’t fail. Even when she struggles, hurts, or hits an obstacle Nhambu just perseveres. Her journey is absolutely eye-opening, inspiring, and a must-read!
Her bio says her name means “one who connects” and I absolutely think there couldn’t be a more fitting name for her. She just doesn’t fail. Even when she struggles, hurts, or hits an obstacle Nhambu just perseveres. Her journey is absolutely eye-opening, inspiring, and a must-read!
July 2, 2020
Interesting memoir, will read books 1 & 3 as well. My friend who taught at the American school in Tanzania back in the early 70s has met the author & shared these w/me.
July 24, 2020
I had recently read Africa's Child and was incredibly moved and also inspired by Maria Nhambu's story so I was looking forward to reading her next book, America's Daughter. The struggle continues for Maria despite begin adopted and taken to live in America. The challenges, abuse, abandonment, hate and racism Maria has dealt with seems never ending but she perseveres regardless. An incredible and moving story of an unbreakable woman. A must read!
August 24, 2020
[English review + Reseña en español]
America's Daughter (Dancing Soul Trilogy, #2)Dancing Twiga Press. 2017
367 pages.
Genre / Theme: Memories
After her bittersweet childhood in Kifungilo, Mary faces the cultural shock of flying to America and suddenly becoming a "black American," having to assimilate a whole new culture and find her own identity in the homeland of her adoptive mother —who happens to be only five years older than her— without failing in the attempt. A few years later, an unsuspected letter reaches Mary's hands from Morogoro, Tanganyika, and her newly conquered stability suffers a most strange setback that will remove the meaning of some of her most intimate memories.
In this second part of the Dancing Soul trilogy, Mary will face different meanings and ways of defining love, faith, race, personal identity, professional career, creativity, motherhood, determination as an individual, education, commitment, prejudice, mobility of peoples, plurality, multiculturalism, human adaptability, honesty, the challenges of youth, innocence and maturity.
Inspiring, fascinating and humorous, this story shows Mary's liberation through the redefinition of herself and through dance as a means of expression, identity and love, and shows how different and revealing it can be to return to one's roots with new eyes. A good continuation of the memoirs of "fat" Mary that makes the reader think about the social assumptions of the current American culture.
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America's Daughter (Dancing Soul Trilogy, #2) por Maria Nhambu
Dancing Twiga Press. 2017
367 páginas.
Género / Temática: Memorias
Tras su agridulce infancia en Kifungilo, Mary se enfrenta al shock cultural que supone volar hasta América y convertirse repentinamente en "negra americana", asimilar toda una nueva cultura y encontrar su propia identidad en la patria de su madre adoptiva —quien, por cierto, es tan solo cinco años mayor que ella— sin fracasar en el intento. Pocos años después, una insospechada carta llega a manos de Mary desde Morogoro, Tanganica, y su estabilidad recién conquistada sufre un revés de lo más extraño que removerá el significado de algunas de sus memorias más entrañadas.
En esta segunda parte de la trilogía Dancing Soul, Mary enfrentará distintos significados y formas de definir el amor, la fe, la raza, la identidad personal, la carrera profesional, la creatividad, la maternidad, la determinación como individuo, la educación, el compromiso, el prejuicio, la movilidad de los pueblos, la pluralidad, la multiculturalidad, la adaptabilidad humana, la honestidad, los retos de la juventud, la inocencia y la madurez.
Inspiradora, fascinante y graciosa, esta historia muestra la liberación de Mary a través de la redefinición propia y la danza como medio de expresión, identidad y amor, y muestra lo distinto y revelador que puede resultar volver a los orígenes con nuevos ojos. Una buena continuación a las memorias de “la gorda” Mary que hace al lector pensar en los supuestos sociales de la cultura americana actual.
America's Daughter (Dancing Soul Trilogy, #2)Dancing Twiga Press. 2017
367 pages.
Genre / Theme: Memories
After her bittersweet childhood in Kifungilo, Mary faces the cultural shock of flying to America and suddenly becoming a "black American," having to assimilate a whole new culture and find her own identity in the homeland of her adoptive mother —who happens to be only five years older than her— without failing in the attempt. A few years later, an unsuspected letter reaches Mary's hands from Morogoro, Tanganyika, and her newly conquered stability suffers a most strange setback that will remove the meaning of some of her most intimate memories.
In this second part of the Dancing Soul trilogy, Mary will face different meanings and ways of defining love, faith, race, personal identity, professional career, creativity, motherhood, determination as an individual, education, commitment, prejudice, mobility of peoples, plurality, multiculturalism, human adaptability, honesty, the challenges of youth, innocence and maturity.
Inspiring, fascinating and humorous, this story shows Mary's liberation through the redefinition of herself and through dance as a means of expression, identity and love, and shows how different and revealing it can be to return to one's roots with new eyes. A good continuation of the memoirs of "fat" Mary that makes the reader think about the social assumptions of the current American culture.
-------
America's Daughter (Dancing Soul Trilogy, #2) por Maria Nhambu
Dancing Twiga Press. 2017
367 páginas.
Género / Temática: Memorias
Tras su agridulce infancia en Kifungilo, Mary se enfrenta al shock cultural que supone volar hasta América y convertirse repentinamente en "negra americana", asimilar toda una nueva cultura y encontrar su propia identidad en la patria de su madre adoptiva —quien, por cierto, es tan solo cinco años mayor que ella— sin fracasar en el intento. Pocos años después, una insospechada carta llega a manos de Mary desde Morogoro, Tanganica, y su estabilidad recién conquistada sufre un revés de lo más extraño que removerá el significado de algunas de sus memorias más entrañadas.
En esta segunda parte de la trilogía Dancing Soul, Mary enfrentará distintos significados y formas de definir el amor, la fe, la raza, la identidad personal, la carrera profesional, la creatividad, la maternidad, la determinación como individuo, la educación, el compromiso, el prejuicio, la movilidad de los pueblos, la pluralidad, la multiculturalidad, la adaptabilidad humana, la honestidad, los retos de la juventud, la inocencia y la madurez.
Inspiradora, fascinante y graciosa, esta historia muestra la liberación de Mary a través de la redefinición propia y la danza como medio de expresión, identidad y amor, y muestra lo distinto y revelador que puede resultar volver a los orígenes con nuevos ojos. Una buena continuación a las memorias de “la gorda” Mary que hace al lector pensar en los supuestos sociales de la cultura americana actual.
December 1, 2025
After reading this book I have become a fan of the author's writing style. The narration is very rich and vivid. And the message is well conveyed. This book is the second part of the "Dancing Souls Trilogy". It is about the author's journey from Africa to America. Maria Nhambu was raised by German catholic nuns at a Tanzanian orphanage for mixed-race kids. She was taught by an American Caucasian woman who helped her to go to America for higher education. This book is about the author settling in America, facing a lot of racism, battling through all the struggles and hence coming to terms with American racism and American culture. In the end, she becomes a remarkable woman with a job and family to take care of.
Her story is worth reading and she did a fantastic job of putting it into pages. They say your mindset and attitude are what make a lot of difference, and this story is a live example. While reading I was able to visualise how she grew above all things. Her resilient attitude is reflected in her writing. It is a very inspiring memoir. I am looking forward to reading parts 1 & 3 of the trilogy.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
Her story is worth reading and she did a fantastic job of putting it into pages. They say your mindset and attitude are what make a lot of difference, and this story is a live example. While reading I was able to visualise how she grew above all things. Her resilient attitude is reflected in her writing. It is a very inspiring memoir. I am looking forward to reading parts 1 & 3 of the trilogy.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
October 1, 2020
This is the second instalment from Maria Nhambu's life story. I was blown away by the first book and the struggles and outright abuse that she was subjected to as a child, and was heartbroken to see that being adopted and moving to America didn't see the end of Maria's troubles. This book goes through the difficulties of coping with racism and discrimination but ultimately see's Maria succeed and become a teacher, get married and travel back to Africa to reconnect with her family and her roots. I know it will be worth reading all 3 of these books to appreciate everything that Maria has experienced and achieved. A real inspiration.
October 8, 2020
The second book of the Dancing Soul trilogy shows this time the life once the author arrives in the United States. The new life in America is very different from East Africa and she finds new challenges every day. She learns to be a Black American and once she finishes college, she builds the family she wanted so much.
Going back to Africa brings back all those memories she thought were gone, but once again she finds her inner strength to reaffirm who she truly is. Once back, she creates Aerobics with Soul, a fitness workout based on African dance.
This time Nhambu tells her story from a whole different side, building a family, and being a teacher in new circumstances; trust me when I say that her story is beautiful and spectacular.
Going back to Africa brings back all those memories she thought were gone, but once again she finds her inner strength to reaffirm who she truly is. Once back, she creates Aerobics with Soul, a fitness workout based on African dance.
This time Nhambu tells her story from a whole different side, building a family, and being a teacher in new circumstances; trust me when I say that her story is beautiful and spectacular.
November 7, 2020
YOU GO GIRL. IAM ALSO A COLLEGE GRADUATE 👩🏿🎓 SO PROUD. OF US AMEN.
November 9, 2021
America's Daughter: Learning to be Black, Sharing African dance, Discovering origins (Dancing Soul Trilogy Book 2) by Maria Nhambu is an exhilarating and enlightening read. This book is the perfect memoir to read if you are looking for an inspirational life. Nhambu shares her life experiences, the coming to America, and getting used to American culture with all of its perceptions and nuances. In spite of her horrible childhood, the author grows to become a formidable and remarkable woman. You will admire her ambition and fortitude as she made her way in a new country, never giving up on her journey. An interesting and emotional read, this book is highly recommended.
December 13, 2021
If I were to sum this book up in a few words, I'd call it a powerful memoir. Following the author as she arrives in America, and experiences many of the societal prejudices against POC, achieving her dreams, and finding her roots again, was an emotional and captivating journey. She has such a unique voice, and is able to convey so much through the words on the page. I could almost hear the author speaking through the book, and I didn't want to put the book down once I started reading. A unique and fascinating journey, I'm glad the author decided to share her story and bare part of her soul to the reader.
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November 22, 2021Maria is an African who found herself in an African orphanage being taught by an American Caucasian woman. When the teacher found out she wasn’t on the list to be sent out the country to get a higher education, she decided to adopt Maria and bring her to America her self and she did. This book is about Maria coming to terms with American racism and American culture. She rose above all of it and became a high school teacher and the inner city it seems as if whatever Maria does she succeed at. This book was so good and if you love being a fly on the wall then you’ll love this book. This is an example of why I love biographies. In this one we get to hear all maria’s inner thoughts during her experience is good and bad when coming to America. I highly recommend this book but be warned I found myself reading it for hours even though I had other things to do… It was that good!
April 22, 2022
Maria Nhambu was an orphanage and lived in Africa. She migrated to the state for education and there she experienced some cultural shock and discrimination because of her race. But she was determined enough to become a teacher and fulfil her goal she has once dreamed of!
This book is about her experiences and how she became an accomplished American.
You'll feel hoy, sadness, fascination,love everything at once while reading this book- as if it's your own life story too!
The things she had faced, the way she became motivated even in her worst times and accomplished everything she wanted - I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR HER.
This book is real eye-opening and moving.
Absolutely loved it.
This book is about her experiences and how she became an accomplished American.
You'll feel hoy, sadness, fascination,love everything at once while reading this book- as if it's your own life story too!
The things she had faced, the way she became motivated even in her worst times and accomplished everything she wanted - I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR HER.
This book is real eye-opening and moving.
Absolutely loved it.
December 9, 2022
America's Daughter fulfils all the requirements for a beautifully written memoir about an immigrant who left Tanzania to make a new life in America.
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