What do you think?
Rate this book
Where the Children Take Us: How One Family Achieved the Unimaginable
In this spellbinding memoir, popular CNN anchor Zain Asher pays tribute to her mother’s strength and determination to raise four successful children in the shadow of tragedy.Awaiting the return of her husband and young son from a road trip, Obiajulu Ejiofor receives shattering news. There’s been a fatal car crash, and one of them is dead. In Where the Children Take Us, Obiajulu’s daughter, Zain E. Asher, tells the story of her mother’s harrowing fight to raise four children as a widowed immigrant in South London. Drawing on tough-love parenting strategies, Obiajulu teaches her sons and daughters to overcome the daily pressures of poverty, crime and prejudice – and much more. With her relentless support, the children exceed all expectations – becoming a CNN anchor, an Oscar-nominated actor – Asher’s older brother is Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Year A Slave) – a doctor and a thriving entrepreneur. The generations-old Nigerian parenting techniques that lead to the family's salvation were born in the village where young Obiajulu and Arinze meet with their country on the brink of war. Together, they emigrate to London in the 1970s to escape the violence, but soon confront a different set of challenges in the West. When grief threatens to engulf her fractured family after the accident, Obiajulu, suddenly a single mother in a foreign land, refuses to accept defeat. As her children veer down the wrong path, she instills a family book club with Western literary classics, testing their resolve and challenging their deeper understanding. She plasters newspaper clippings of Black success stories on the walls, all while running Shakespeare theatre lines with her son and finishing homework into the early morning with Zain. When distractions persist, she cuts the TV cord and installs a residential pay phone. The story of a woman who survived genocide, famine, poverty and crushing grief to rise from war torn Africa to the streets of South London and eventually the drawing rooms of Buckingham Palace,Where the Children Take Us is an unforgettable portrait of strength, tenacity, love and perseverance embodied in one towering woman.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2022
83 people are currently reading
4714 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
September 14, 2022
Where the Children Take Us is Zain Asher’s memoir. It’s the story of how one family achieved the unimaginable. Zain is a British Nigerian news anchor for CNN. I wasn’t familiar with her prior to reading this book, which details her life from childhood through her pursuit of a career in journalism.
Zain has had no shortage of challenges in her journey — A car accident killed her father and injured one of her brothers when she was a child. Living in London as a single mother raising 4 children was hard on her mom, Obiajulu, and Zain’s entire family. Obiajulu sends Zain back to Nigeria for a year at one point. She then returns to the UK, attending 2 different schools before moving on to university. When distractions like TV and the phone interfered with Zain’s effort to study, her mom takes drastic measures to remove them. Obiajulu was disciplined and more often than not, provided tough love. The result of this approach are evident through Zain and her siblings’ stories of success. The Ejiofor family has a lot to be proud of.
I highly recommend the audiobook of Where the Children Take Us, narrated by Zain herself.
Zain has had no shortage of challenges in her journey — A car accident killed her father and injured one of her brothers when she was a child. Living in London as a single mother raising 4 children was hard on her mom, Obiajulu, and Zain’s entire family. Obiajulu sends Zain back to Nigeria for a year at one point. She then returns to the UK, attending 2 different schools before moving on to university. When distractions like TV and the phone interfered with Zain’s effort to study, her mom takes drastic measures to remove them. Obiajulu was disciplined and more often than not, provided tough love. The result of this approach are evident through Zain and her siblings’ stories of success. The Ejiofor family has a lot to be proud of.
I highly recommend the audiobook of Where the Children Take Us, narrated by Zain herself.
November 15, 2022
Raw, beautiful, and eloquent. A daughter writes about her family. 14-year-old Obiajulu met 16-year-old Arinze in Oyofo-Oghe, Nigeria in 1965, and they became inseparable. Living apart in different towns, a brutal and violent civil war, ethnic cleansing, and famine did not diminish their love. After marrying, they moved to South London running a pharmacy and creating a family. When the author was five years old and her oldest brother, Obinze, was 14 years old, their mother, Obiajulu, received devastating news. The family had been visiting family in Nigeria. Their father and 11-year-old brother had stayed an extra week on a father/son trip for him to share his pride of his land of heroes with his son. There had been in a car accident and initially both were assumed dead, but one had survived. Nobody knew who until after Obiajulu arrived. Arinze, the love of her life, was dead and her son, Chiwetel, was alive but badly injured. She was four months pregnant. September 3, 1998 was a day never forgotten. Zain and Obinze arrived a week later. It was fascinating to read about the funeral and burial customs of her father’s village as they celebrated the life of this charismatic, dynamic, confident, and larger-than-life 39-year-old, who had ventured into the world to become a doctor and musician.
Objiajulu, Obinze, and Zain returned to London. The mother’s grief ravaged the family. The days were dark. Obinze was expelled from school and disappeared during the days. Chiwetel did not return home until October still recovering from his injuries. The family was disintegrating as they faced anger, grief, fear, stress, trauma, rebellion, friction, and pain. Mama Nnukwu, Obiajulu’s formidable mother, arrived to help and establish a routine and obedience. Remembering who she was, Obiajulu vowed to stop hiding and grieving but committed herself to her children. She instilled discipline and order and had them reading and discussing books weekly. This is an uplifting memoir of how a Nigerian immigrant widow propelled her children to be their very best through tough love, hard work, discipline, sacrifices, and the Nigerian’s belief of uplifting the individual to one’s greatest potential. She even shipped her daughter at 9 years old to Nigeria for a couple of years of training. It is a common practice for Nigerian children living abroad to be sent home believing if they can live in Nigeria with its harsh and primitive conditions, then they can endure anything in the U.S. or Europe.
Her children were taught to succeed. According to a Nigerian adage, “Life is either pay now or pay later, but if you pay later, there’ll be interest.” By preparing and doing the work now will help your future. It is not about competing against others but being your best. “As of 2006, Nigerians were the most educated immigrant group in the United States – 17 percent held master’s degrees and 4 percent held doctorates. And by 2021, three of the top five richest Black people on earth were Nigerian.” .
Where did her children take her? Zain became a CNN anchor, Chiwetel an Oscar-nominated actor, Obinze a successful entrepreneur, and the baby, Kandibe, a medical doctor in London following in her father’s footsteps. I highly recommend this remarkable and touching memoir. 5 stars.
Objiajulu, Obinze, and Zain returned to London. The mother’s grief ravaged the family. The days were dark. Obinze was expelled from school and disappeared during the days. Chiwetel did not return home until October still recovering from his injuries. The family was disintegrating as they faced anger, grief, fear, stress, trauma, rebellion, friction, and pain. Mama Nnukwu, Obiajulu’s formidable mother, arrived to help and establish a routine and obedience. Remembering who she was, Obiajulu vowed to stop hiding and grieving but committed herself to her children. She instilled discipline and order and had them reading and discussing books weekly. This is an uplifting memoir of how a Nigerian immigrant widow propelled her children to be their very best through tough love, hard work, discipline, sacrifices, and the Nigerian’s belief of uplifting the individual to one’s greatest potential. She even shipped her daughter at 9 years old to Nigeria for a couple of years of training. It is a common practice for Nigerian children living abroad to be sent home believing if they can live in Nigeria with its harsh and primitive conditions, then they can endure anything in the U.S. or Europe.
Her children were taught to succeed. According to a Nigerian adage, “Life is either pay now or pay later, but if you pay later, there’ll be interest.” By preparing and doing the work now will help your future. It is not about competing against others but being your best. “As of 2006, Nigerians were the most educated immigrant group in the United States – 17 percent held master’s degrees and 4 percent held doctorates. And by 2021, three of the top five richest Black people on earth were Nigerian.” .
Where did her children take her? Zain became a CNN anchor, Chiwetel an Oscar-nominated actor, Obinze a successful entrepreneur, and the baby, Kandibe, a medical doctor in London following in her father’s footsteps. I highly recommend this remarkable and touching memoir. 5 stars.
May 7, 2022
HUGE thanks to Amistad, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Where the Children Take Us.
In Where the Children Take Us, Obiajulu’s daughter, Zain E. Asher, tells of her mother’s harrowing youth in war-torn Africa where she survived genocide, famine, and poverty. This was followed by a difficult fight to raise four children as a young, widowed, immigrant in South London. Yet, with Obiajulu's relentless support, her children exceeded all expectations! This book was absolutely riveting to read and is an incredibly moving tribute to the author’s mother!! Yes, some parts were heartbreaking, but others were absolutely joyful. I think Where the Children Take Us is my favorite memoir, ever. Honestly, I didn't want to put it down!!
#WheretheChildrenTakeUs #NetGalley
In Where the Children Take Us, Obiajulu’s daughter, Zain E. Asher, tells of her mother’s harrowing youth in war-torn Africa where she survived genocide, famine, and poverty. This was followed by a difficult fight to raise four children as a young, widowed, immigrant in South London. Yet, with Obiajulu's relentless support, her children exceeded all expectations! This book was absolutely riveting to read and is an incredibly moving tribute to the author’s mother!! Yes, some parts were heartbreaking, but others were absolutely joyful. I think Where the Children Take Us is my favorite memoir, ever. Honestly, I didn't want to put it down!!
#WheretheChildrenTakeUs #NetGalley
September 7, 2022
This is a fascinating memoir about a Nigerian single mother raising 4 children in the UK. All of these children grow into incredibly successful adults, including a CNN anchor (our author) and an Oscar nominated actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and this book details their trials and tribulations along the way. I’m not going to lie, part of the appeal here was learning about this woman’s parenting techniques, as I try to raise my three children as best I can🤣 This book went down real quick and was such an interesting read and a testament to how this woman overcame incredible adversity. I would recommend it to mothers (a great gift for a mom in your life) and memoir lovers.
September 30, 2022
Where the Children Take Us by Zain E. Asher, an anchor for CNN, shares her story which includes her mother’s story which indirectly includes the horrifying history of the 1966 Nigerian coup d’etat and ensuing Nigerian Civil War.
The memoir is filled with so much devastation and hope and triumph. I don’t know how many words typically fill a less than 300 page memoir but let me tell you, not a one was wasted here.
The storytelling itself never lagged, flowed seamlessly, and will captivate you entirely for the few short hours you will dedicate to it.
Highly highly recommend!
Follow Me for more bookish content
@picture_pretty_books
https://www.instagram.com/picture_pre...
The memoir is filled with so much devastation and hope and triumph. I don’t know how many words typically fill a less than 300 page memoir but let me tell you, not a one was wasted here.
The storytelling itself never lagged, flowed seamlessly, and will captivate you entirely for the few short hours you will dedicate to it.
Highly highly recommend!
Follow Me for more bookish content
@picture_pretty_books
https://www.instagram.com/picture_pre...
October 16, 2022
I liked this book, but something about it didn’t really connect with me fully. It’s a really inspirational story, but to me it feels like the author tells it almost at an emotional remove. In some ways, it seemed more like a straightforward, high-level retelling of her life history “then we did this and then we did that and I worked really hard at this…” than a truly personal, reflective story.
I really enjoyed the portion about her time in Nigeria and I admire her mom GREATLY. Wow, what a hero. I almost died of exhaustion just reading about her mom.
I did find it slightly off putting that she was telling her mom’s experiences and inner thoughts firsthand. In that way it seemed to bounce between being her mother’s memoir and her own.
I really enjoyed the portion about her time in Nigeria and I admire her mom GREATLY. Wow, what a hero. I almost died of exhaustion just reading about her mom.
I did find it slightly off putting that she was telling her mom’s experiences and inner thoughts firsthand. In that way it seemed to bounce between being her mother’s memoir and her own.
September 29, 2022
I was so enthralled I could not put this down. What a mother. What a family. What a legacy of strength, perseverance and determination.
April 17, 2022
Where the Children Take Us is a lovely tribute to the author’s mother. Left as a widow in 1988, with three children and one on the way, Obiajulu was a force to reckon with. She worked long hours and demanded much from her children. She often struggled with making her children obey, but always kept up on discipline and direction. Parents like her create successful offspring and that’s exactly what she did.
Hats off to her for never giving up.
Thanks to Amistad, Edelweiss, and NetGalley for the early read.
Hats off to her for never giving up.
Thanks to Amistad, Edelweiss, and NetGalley for the early read.
May 2, 2022
An incredible, inspirational story. Easy read (though there is some violence as Asher recounts a fatal accident and details of civil war.)
January 31, 2022
This book tells the story of a Nigerian family shattered by tragedy, and of a mother’s sacrifices for the sake of her children and their success. The events and suffering that Obiajulu experienced are unimaginable, but even more remarkable is the strength and determination she demonstrates despite each struggle and hardship. This story is one of triumph in the face of adversity and will inspire you to keep fighting hard.
“We are nothing if not fighters. We fight for what we want from life, we fight the forces that stand in our way, and most of all, we fight for our families.”
“We are nothing if not fighters. We fight for what we want from life, we fight the forces that stand in our way, and most of all, we fight for our families.”
March 4, 2023
This book isn't about Zain Asher, popular CNN anchor. Rather, it is about a much less known woman you probably have never heard about. It is about her mother, Obiajulu Okafor Ejiofor.
The story starts with the untimely death of her husband and her young's son near death experience in a freak car accident.
This book vividly describes her heartache, bitterness, sorrow and love for her husband's absence. Her resolve to love and raise her children despite the challenges of living in a poor section of London as an immigrant.
The narrative is easy, short and does not tend to overplay its hand. I like how it does not focus so much or be about Chiwetel Ejiofor, a famous Hollywood actor, one of Obiajulu's children.
The book is a poster of love, grit, determination, war, survival and the essence of being a Nigerian.
With the success of her four children, raising them alone, against all odds of racial discrimination, financial incapacities, societal demands, one would agree with Obiajulu that our children can indeed take us places.
This book is a tribute to all mothers, especially Nigerian mothers who are mirrored in Obiajulu's story.
I am all up for ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for this book.
The story starts with the untimely death of her husband and her young's son near death experience in a freak car accident.
This book vividly describes her heartache, bitterness, sorrow and love for her husband's absence. Her resolve to love and raise her children despite the challenges of living in a poor section of London as an immigrant.
The narrative is easy, short and does not tend to overplay its hand. I like how it does not focus so much or be about Chiwetel Ejiofor, a famous Hollywood actor, one of Obiajulu's children.
The book is a poster of love, grit, determination, war, survival and the essence of being a Nigerian.
With the success of her four children, raising them alone, against all odds of racial discrimination, financial incapacities, societal demands, one would agree with Obiajulu that our children can indeed take us places.
This book is a tribute to all mothers, especially Nigerian mothers who are mirrored in Obiajulu's story.
I am all up for ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for this book.
November 19, 2022
Absolutely incredible! Everybody needs to read this! This book is about a Nigerian family that was delivered a huge trial when the father was killed in an accident. The mom had small children and was expecting another. The way she ends up financially supporting plus raising her family on her own is awe inspiring. She was a key factor in helping her children succeed by being involved in their education and especially reading! All of her children grown up to be very successful and one of her sons is a famous actor and her daughter is on CNN and also was the author of this book.
October 19, 2022
Loved this book - and loved listening to the author telling it. Her mother is an amazing woman, sacrificing everything to give her children a better life.
May 24, 2022
Zain Asher's mother was a Nigerian immigrant living in London, pregnant with her fourth child, when she lost her husband in a tragic accident. As if starting life over in a foreign country isn’t enough of a challenge, she then became a single parent. I can’t imagine being in her situation.
While the content here is often heartbreaking, the writing is conversational, and there's always the promise of better things to come.
My favorite part of this book was being immersed in Nigerian culture and customs. I feel like I learned a great deal about the country and its people.
Asher's mother and her story feel like a message of hope when darkness threatens to swallow us.
*I received a free copy from HarperCollins.*
While the content here is often heartbreaking, the writing is conversational, and there's always the promise of better things to come.
My favorite part of this book was being immersed in Nigerian culture and customs. I feel like I learned a great deal about the country and its people.
Asher's mother and her story feel like a message of hope when darkness threatens to swallow us.
*I received a free copy from HarperCollins.*
July 31, 2022
I’m so thankful that my friend, Susan, gave “Where The Children Take Us” such a stellar review because I immediately requested it from my local library. Zain Asher’s memoir of her life in London as a child of Nigerian immigrants is a testament to a mother’s perseverance, determination and love to see that her children succeed…and they surely did.
I couldn’t help comparing her fierce style of parenting and her belief in education to what seems to be happening in the United States within our education system…the whitewashing of our history to make it palatable for the uninformed, the banning of books and the general disdain for academia and education will result in a population devoid of critical thinking skills and perfect targets for the powerful and corrupt. Scary stuff!
I highly recommend this love letter to a mother (& Nigerian culture) that suffered from terrible tragedy but never gave up and fought for a better life for her children…heartwarming and so inspiring!
I couldn’t help comparing her fierce style of parenting and her belief in education to what seems to be happening in the United States within our education system…the whitewashing of our history to make it palatable for the uninformed, the banning of books and the general disdain for academia and education will result in a population devoid of critical thinking skills and perfect targets for the powerful and corrupt. Scary stuff!
I highly recommend this love letter to a mother (& Nigerian culture) that suffered from terrible tragedy but never gave up and fought for a better life for her children…heartwarming and so inspiring!
August 24, 2022
What an incredibly inspiring book! Where the Children Take Us portrays the power of education and books and what true perseverance, hard work, and dedication look like. Zain’s mother, Ojiabulu, is one of the most amazing mothers and women I’ve encountered in a book. After losing her husband, Ojiabulu not only raised 4 children on her own and ran her own pharmacy but she ensured her children’s success. She would have weekly book club with her kids and discuss books at the dinner table, tutor her kids late into the night, and push for her kids to get into the best schools and programs. I was blown away by her example and it confirmed my feelings of the power of education and books in one’s life. Ojiabulu and her husband survived horrible atrocities during their childhoods when the Nigerian civil war broke out and to see how far they came and especially the success of their children is truly inspirational. The four children now all have successful careers that wouldn’t have been possible without their mother’s push, one becoming a doctor, another an Emmy and Academy Award nominated actor, one a successful business entrepreneur, and lastly a CNN anchor. I loved reading how when Zain’s father was going to medical school, Ojiabulu decided she wanted a career for herself and with two children managed to become a pharmacist. Ojiabulu would constantly strive to show her kids examples of Nigerian people succeeding, collecting them in a large book and labeling them uplifters. That showed the kids they could rise above their poverty and differences from the people around them and succeed. This book makes you believe in hope and that you can achieve whatever you dream of if you put in enough hard work and sacrifice. Where the Children Take Us should be required reading and was one of the best books I’ve read this year!
October 1, 2022
So inspiring and beautifully written.
December 20, 2022
A wonderful and inspirational book about a Nigerian family overcoming so many obstacles to find success. It reads as a love story to the mother who demonstrates so much strength and courage standing up for her family.
October 4, 2022
An uplifting memoir written by a current CNN news anchor about her incredible mother. Zain was one of 4 children raised by her single mom after a horrific car accident killed her father. Zain’s parents grew up in Nigeria. After surviving civil wars, famines, and starvation, her parents moved to London and got married when they were in their late teens. Her father was studying to be a dr. and her mother went to pharmacy school.
This memoir explains many parts of Nigerian culture. I loved learning about their strict discipline with their young children. They also believe in the concept of one person’s success brings success and honor to the entire village.
These ideals helped Zain’s mother to raise her 4 children on her own. They were expected to succeed and they have all succeeded in their chosen careers. Great read!
This memoir explains many parts of Nigerian culture. I loved learning about their strict discipline with their young children. They also believe in the concept of one person’s success brings success and honor to the entire village.
These ideals helped Zain’s mother to raise her 4 children on her own. They were expected to succeed and they have all succeeded in their chosen careers. Great read!
May 11, 2022
A memoir about the fierce love of a Nigerian immigrant mother- I loved every single page!
December 21, 2022
Outstanding book that was recommended by a fellow 4th grade teacher.
An honest/powerful memoir and tribute to the author’s mother.
An honest/powerful memoir and tribute to the author’s mother.
August 30, 2022
I found this to be a motivating memoir for parents and educators. While Asher's mother's parenting style may not sync with all parents, her drive to help her children overcome immigrant challenges and excel academically is inspirational. The setting is England so it's a slightly different and refreshing lens from American immigrant politics. The emotional range of this story is especially poignant. It begins with the sudden death of the obviously talented father through the mother's need to overcome grief to nurture her family to success. There is perfect heart/head balance to this story.
July 28, 2022
This was a memoir that gripped and didn’t let go. It feels like the story of the author’s mother and a tribute to her, more than an autobiography. It was truly amazing to see what Obiajulu and her family endured and yet still move forward with hope. Also, Asher makes an good point about how much of the world has no idea what happened to Nigeria in the 1960s because of everything else going on in the world. One of the things I would have liked to see more explored is how the Catholic faith helped/or hindered Obiajulu. It is mentioned throughout her life as being important but the story focuses more on the secular side of success and community.
The worlds discussed are so different from what I know, it is a story that threw my life into perspective and gives me much to think over.
The worlds discussed are so different from what I know, it is a story that threw my life into perspective and gives me much to think over.
October 31, 2022
What a lovely tribute to the author's mother. Anne amazing story of a Nigerian immigrant in London, reading four children alone after the death of her husband. I learned a lot about Nigeria and it's history of war, famine and ethic cleansing, that her mother lived through. This woman was fiercely determined her children would succeed and they did. She was the ultimate tiger mom, using quite unorthodox method to keep her kids oh the straight and narrow. Great book, the author is CNN reporter, her brother an Oscar winning actor, another brother a businessman and her sister a doctor. Highly recommend.
May 13, 2023
Ironic to finish on Mothers Day Eve. Zain Asher, not only is super proud of her own self-achievements, but of her mother's and grandmother's extreme determination and push to uplift/tap into their children's abilities/potential, let alone in the worst of times. It is about the best you can be, but these Mothers were also being the very best mothers they could be! The Nigerian culture I hope lives on and can only hope it radiates to us, as Americans. We need to take a lesson from this book. Thoroughly enjoyed.
December 2, 2022
This book was so inspiring and beautiful. I have always held a special place in my heart for Nigerians as one of my good friends from college was a Nigerian immigrant and a hard worker and dear soul. This story eloquently described why Nigerians are some of the most successful immigrants. Their culture focuses on family, academics and overcoming obstacles. I also loved how much the mother focused on the importance of reading and the evil of screens. One of my top 3 books of 2022!
December 28, 2022
I loved this book. I cried three times. It's the type of book that I need to own but also know that I may rarely read again. Funny that I really only picked it up because of the beautiful cover and the fact that the author's first name is the same as my brother's. I also think that I just like reading about experiences from other immigrant children lol anyways please read this. Gave it to my mom right after I finished because I think everyone should read it!!!!!
October 17, 2022
This is an incredible story of a “kickass mother” who went to extraordinary measures to make sure her children were successful, resilient, and hardworking. What an inspirational memoir! The author’s narration makes it even more special.
September 24, 2022
Interesting read
February 6, 2023
Such an amazing victory after so much heartache and sacrifice and hard hard work!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews