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Nigeria Jones
Warrior Princess.
That’s what Nigeria’s father calls her. He’s raised her as part of the Movement, a Black separatist group based in Philadelphia. Nigeria is homeschooled and vegan and participates in traditional rituals that connect her and other kids from the group to their ancestors. But when her mother—the perfect matriarch to their Movement—disappears, Nigeria’s world is upended. She finds herself taking care of her baby brother and stepping into a role she doesn’t want.
Nigeria’s mother had secrets. She wished for a different life for her children, which includes sending her daughter to a private Quaker school outside of their strict group. Despite her father’s disapproval, Nigeria attends the school with her cousin, Kamau, and Sage, who used to be a friend. There, she slowly begins to blossom and expand her universe.
As Nigeria searches for her mother, she starts to uncover a shocking truth. One that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about her life and her family.
From award-winning author Ibi Zoboi comes a searing, powerful coming-of-age story about discovering who you are in the world—and fighting for that person—by having the courage to remix the founding tenets of your life to be your own revolution.
That’s what Nigeria’s father calls her. He’s raised her as part of the Movement, a Black separatist group based in Philadelphia. Nigeria is homeschooled and vegan and participates in traditional rituals that connect her and other kids from the group to their ancestors. But when her mother—the perfect matriarch to their Movement—disappears, Nigeria’s world is upended. She finds herself taking care of her baby brother and stepping into a role she doesn’t want.
Nigeria’s mother had secrets. She wished for a different life for her children, which includes sending her daughter to a private Quaker school outside of their strict group. Despite her father’s disapproval, Nigeria attends the school with her cousin, Kamau, and Sage, who used to be a friend. There, she slowly begins to blossom and expand her universe.
As Nigeria searches for her mother, she starts to uncover a shocking truth. One that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about her life and her family.
From award-winning author Ibi Zoboi comes a searing, powerful coming-of-age story about discovering who you are in the world—and fighting for that person—by having the courage to remix the founding tenets of your life to be your own revolution.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2023
95 people are currently reading
10093 people want to read
About the author
Ibi Zoboi
28 books2,523 followersIbi Zoboi's debut novel American Street was a National Book Award finalist. She is also the New York Times Bestselling author of Pride, My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich, and Punching the Air with co-author and Exonerated Five member, Yusef Salaam. She is the editor of the anthology Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America. Born in Haiti and raised in New York City, she now lives in New Jersey with her husband and their three children.
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May 2, 2023
Nigeria Jones has been raised to be a warrior, a revolutionary, a queen. Her father has dedicated his life to the Movement, and he wants Nigeria by his side as he dismantles white supremacy and forms a new, Black nation. This is the only world Nigeria knows, and until recently it's been the only world she wanted to know. But being in the fight day in and day out is exhausting, and the rest of the city, the state, the country—even with its racism and its injustices, even with white-majority spaces and white privilege—is calling.
Nigeria's story is complicated by the fact that her mother is no longer here, no longer in the Movement. She'd been all in for most of Nigeria's life, but her version of freedom was different than that of her husband, with different dreams: Nigeria in top institutions, with the option to break barriers from within as well as without. (Choices. A lot of the book comes down to choices.) And Nigeria is waiting desperately for her mother to return, but in the meantime she's adrift, with more responsibilities and questions than ever.
Zoboi paints such a nuanced picture here. There's so much that Nigeria wants to be and do—but she's not sure how much of it is available to her, both because the country's institutions were built for white people and because her father is so adamant that she have nothing to do with those institutions. But her father is not the villain, and nor should he be: he is a radical, outspoken in ways that make people uncomfortable, and he is truly doing what he believes is best for his people generally and Nigeria specifically. I love that there are so few character-villains here—there are characters who do not stand up when they should, and there are characters who stand up too loudly, and there are characters who make choices or comments rooted in ignorance. There isn't any one person to vanquish over the course of the book, though, and the book is far richer for it—it's not like systemic racism and oppression can be overcome by taking down one character, after all. To that end, I also love how conflicted Nigeria is: she wants some of the things her father has railed against, like education in an excellent but primarily white school, but she is also too much her father's daughter to accept such an environment easily, or to discard the truths that she know. Hers is not a story of discarding one belief system for another but of starting the process of interrogating her beliefs and truths and figuring out for herself what holds up.
There's a reveal near the end (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers!) that I'm not particularly keen on—I could see it coming from some distance away, but as a matter of personal preference I tend to prefer that sort of material to be worked in (and worked through) over the course of a book rather than held back from the reader. No matter how well it is done, I always read it as a bit gimmicky. That said—it is very well done here, and heart-wrenching to boot.
Here's hoping that this book makes it into many, many libraries and teenagers' bookshelves.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Pre-read hysteria: I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WAS A MYTH. It's been on my radar for literal years, but with no updates, no info on the Internet, no nothing. I took it off my shelves because I assumed it was a once-upon-a-time project that had stalled or otherwise not panned out. And now a publication date! And a cover! And an Amazon description! What a delight.
Nigeria's story is complicated by the fact that her mother is no longer here, no longer in the Movement. She'd been all in for most of Nigeria's life, but her version of freedom was different than that of her husband, with different dreams: Nigeria in top institutions, with the option to break barriers from within as well as without. (Choices. A lot of the book comes down to choices.) And Nigeria is waiting desperately for her mother to return, but in the meantime she's adrift, with more responsibilities and questions than ever.
Zoboi paints such a nuanced picture here. There's so much that Nigeria wants to be and do—but she's not sure how much of it is available to her, both because the country's institutions were built for white people and because her father is so adamant that she have nothing to do with those institutions. But her father is not the villain, and nor should he be: he is a radical, outspoken in ways that make people uncomfortable, and he is truly doing what he believes is best for his people generally and Nigeria specifically. I love that there are so few character-villains here—there are characters who do not stand up when they should, and there are characters who stand up too loudly, and there are characters who make choices or comments rooted in ignorance. There isn't any one person to vanquish over the course of the book, though, and the book is far richer for it—it's not like systemic racism and oppression can be overcome by taking down one character, after all. To that end, I also love how conflicted Nigeria is: she wants some of the things her father has railed against, like education in an excellent but primarily white school, but she is also too much her father's daughter to accept such an environment easily, or to discard the truths that she know. Hers is not a story of discarding one belief system for another but of starting the process of interrogating her beliefs and truths and figuring out for herself what holds up.
There's a reveal near the end (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers!) that I'm not particularly keen on—I could see it coming from some distance away, but as a matter of personal preference I tend to prefer that sort of material to be worked in (and worked through) over the course of a book rather than held back from the reader. No matter how well it is done, I always read it as a bit gimmicky. That said—it is very well done here, and heart-wrenching to boot.
Here's hoping that this book makes it into many, many libraries and teenagers' bookshelves.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Pre-read hysteria: I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WAS A MYTH. It's been on my radar for literal years, but with no updates, no info on the Internet, no nothing. I took it off my shelves because I assumed it was a once-upon-a-time project that had stalled or otherwise not panned out. And now a publication date! And a cover! And an Amazon description! What a delight.
October 9, 2023
Nigeria Jones is the story of a young Black girl whose dad has homeschooled her, raised her in his Black nationalist separatist cult, and taught her to hate all white people. I don't say that lightly; it's not one of those cases where somebody says "ugh, they must really hate white people" whenever they hear a Black person say reparations for slavery might be a good idea. No, Nigeria Jones has literally been taught that it's okay to tell random white people to their faces that she hates them. Fantastic parenting, Dad. A+.
So this whole book is Nigeria's journey to disentangle herself from her dad's cult and decide for herself what she actually believes. And it's really interesting seeing her break out of that bubble! She goes to school and starts meeting people of different races and different backgrounds for the first time, people who can start to challenge her thinking. But for all that, I don't think the narrative challenges her thinking enough. You see, for somebody who talks about whiteness All The Freaking Time, Nigeria actually doesn't understand it very well. She only has a shallow, surface-level conception of whiteness, the history of whiteness, and how these racial categories were constructed and maintained and evolved over time. She even thinks whiteness depends solely on the color of someone's skin, and that she herself can predict the level of racial prejudice a random stranger AND ALL THEIR ANCESTORS has experienced simply by looking at their skin color, which... I guess is a reasonable thing for her to think given the very narrow historical education she's obviously received?? BUT ALSO HAVE YOU EVER MET A JEWISH PERSON
The answer is no. No, she has never met a Jewish person. And I would bet good money that her cult leader dad is also a Holocaust denier. Especially since there is a documented history of extremist Black leaders dabbling in anti-Semitism, which would have been a fascinating thing for this book to explore; but once again, we don't go there. Because the story only wants to challenge Nigeria's thinking a little, not a lot.
I also have to say that while the exploration of Nigeria's grief for her mom was well done and emotionally moving... I am uncomfortable with how casually this book (and many stories like it) portray hallucination as a commonplace symptom of grieving. And I'm not talking about "I thought I smelled my loved one's perfume or glimpsed her disappearing around the street corner one day, even though I know she's dead." I'm talking full-on delusions and breaks with reality, to where the grieving POV character is completely convinced their loved one is still alive even though they literally saw them die, and we get a big Unreliable Narrator reveal at the end. You know what I'm talking about, right? I've been seeing this plot point more and more often, as if to suggest this is how the human brain NORMALLY processes death. And I just don't think it's as common as all that. Like, I remember reading Made You Up by Francesca Zappia, where the big twist is that the MC's little sister has really been dead the entire time. And granted, that was a story about a schizophrenic character; but I remember reading reviews where people pointed out that even for somebody diagnosed with schizophrenia, fully hallucinating that a dead person is still alive is actually quite rare. So maybe every second protagonist whose mom or boyfriend dies shouldn't also be doing it. Just for the realism. Ya feel me?
So this whole book is Nigeria's journey to disentangle herself from her dad's cult and decide for herself what she actually believes. And it's really interesting seeing her break out of that bubble! She goes to school and starts meeting people of different races and different backgrounds for the first time, people who can start to challenge her thinking. But for all that, I don't think the narrative challenges her thinking enough. You see, for somebody who talks about whiteness All The Freaking Time, Nigeria actually doesn't understand it very well. She only has a shallow, surface-level conception of whiteness, the history of whiteness, and how these racial categories were constructed and maintained and evolved over time. She even thinks whiteness depends solely on the color of someone's skin, and that she herself can predict the level of racial prejudice a random stranger AND ALL THEIR ANCESTORS has experienced simply by looking at their skin color, which... I guess is a reasonable thing for her to think given the very narrow historical education she's obviously received?? BUT ALSO HAVE YOU EVER MET A JEWISH PERSON
The answer is no. No, she has never met a Jewish person. And I would bet good money that her cult leader dad is also a Holocaust denier. Especially since there is a documented history of extremist Black leaders dabbling in anti-Semitism, which would have been a fascinating thing for this book to explore; but once again, we don't go there. Because the story only wants to challenge Nigeria's thinking a little, not a lot.
I also have to say that while the exploration of Nigeria's grief for her mom was well done and emotionally moving... I am uncomfortable with how casually this book (and many stories like it) portray hallucination as a commonplace symptom of grieving. And I'm not talking about "I thought I smelled my loved one's perfume or glimpsed her disappearing around the street corner one day, even though I know she's dead." I'm talking full-on delusions and breaks with reality, to where the grieving POV character is completely convinced their loved one is still alive even though they literally saw them die, and we get a big Unreliable Narrator reveal at the end. You know what I'm talking about, right? I've been seeing this plot point more and more often, as if to suggest this is how the human brain NORMALLY processes death. And I just don't think it's as common as all that. Like, I remember reading Made You Up by Francesca Zappia, where the big twist is that the MC's little sister has really been dead the entire time. And granted, that was a story about a schizophrenic character; but I remember reading reviews where people pointed out that even for somebody diagnosed with schizophrenia, fully hallucinating that a dead person is still alive is actually quite rare. So maybe every second protagonist whose mom or boyfriend dies shouldn't also be doing it. Just for the realism. Ya feel me?
Read
May 18, 2023Here I am, once again, coming out of a read by Zoboi that I was so excited for.. and just not feeling any of that excitement by the end of it all. I think maybe, as much as I'm enthralled by the author, excited by what they are putting out in the world, it's just maybe not meant to be for me.
I was lucky enough to attend an event and see Zoboi speak, and speak particularly about this book, and I was just star struck. I was so hooked by how they described this story, this journey, and how it related to them personally, and I was desperate to read it. So ending up here, with this result, is a bummer.
A lot of what Zoboi has done with this story is put the usual tropes of similar journeys on their head and flipped them. This isn't the slow understanding of injustice and systemic racism and oppression. This is from the point of view of someone who has lived and breathed this knowledge since infancy. Equally, instead of being someone who has broken down barriers and been integrated into a predominantly white school system, Nigeria's father is actively trying to keep her out of said school because it is, well, a system. And instead he wants to her remain homeschooled with the eventual goal of realizing the Movement, allowing for a curriculum, and a safe space, untouched by white society and structure.
My father doesn't want to change the world; he wants to create his own world.
But not free of the patriarchy, as Nigeria soon comes to realize.
Despite how interesting all of this was, I found myself hard pressed to push through this book. Despite the sympathy and concern and, well, rage, I felt for Nigeria, I was at equal turns frustrated and put off by her, too. I don't know if it was the rougher cut of the ARC or how she was meant to be read but she flipflopped a lot from one mentality to the next and maybe that's understandable with how she was raised vs what she was experiencing but it was very inconsistent. Equally, with all this heaviness, I struggled to connect or at least enjoy the characters, any character, and I'm not sure I found a single one. Maybe KD? Or maybe she was the one I liked because she was easy to like. I don't know.
I also wasn't all that surprised by the 'twist', if we can call it that, and I just kept waiting for that shoe to drop.
I don't know, I'm all mixed about this one. So I'm taking the easy way out and leaving this unrated. I am sad about this result but I'm hopeful this was just a case of wrong time for me to read this or maybe, again, I'm just not able to connect with the author's words despite loving their concepts. So I definitely would not discourage you from picking this up, in fact it's the opposite. I highly recommend you give this a go. Because frustration with Nigeria's character and circumstance aside, it's a whole new perspective on a similar story and I think it's incredibly important.
[..] where do we draw a line between the harmful ideas our loved ones perpetuate and our own journeys to find meaning and truth in the world?
And hey maybe I wasn't supposed to enjoy it, just learn from it. And I did. But I also like to enjoy my reads and sadly, as I didn't, well, here we are.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I was lucky enough to attend an event and see Zoboi speak, and speak particularly about this book, and I was just star struck. I was so hooked by how they described this story, this journey, and how it related to them personally, and I was desperate to read it. So ending up here, with this result, is a bummer.
A lot of what Zoboi has done with this story is put the usual tropes of similar journeys on their head and flipped them. This isn't the slow understanding of injustice and systemic racism and oppression. This is from the point of view of someone who has lived and breathed this knowledge since infancy. Equally, instead of being someone who has broken down barriers and been integrated into a predominantly white school system, Nigeria's father is actively trying to keep her out of said school because it is, well, a system. And instead he wants to her remain homeschooled with the eventual goal of realizing the Movement, allowing for a curriculum, and a safe space, untouched by white society and structure.
My father doesn't want to change the world; he wants to create his own world.
But not free of the patriarchy, as Nigeria soon comes to realize.
Despite how interesting all of this was, I found myself hard pressed to push through this book. Despite the sympathy and concern and, well, rage, I felt for Nigeria, I was at equal turns frustrated and put off by her, too. I don't know if it was the rougher cut of the ARC or how she was meant to be read but she flipflopped a lot from one mentality to the next and maybe that's understandable with how she was raised vs what she was experiencing but it was very inconsistent. Equally, with all this heaviness, I struggled to connect or at least enjoy the characters, any character, and I'm not sure I found a single one. Maybe KD? Or maybe she was the one I liked because she was easy to like. I don't know.
I also wasn't all that surprised by the 'twist', if we can call it that, and I just kept waiting for that shoe to drop.
I don't know, I'm all mixed about this one. So I'm taking the easy way out and leaving this unrated. I am sad about this result but I'm hopeful this was just a case of wrong time for me to read this or maybe, again, I'm just not able to connect with the author's words despite loving their concepts. So I definitely would not discourage you from picking this up, in fact it's the opposite. I highly recommend you give this a go. Because frustration with Nigeria's character and circumstance aside, it's a whole new perspective on a similar story and I think it's incredibly important.
[..] where do we draw a line between the harmful ideas our loved ones perpetuate and our own journeys to find meaning and truth in the world?
And hey maybe I wasn't supposed to enjoy it, just learn from it. And I did. But I also like to enjoy my reads and sadly, as I didn't, well, here we are.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
February 11, 2023
So many layers to this book. Beautifully written.
December 17, 2024
Imagine being raised to believe that you should separate yourself from white people because of their wrongdoings throughout history and spending every moment of your childhood talking and learning about oppression and racism. That is the life Nigeria Jones has had to live. She's 16, and her father's beliefs are so ingrained in her that it's second nature. She's never considered her dreams or desires so focused on "the movement."
This begins to change when she discovers that her mother no longer wants her to be homeschooled but has been working on getting her into a majority-white, private school. Even considering taking this on is a struggle for Nigeria. How can she be around colonizers in such a large capacity when she's been raised to believe they're not needed in any part of her world?'
This was a great read and made me evaluate my thoughts and beliefs. I tried to put myself in Nigeria's position and consider how I would handle things if I were raised in a similar capacity. This book was a little different from my usual reads this year (fantasy), but I'm glad I got a chance to read it. I was pulled in and enjoyed the storyline. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'm looking forward to checking out others.
This begins to change when she discovers that her mother no longer wants her to be homeschooled but has been working on getting her into a majority-white, private school. Even considering taking this on is a struggle for Nigeria. How can she be around colonizers in such a large capacity when she's been raised to believe they're not needed in any part of her world?'
This was a great read and made me evaluate my thoughts and beliefs. I tried to put myself in Nigeria's position and consider how I would handle things if I were raised in a similar capacity. This book was a little different from my usual reads this year (fantasy), but I'm glad I got a chance to read it. I was pulled in and enjoyed the storyline. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'm looking forward to checking out others.
July 29, 2025
começou MUITO bem mas desandou no meio.... ainda pensando
July 26, 2023
Wow, what an absolute powerhouse of a book! I don't even know if I will be able to adequately find the words to review it.
I have read multiple books by Ibi Zoboi and every time, I am absolutely blown away by the artistry of her words. Her writing is both poetic and hard-hitting, quiet and loud, vulnerable and strong. And she, without a doubt, wrote one of the best coming-of-age YA books I've read. Nigeria's journey to self-discovery was remarkable to witness. I appreciated how she wanted to create her own story, while also being able to honour both her mother and her father as she did.
I have read multiple books by Ibi Zoboi and every time, I am absolutely blown away by the artistry of her words. Her writing is both poetic and hard-hitting, quiet and loud, vulnerable and strong. And she, without a doubt, wrote one of the best coming-of-age YA books I've read. Nigeria's journey to self-discovery was remarkable to witness. I appreciated how she wanted to create her own story, while also being able to honour both her mother and her father as she did.
Want to read
March 9, 2023Ibi Zobi tells a story of a teenager in Philadelphia who is living life vicariously for her father. Nigeria Sankofa Jones is part of the "Movement," a "Power," to the "People" ideology," that her father wants to live by.
Kofi Sankofa lives by the Black Panther Party's vision and even begins his meetings with honor to the party. Kofi Sankofa is all about writing his books and bringing more people into the "movement But, as Nigeria becomes more aware of things, she realizes that things aren't the way her father has been teaching her.
Natalie, Nigeria's mother, had different ideas for her, Ones that would allow Nigeria to broaden her horizons and show her true intellect.
When Nigera goes to Philly Friends School, she realizes the true meaning of Diversity.
This is a story of Loss, Love, Healing, Understanding, Sacrifice, Pain, Growing, and so much more. Ibi Zobi touches on so many topics, such as race, discrimination, slavery, brutality, reparations, and police brutality,..... yet it doesn't outdo the main point of the book.
I am still at odds with my overall feelings about the book. Based on Kofi's actions, I think a 15 year would be more aware, and I don't know how forgiving they would be. The parent or not!
Thank you, NetGalley/Ibi Zobi/HarperCollins Children's Books, Balzer + Bray/For this eARC in advance for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.
Kofi Sankofa lives by the Black Panther Party's vision and even begins his meetings with honor to the party. Kofi Sankofa is all about writing his books and bringing more people into the "movement But, as Nigeria becomes more aware of things, she realizes that things aren't the way her father has been teaching her.
Natalie, Nigeria's mother, had different ideas for her, Ones that would allow Nigeria to broaden her horizons and show her true intellect.
When Nigera goes to Philly Friends School, she realizes the true meaning of Diversity.
This is a story of Loss, Love, Healing, Understanding, Sacrifice, Pain, Growing, and so much more. Ibi Zobi touches on so many topics, such as race, discrimination, slavery, brutality, reparations, and police brutality,..... yet it doesn't outdo the main point of the book.
I am still at odds with my overall feelings about the book. Based on Kofi's actions, I think a 15 year would be more aware, and I don't know how forgiving they would be. The parent or not!
Thank you, NetGalley/Ibi Zobi/HarperCollins Children's Books, Balzer + Bray/For this eARC in advance for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.
March 30, 2023
A powerful, evocative, striking and thought provoking coming-of-age story that follows teen, Nigeria Jones, as she grapples with what it means to be both Black and a woman in a society that likes to separate those two identities. Deeply moving and written with care, the pages of this book are filled with passion, emotion, fight and strength in all its many forms.
TW: discussions of racism, slavery, abuse and sexism
TW: discussions of racism, slavery, abuse and sexism
February 21, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this one. I appreciate the story, but I didn’t enjoy the story. Outside of Nigeria, all the characters just seemed stereotypical and one dimensional. I don’t feel any of the main issues were ever really addressed.
May 24, 2023
This book was definitely different from what I was expecting. Yes there are parts about the Movement, white supremacy, racism, etc., but really this book is about Nigeria finding herself amongst all of that.
Nigeria's dad sees everything in such black and white, Nigeria even is schooled at home since he really limits what she can do. She eventually really spreads her wings by going to school, making new friends, and dealing with her mom being gone. She finds her roots so much more once she isn't kept so much in a box. This book highlights struggles and triumphs in one package.
Thank you to Harper Collins Children's and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
Nigeria's dad sees everything in such black and white, Nigeria even is schooled at home since he really limits what she can do. She eventually really spreads her wings by going to school, making new friends, and dealing with her mom being gone. She finds her roots so much more once she isn't kept so much in a box. This book highlights struggles and triumphs in one package.
Thank you to Harper Collins Children's and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
February 20, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. I had to start it over several times. It wasn’t until I speed up listening to it by 3x that I was able to focus on the story. I feel this story is trying to say too many things. There are lots of lessons to be learned and soap boxes to stand on that it’s hard to follow. Lots of stereotypes and lots of preaching but I fail to find the real message the author wants us to learn.
June 5, 2023
I really wanted to like this book.. Especially, since my name is Nigeria.. but I couldn't get into this book at all.
March 1, 2024
This was a powerful book with a really fantastic premise, though I think the resolution (particularly with school) was pretty unsatisfying. I really wanted good things to happen for Nigeria throughout, and the author does a great job building the community of the Village House, but there are a few moments that I guess are sort of magical-realism-lite which don't really mesh with everything else going on, so that's a little jarring.
March 7, 2025
I loved every moment of this book. The writing and story telling were superb. Cannot recommend enough
May 15, 2023
Nigeria Jones has grown up in the Movement - started by her father to "divest from oppressive systems and create an all-Black utopia." Homeschooled all of her life, she finds out that before her mom recently left her, she worked hard to get her accepted to attend an elite Quaker Friends school in Philadelphia. Nigeria tries to attend but without her father's permission, it is going to be hard to stay at the school long-term. As Nigeria begins to see why her mother left and why she tried to help her find a way out as well, she starts questioning everything. This book is going to appeal to a fairly narrow group of high school students but there is a lot to discuss and ponder in this book. (However, anyone who does DEI work in independent schools definitely needs to read this book because there is a lot to unpack.)
May 18, 2023
3.5 stars; Thank you to HCC Frenzy for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
CW: Discussions of racism, sexism, and slavery
This is a powerful coming-of-age story. It’s about race, it’s about questioning your beliefs and your upbringing, it’s about going after what you want. Nigeria Jones is a very slow paced character driven novel, but it’s very thought provoking.
I know many people will love this book, and I’m really sad that I didn’t love it more. Recently, on a zoom event, I listened to zoboi talk about this book and what it meant to her. I was fascinated and excited, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s just not for me, and that’s okay. I did learn some things from it, but I can’t say I really enjoyed it. Though maybe that’s the point? That it’s not supposed to be enjoyable experience? Regardless, I hope some of you find this book meaningful to you, because it’s just a case of it not being for me
Nigeria Jones has grown up in a Black separatist group called the Movement in Philadelphia, run by her father, revolutionary Black separatist, Kofi Sankofa. Homeschooled, vegan, and raised on traditional cultures and rituals in order to form a connection with her ancestors in the motherland (Africa), Nigeria doesn’t know about, or want to know about, any other kind of life.
Until her mother disappears and her life is upended. Nigeria discovers just how much the Movement relied on her mother to be the glue that kept everything together and how much work she did behind the scenes. Left to take care of her baby brother and step into a role that she doesn’t want, Nigeria is shocked anew when she discovers her mother had secrets.
Secrets like: she wanted a different life for her children, and that she’d secretly applied for Nigeria to attend a private Quaker school. Despite her father’s vehement disapproval, Nigeria decides to start attending the school. There, among her cousin Kamau and former friend Sage, she starts to really flourish and expand her world.
But in her search for her mother, Nigeria uncovers another, deeper secret - one that causes her to question everything she thought she knew about her life and her family
CW: Discussions of racism, sexism, and slavery
This is a powerful coming-of-age story. It’s about race, it’s about questioning your beliefs and your upbringing, it’s about going after what you want. Nigeria Jones is a very slow paced character driven novel, but it’s very thought provoking.
I know many people will love this book, and I’m really sad that I didn’t love it more. Recently, on a zoom event, I listened to zoboi talk about this book and what it meant to her. I was fascinated and excited, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s just not for me, and that’s okay. I did learn some things from it, but I can’t say I really enjoyed it. Though maybe that’s the point? That it’s not supposed to be enjoyable experience? Regardless, I hope some of you find this book meaningful to you, because it’s just a case of it not being for me
Nigeria Jones has grown up in a Black separatist group called the Movement in Philadelphia, run by her father, revolutionary Black separatist, Kofi Sankofa. Homeschooled, vegan, and raised on traditional cultures and rituals in order to form a connection with her ancestors in the motherland (Africa), Nigeria doesn’t know about, or want to know about, any other kind of life.
Until her mother disappears and her life is upended. Nigeria discovers just how much the Movement relied on her mother to be the glue that kept everything together and how much work she did behind the scenes. Left to take care of her baby brother and step into a role that she doesn’t want, Nigeria is shocked anew when she discovers her mother had secrets.
Secrets like: she wanted a different life for her children, and that she’d secretly applied for Nigeria to attend a private Quaker school. Despite her father’s vehement disapproval, Nigeria decides to start attending the school. There, among her cousin Kamau and former friend Sage, she starts to really flourish and expand her world.
But in her search for her mother, Nigeria uncovers another, deeper secret - one that causes her to question everything she thought she knew about her life and her family
July 22, 2023
Ibi Zoboi continues being solid like 24k gold.
March 18, 2024
Brainwashed kid of an abusive dad in a vegan homeschool cult - taught to tell white people to their faces that she hates them - they are taught to HATE white people in the most literal want-them-all-dead way.
She is 100% convinced she can see how racist someone and their ancestors are… by looking at their skin color. And she acts on those assumptions - based entirely on people’s skin color - with vicious hatred based literally on skin color - and punishes people for HER perception of THEIR skin color.
Only she’s never been around any other ethnicities (because Cult) so no Hispanic people, no Jewish or Greek people, no Middle Eastern people… yet she spews hatred everywhere she goes and feels like she’s fighting a Holy War by?? Viciously harassing?? Anyone of any other ethnicity??
“I used to dream militant dreams of taking over America and showing these white people how it’s done.”
Showing white people how what’s done?
Racism?
Yep - because she and her cult are all VERY racist against anyone who isn’t ~the right kind~ of African - hate Hispanics and Middle Easterners and everybody - she showed white people how racism is REALLY done.
And since every person but her is written as a stereotypical caricature — she is proven “right” when really, the other characters are just written to be racial stereotypes.
She is 100% convinced she can see how racist someone and their ancestors are… by looking at their skin color. And she acts on those assumptions - based entirely on people’s skin color - with vicious hatred based literally on skin color - and punishes people for HER perception of THEIR skin color.
Only she’s never been around any other ethnicities (because Cult) so no Hispanic people, no Jewish or Greek people, no Middle Eastern people… yet she spews hatred everywhere she goes and feels like she’s fighting a Holy War by?? Viciously harassing?? Anyone of any other ethnicity??
“I used to dream militant dreams of taking over America and showing these white people how it’s done.”
Showing white people how what’s done?
Racism?
Yep - because she and her cult are all VERY racist against anyone who isn’t ~the right kind~ of African - hate Hispanics and Middle Easterners and everybody - she showed white people how racism is REALLY done.
And since every person but her is written as a stereotypical caricature — she is proven “right” when really, the other characters are just written to be racial stereotypes.
February 21, 2024
Ibi Zoboi is one of my favorite YA authors. Once again, she didn't disappoint with this one.
I will say that the last three chapters changed my whole view of the novel, and made me see things sooo differently. I even teared up which wasn't something I was expecting to do. Great strong characters, and I loved reading about how Nigeria evolved and becomes her own person. I really want a sequel. Loved it!
I will say that the last three chapters changed my whole view of the novel, and made me see things sooo differently. I even teared up which wasn't something I was expecting to do. Great strong characters, and I loved reading about how Nigeria evolved and becomes her own person. I really want a sequel. Loved it!
June 9, 2023
Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi is an enlightening and inspiring coming of age YA novel. Focuses on the deep issues of what's it means to be Black and American and related to identity. Nigeria Jones is the daughter of a noted Black revolutionary separatist leader discovering who she is in the world. Her father is against institutions run by society such as all schools and hospitals.
June 20, 2023
Not much to say about this one. It didn't grip me but I was able to complete it.
November 22, 2024
This is a heartwarming coming-of-age story about Nigeria, a teenage Black girl, who steps into an adult role much too soon when her mom leaves. She feels it's her duty to look after her baby brother and live up to the expectations of her strict father. Together, they're part of a Black separatist group, living in a community that values their shared beliefs. Nigeria is caught in a battle between following her dad's wishes and chasing her own dreams, including attending a prestigious school her mom had hoped for her.
This tale beautifully weaves together themes of Black identity, education, sexuality, community bonds, and racial dynamics in the U.S., all through the eyes of a young girl. Watching her navigate Erikson's psychosocial stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion was incredibly captivating. Nigeria strives to find her own path, amidst the pressure from her father, her mom's expectations, and her own inner turmoil, including dealing with intense grief that leads to hallucinations. It's an inspiring read for young adults on their own journey of self-discovery during those challenging teenage years.
This tale beautifully weaves together themes of Black identity, education, sexuality, community bonds, and racial dynamics in the U.S., all through the eyes of a young girl. Watching her navigate Erikson's psychosocial stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion was incredibly captivating. Nigeria strives to find her own path, amidst the pressure from her father, her mom's expectations, and her own inner turmoil, including dealing with intense grief that leads to hallucinations. It's an inspiring read for young adults on their own journey of self-discovery during those challenging teenage years.
October 21, 2023
The intense young adult novel was threaded with powerful themes of love, loss, freedom and revolution. Nigeria Jones is a sixteen-year-old girl born into the Movement, a Black separatist group in Philadelphia run by her father. She is homeschooled, vegan and engages in traditional practices that bring her and her community closer to their ancestors. But when her mother disappears, everything changes and Nigeria starts to question her father’s teachings, her own beliefs and what her mother always hoped for her. Straddling two worlds, Nigeria grapples with what she’s always been told and what she’s now seeing for herself. This book is full of beautiful prose, powerful language and an unwavering sense of passion in multiple directions. Readers will likely grapple with many of the same questions Nigeria grapples with as she takes steps to claim her own identity and decide who she wants to be and what she wants to stand for.
May 10, 2024
💜
What a thought provoking story. I empathized a lot with Nigeria; I loved her strength in standing up to herself and coming to terms with the loss of her mother. Her father had me upset for about 90% of the book but I digress.
What a thought provoking story. I empathized a lot with Nigeria; I loved her strength in standing up to herself and coming to terms with the loss of her mother. Her father had me upset for about 90% of the book but I digress.
July 19, 2023
I found the setting of this story really interesting, but I wish a little more would have been done with it. I wish Nigeria's relationship with her father was explored even further, and what it means to go grow up so isolated. There were also parts of this which were hard to believe- I don't know why Nigeria would have been allowed to go to school for so long if her father didn't allow it. On one hand it seemed like she was failed by all the adults, who seemed to want her to be allowed to do what she wanted, but on the other hand they all encouraged her to make up with her father, even though the way he treated her and the way she was raised clearly was damaging to her.
December 4, 2023
Intriguing. Fresh. So multifaceted. I loved this book. The world of Nigeria’s family was very familiar to me as I’ve taught for seven years at an Africentric school where many students had been previously homeschooled. Nigeria changes so much and through the storyline, many questions, topics, were addressed including Black nationalists/Africentrists, diversity within these communities, white liberalism, patriarchy, etc. So much here and so well told. Nigeria’s voice was also strong, consistent, and reassuring. I love how she grows, changes, and surprises me as a reader.
December 27, 2024
4/5⭐️ I really enjoyed this beautiful story of this young woman! This was a classic case of a child being brainwashed by their parent and confused by the outside world! It’s definitely a coming of age story! That ending was confusing to me! I don’t know if that was a full circle moment but there are a lot of people that would have continued down that path! I just find it hard to believe that that’s the path for a young woman!
May 18, 2025
Listened to this on Audiobook and it was pretty good. A good solid 4 star read in my opinion especially for like a YA book. I appreciated the well thought out and fully formed characters in this book. Every character had a unique voice and personality that was conveyed in the writing.Every character in this story had a purpose for being in it. It was interesting exploring what it would be like if you were born into what someone would call a cult like group, through the eyes of a 16 1/2 year old black girl. The main character Nigeria struggled a lot with learning how to develop her own thoughts, opinions and dreams outside of the things she had been born and bred to believe were true. On top of that she is dealing with the trauma of a tragic event that partially causes her to disassociate from reality. I also really liked that the author gave us closure at the end of this book. You should def add this to your TBR.
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