by Imbolo Mbue
First published 2020
In the fictional African village of Kosawa, the people live a simple life, tending their farms and raising their children. But when an American oil company arrives, promising prosperity, the villagers soon discover the devastating cost. As the company's pollution poisons the land and water, the people of Kosawa must band together to defend their way of life. Led by a young woman named Thula, they wage a decades-long battle against the powerful corporation, risking everything to protect their community and the environment they cherish.
Genres: fiction, historical-fiction, african-literature, contemporary, social-issues, environmental-science
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Setting: Africa, Kosawa
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
364 pages · Hardcover · Random House
Content warnings: colonialism