{"product_id":"9781909770652-coconut","title":"Coconut","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Black girl fostered by a white family in the 1960s and her search for belonging and identity\u003cbr\u003eA generation of Nigerian children were born in Britain in the fifties and sixties, privately fostered by white families, then taken to Nigeria by their parents. Coconut is the story of one of those children.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Why am I not white like everybody else?' Nan came and sat on the edge of my bed. 'What do you mean?' A tender finger brushed against my cheek. 'Well, everyone in this house is white. Why am I Black?'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA generation of Nigerian children were born in Britain in the fifties and sixties, privately fostered by white families, then taken to Nigeria by their parents. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCoconut \u003c\/i\u003eis the story of one of those children.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1963, North London. Nan fosters one-year-old Florence Olájídé and calls her 'Ann.' Florence adores her foster mother more than anything but Nan, and the children around her, all have white skin and she can't help but feel different. Then, four years later, after a weekend visit to her birth parents, Florence never returns to Nan. Two months after, sandwiched between her mother and father plus her three siblings, six-year-old Florence steps off a ship in Lagos to the fierce heat of the African sun.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSwapping the lovely, comfortable bed in her room at Nan's for a mat on the floor of the living room in her new home, Florence finds herself struggling to adjust. She wants to embrace her cultural heritage but doesn't speak Yoruba and knows nothing of the customs. Clashes with her grandmother, Mama, the matriarch of the family, result in frequent beatings. Torn between her early childhood experiences and the expectations of her African culture, she begins to question\u003ci\u003e who\u003c\/i\u003e she is. Nigerian, British, both?  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFlorence's story is an unputdownable tale of loss and loneliness, surviving poverty, maltreatment and fighting to get an education. Most of all, it's a moving, uplifting and inspiring account of one woman's self-determination to discover who she is and find her way to a place she can call home. Perfect for fans of Lemn Sissay's \u003ci\u003eMy Name is Why\u003c\/i\u003e and Tara Westover's \u003ci\u003eEducated\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAudiobook narrated by Adjoa Andoh and featured on the Graham Norton Bookclub\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat readers are saying about \u003ci\u003eCoconut\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eWow, how do I even do this book justice. I\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eabsolutely loved\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003ethis\u003c\/b\u003e. I would recommend this book to everyone. important and powerful. completely captivating and fascinating. \u003cb\u003estunning\u003c\/b\u003e.' \u003ci\u003eSibzzreads\u003c\/i\u003e, 5 stars\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eHeart-breaking\u003c\/b\u003e. eye-opening. \u003cb\u003eheart-warming\u003c\/b\u003e. I couldn't recommend this enough. \u003cb\u003efantastic!\u003c\/b\u003e' NetGalley reviewer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Extraordinarily moving\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cb\u003ea stunning read\u003c\/b\u003e, beautifully written with searing honesty and humor.' Abi Daré, international bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Girl with the Louding Voice\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eOne of the best non-fiction books I have read\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cb\u003eAmazing\u003c\/b\u003e.' NetGalley reviewer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eI sped through it as I could not put it down\u003c\/b\u003e.' Goodreads reviewer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Remarkable.with grace, wit, insight and not a little heartbreak.' Adjoa Andoh, actress and star of Netflix series Bridgerton\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eIncredible\u003c\/b\u003e. There were places I was shocked; places I was saddened; places I was amazed, and places where I laughed. Florence is now right up there at the top of my mental list of 'inspirational people'. NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eI found myself completely immersed from the start! \u003c\/b\u003eFlorence writes with honesty, beauty and courage.delving deeply into some of the most important issues of our times.' Christy Lefteri, international bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Beekeeper of Aleppo\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A piece of poetic resilience, \u003ci\u003eCoconut\u003c\/i\u003e is an integral intervention in our understanding of race, identity and belonging.' David Lammy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Fascinating, emotional and enlightening\u003c\/b\u003e. I felt myself rooting for Florence all the way. \u003cb\u003ecaptivating\u003c\/b\u003e. Highly recommended.' Karen King\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40945915658337,"sku":"9781909770652","price":8.34,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_27019400.jpg?v=1721462623","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781909770652-coconut","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}