Ayo Oyeku – författare

Do the tears of the lonely ever dry? Okikis world is awakened by a strange encounter with a mysterious cashew tree, a talking tree. He finds solace in the mysterious tree as he leans on its tutelage to battle the vicissitudes of his family life. He faces the challenge of an intolerable father, Adigun, who grossly abuses his wife and makes life unbearable for his three children. Amope, a humble-hearted mother, with pious extravagances, would not allow her children to show ill feelings toward their benefactor as she battles with epilepsy. All these culminate in the mind of Doja, Amopes first son, as he awaits the accurate time to pin his fathers callousness against the walls of vengeance.The stage is set when Okiki grasps education as his lasting panacea to end his tears. But darkness begins to roam around his flickering light of hope when his father escapes to the city with his secret lover, his brother is being pursued by a weight of guilty conscience, and his sisters marital dream is being smeared in their pursuit to salvage Amopes life.This is a heart-rending and inspiring story set in Nigerias post independence years, creating a perfect imagery of a failing nation through a dysfunctional family, while the vision for a glorious future is set in the eyes of a lonely child.

Honor Book for the Children’s Africana Book AwardA Notable Social Studies Trade BookA Bank Street College Best Book of the YearA Children’s Book Council Teacher and Librarian FavoriteA powerful story of family love amid the backdrop of war, as seen through the eyes of a child.The Nigerian Civil War began and ended on a Thursday, and for the family in this book, their lives are forever changed by that day.Told from a child’s perspective, this story follows one family on their journey as they lose their home, traverse a country under the siege of war, and finally settle in a camp for displaced persons. But through it all, the love of this child’s family shines bright, helping to illuminate even the darkest paths. With poetic text by Nigerian author Ayo Oyeku and sensitive portraits by illustrator Lydia Mba, this story reveals the deep costs of war on our future generations and begs for a more peaceful world.Information about the Nigerian Civil War, an Author’s Note, and Discussion Questions are included.