The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander 
Reviewed by: Chelsea Bunton, Youth Services Assistant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Middle School (6th-8th grade)
What is this book about? Kofi is a young boy living in the Asante kingdom of Africa around the year 1860. The story follows his daily life, learning the “Queen’s” English at school, swimming with his friends, and getting embarrassed in front of his crush, Ama. As with his other middle grade novels, Alexander uses verse-poetry to tell the story, interspersed with free-written chapter beginnings to set the tone of each section. The author states that he wanted to tell an African history story that started from the beginning, not the “middle,” which he considers to be slavery. The book accomplishes that as we follow a young boy living a rich culture before ultimately being captured. Kofi’s story is one of vibrant lifestyle, heartbreak, and the harrowing journey of a young boy who feels very real and easy to connect with.
My Review: “…until the lions tell their side of the story, the tale of the hunt will always celebrate the hunter…”
This book was a very compelling tale of the life lived BEFORE slavery. I agree with the author, that too often historical accounts focus on slavery when there is so much rich history that happened before. Especially in this case, where we get to see an individual’s life before captivity- it is humanizing, heartbreaking, and engrossing. I actually wasn’t sure if this was a story leading to slavery throughout much of the book- and I think that was the correct assumption as it is simply a vignette into a culture and a story of a boy coming of age. I enjoyed the writing style as well- books written in verse are a nice break from prose every once in a while. It is nice to move through the pages quickly, while still feeling like you are absorbing and perceiving the right things. This was a quick read that feels essential to a comprehensive understanding of lives lived before enslavement.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Poignant, Authentic, Passionate
Give This a Try if You Like… Stamped (For Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You by: Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, Books written in verse (like The Crossover or The One and Only Ivan), Stella by Starlight by: Sharon M. Draper, It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime by: Trevor Noah
Rating: 5/5
