Twelve year old Fatou travels from West Africa to America thinking she'ss furthering her education. Yet, she arrives in New York City greeted by a man three times her age-someone from her village who paid dowry to be her husband. Suffering through pedophiles, deplorably cruel living conditions, and slave life job eventual pushes over the edge. Fatou refuses to be a victim and exerts control of her life by becoming part of Harlem'ss fast money scene. This fast paced novel examines what'ss happens when the bonds of family and tradition fall apart. And its shows how a strong and fearless woman can hold her own surrounded by grimey men in the dangerous drug game.
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Sidibe Ibrahima, affectionately called "Sidi," was born and raised in Africa's Ivory Coast until he moved to Germany in 1982. He attended college in Germany and developed his entrepreneurial spirit there before returning to the Ivory Coast to open Sidibe & Freres Distribution (an import & export company) in 1995.
In 2000, Sidi headed to America armed with his ability to speak seven different languages as well as write four and began working at a jewelry store for $3.50 and driving a cab. When he amassed $600 in savings, he opened his first table in Harlem selling books.
In addition to selling books, Sidi began reading books from new publishing companies and giving them to other book vendors. Due to his business savvy and networking skills, he expanded to owning 5 book stands that encompasses various neighborhoods Brooklyn, New York.
Over the years, Sidi has helped many authors, including Terri Woods (Meow Meow Productions), Shannon Holmes (Triple Crown) Danielle Santiago (Little Ghetto Girl), Treasure E. Blue (Harlem Girl Lost), Al Saadiq Banks (No Exit, Bloc Party, Sincerely Yours), Mark Anthony (Paper Chasers, Dogism, Ladies Night), Antoine "Inch" Thomas ( Flower's Bed, No Regrets, Unwilling to Suffer), Anthony Whyte (Ghetto Girls I & II, Streets of New York), K'wan (Gangsta Road Dowgs, Street Dreams), Michael Evans (It Was All In the Cards) and many others by helping them in promoting their books. On the distribution side, Sidi has assisted Culture Plus and A&B distributors and Bigdealbooks.
Recently, he's worked with Ashante Kahare, Homo Thug, and helped Ashante to amass 25,0000-50,000 in sales and become a best seller.
Sidi's "starting small but thinking big" attitude has helped him to become the most well known seller of African American books in New York City. He is constantly sent books to sample as well as galley proofs prior to the book being printed. He pretty much has kept his finger on the pulse of African American book patrons and provided them with what they have both needed in wanted in quality literature. He has a natural instinct and knowledge of the ever increasing market for literature that many companies would spend countless dollars to acquire that market share.
Sidi's desire to continue to be the premier source for quality literature prompted him to create Harlem Book Center (HBC), a publishing and distribution company in based in Harlem, NY . The first release from HBC is Fatou: An African Girl in Harlem, a novel that as actually penned by Sidi himself. Both HBC and "Fatou" are doing well in their infancy and are anticipated to surpass Sidi's original expectations. Be sure to visit Harlem Book Center online (sidisbooks.com) or at the store (2294 Frederick Douglas Blvd. 8th Ave, New York, NY 10027) to keep abreast of current and ongoing projects.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Coming to America,
By
This review is from: Fatou: An African Girl in Harlem (Paperback)
"Today your life will change forever." Twelve year old Fatou had no idea of the severity of those words spoken by her father. Her innocent mind had hopes and dreams of him becoming an elder, moving her poor family to a more developed section of their West African village. Fatou will come to discover that her fate was sealed before her birth; she is to marry the much older son of her father's late best friend. Within days she loses her innocence to her new husband, forty-five year old Lama Contravene and is moved to America under the pretense she is going to school.
Fatou's world is turned upside down when she realizes she was deceived and would not be continuing her studies, but be forced to grow up before her time, under Lama's control. Lama gets Fatou a job braiding hair at Fifi's braid Shop. It is at Fifi's where Fatou meets people and gains the confidence that would allow her to break free. Becoming a teenage madam could be considered one of the more tolerable things Fatou experienced. But when she meets and falls in love with David, a Jamaican drug kingpin, she is in for the ride of her life. She evolves into the ultimate ride or die chick. Despite the many typographical and grammatical errors, this was a great read; one that had me fully engrossed and concerned about Fatou's welfare. Fatou, the African girl from Harlem transforms right before our eyes and at the end of the book I was sorry to see her go. Well done Sidi! Englishruler ARC Book Club Inc. Star Rating: 4 stars
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Urban Book With An African Twist (3.5 stars),
By
This review is from: Fatou: An African Girl in Harlem (Paperback)
It was truly a refreshing experience to read an urban tale with a new twist. Sidi chronicles the life of an innocent African girl (Fatou) who's American dream turns into an American nightmare. 12 year old Fatou an African immigrant believes that she's being sent to America to further her education but unbeknownst to her she was sent to America to be the wife of a man almost 4 times her age.
Upon arriving to America Fatou was kept in a Harlem Brownstone forced to submit herself to a man she detested. Afterwards she was let out only to braid hair in an African Hair Braiding store for pennies. But upon meeting David a young Jamaican drug lord will Fatou's life change for the better? Only if a life of crime could be considered better. David boosts Fatou's self esteem and creates an individual too strong for even him to control. The mean streets of N.Y. only further destroys the innocence of Fatou as she takes back her life and begins a new life of crime with David by her side. The urban part of this book was very predictable but seeing America from the eyes of a frightened young girl with no voice made Fatou: An African Girl in Harlem an above average read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Looking for a better life,
By MzCarmen "Reading Mom" (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fatou: An African Girl in Harlem (Paperback)
Fatou is about a very young and beautiful girl that feels she should not be living in provert in Africa due to her being so beautiful. Instead she feels that she should instead be privy to the finer things in life.
Fatou learns that she's going to America to finish her studies, so she is excited. Finally she will go to America and live the life she has always dreamt of having. In America she lives with "Uncle" Lama. She's thrown into a situation she has no control over. Even though she is only 17 years old, she is wise beyond her years. She learns about living life on the streets and is no longer the timid young girl from Africa and is feared by many. Is this the life for Fatou?
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