Customer Reviews

Fatou: An African Girl in Harlem

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"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

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.

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?

well after getting over the initial shock in the beginning and being disgusted, I kept reading. I know that they have different cultures in Africa, but reading about the events happening to Fatou..were disturbing and almost made me feel like a perv. Anyway, It seems that all of the characters were meshed together for me like no matter who was speaking (i can hear the voices in my head when I read lol) They had an African accent. (is it because the writer is of this descent?) I hated that Fatou was still so naieve even at 17, I hated Lama and his sister Patra. In spite of the typos and grammatical errors I forged on..hoping that at least someone would get their due...well I will let you find out on your own lol

THESE BOOKS HAD ME FROM BEGINNING TO ENDING. THESE BOOKS ARE GREAT, BUT YOU CANNOT JUST READ ONE, IN ORDER TO GET THE FULL CONCEPT, YOU MUST READ BOTH OF THE BOOKS. I READ BOTH BOOKS IN THREE DAYS. THEY WERE SUCH GREAT READS THAT I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO BE PUT IN A MOVIE VERSION AND SEE WHO WOULD PLAY THE CHARACTERS FOR THESE STORIES.

This was a exciting read. It keeps you hooked from beginning to end. In fact, it was so goood that we're reading part 2.

Fatou is a very young and naive girl from Africa wanting the education she has always dreamed of. Given her chance at the age of twelve, Fatou does not know the circumstances of her newfound opportunity and gets caught in a web of deceit, jealousy and abuse.

Married and internally scarred for life, Fatou must take actions in her own hands and finds that Harlem is not the place where she must learn the tricks of the trade. With the help of her new friend and mate David, Fatou is now in a war that might leave her the last one standing

Sidi opens us to African traditions and lifestyles of families whereas someone not familiar with the culture would not understand it (especially when a girl becomes a woman). At times I literary felt my stomach churn and thought I should call DCFS. Fatou was beyond naive and I felt irritated every time she spoke. How she survived at all is beyond me. If that wasn't enough, the errors throughout were unbelievable. By the end, my head ached and I was mentally exhausted.

Reviewed by: LaDonna

This book was good. At first I thought the book was wack, because the cover wasn't that appealing but after reading the book i couldn't put it down. This book is crazy. A must read.