No Laughter Here [Paperback]

Rita Williams-Garcia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 23, 2007

Even though they were born in different countries, Akilah and Victoria are true best friends. But Victoria has been acting strange ever since she returned from her summer in Nigeria, where she had a special coming-of-age ceremony. Why does proud Victoria, named for a queen, slouch at her desk and answer the teacher's questions in a whisper? And why won't she laugh with Akilah anymore?

Akilah's name means "intelligent," and she is determined to find out what's wrong, no matter how much detective work she has to do. But when she learns the terrible secret Victoria is hiding, she suddenly has even more questions. The only problem is, they might not be the kind that have answers.

In this groundbreaking novel, Coretta Scott King Honor winner Rita Williams-Garcia uses her vividly realistic voice to explore an often taboo practice that affects millions of girls around the world every year. Readers will identify with headstrong, outspoken Akilah, whose struggle to understand what's happened to Victoria reveals a painful truth in an honest and accessible way.

--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8--The friendship between two fifth-grade girls is at the center of this powerful novel, which also deals with the issue of female genital mutilation (FMG). Akilah, a 10-year-old African-American girl from Queens, can't wait for her best friend, Victoria, to come home from a visit to her grandmother in Nigeria. The Victoria who returns home, however, seems like a very different girl--quiet, reserved, and unhappy. Akilah spends the first half of the novel trying to figure out what happened to her friend. Victoria finally spills the truth: her family allowed a doctor to remove her clitoris so she would be a "clean and proper" Nigerian girl. Akilah is outraged, but keeps her friend's secret until her mother finds out by accident. Akilah's mother, also angered, screams at Victoria's mother and causes a rift between the two families. Williams-Garcia provides age-appropriate details without using anatomical terms and addresses some cultural issues and contradictions without overwhelming readers. Mostly the story focuses on the relationship between the two girls and Akilah's sometimes troubled bond with her mother. Because the story is told entirely from Akilah's point of view, the emotional impact of FMG is somewhat muted. However, readers with an interest in human rights and world issues may find the novel compelling, and it can also be appreciated as a story about friendship.--Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Gr. 4-8. Akilah can't wait to start fifth grade with her best friend, Victoria, who has been in Nigeria for the summer. But Victoria returns completely changed: withdrawn, physically unwell, and unable to laugh. A fifth-grade puberty film gives Victoria the words to tell Akilah what has happened to her: "I don't have what other girls have." Victoria has survived female circumcision, and Akilah is furious but sworn to secrecy, until her warm, supportive parents discover the truth and expose Victoria's family secret. Of the several recent novels about FGM (female genital mutilation), including Pat Collins' The Fattening Hut [BKL N 1 2003], for older readers, Williams-Garcia's story, written in Akilah's colloquial African American voice, is most successful. It combines a richly layered story with accurate, culturally specific information in language that's on-target for the audience, and the author tempers what could have been strident messages with interesting contrasts: Akilah's parents view FGM as an atrocity, even as they revere African culture; Akilah's aunt, who beats her children, raises questions about the forms of brutality ingrained in many families. Then there's Akilah herself, simultaneously confronted with her first menstrual period and the gravity of what has happened to her friend. Readers will have lots of questions for adults after reading this skillfully told, powerful story. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 133 pages
• Publisher: Amistad (January 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064409929
• ISBN-13: 978-0064409926
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,702,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Serious Subject--An Excellent Read for Young Adults!, April 12, 2004

By 

vannie osborne "vannie osborne" (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Laughter Here (Hardcover)

Rarely do I pick up YA (Young Adult) fiction, but as a librarian I have the privilege to see what comes across the table in all genres and to generally see where my nose will lead me. This is a story of two families: African and African-American on American soil. The story centers around two very bright, precocious 5th graders: Victoria and Akiliah. Ms. Garcia does a fine job in creating the minds and concerns of these two young students. When Victoria returns to Nigeria with her family, she undergoes FGM. This change affects both Victoria and Akiliah in more ways than one. Whereas FGM is custom in Africa, here, in America, one sees it as child abuse if not named something else sick and sadistical. The beauty in this story is the insight into young minds, specifically Akiliah's and what causes young people, perfect students, to act out. In Akiliah's case, her perfect record is ruined when she becomes protective of Victoria. Her father has given her the name: Girl Warrior. An alter-ego that allows Akiliah to stand up for herself against everyone, including the defiance of her own mother. The reasons for Akiliah acting out are sort of justified. The author never sides in this matter, but one might surely opine that Akiliah's infractions are just and righteous given the situations she finds herself. We also see how ultra-caddy middle classed black women can be whether African or African-American. All the same except where customs and cultural values are in place. More importantly, No Laugher Here englightens and in some manner furthers the awareness and fight against female mutilation in Africa. The topic is highly serious, however, Ms. Garcia shapes this story in a manner that is easily accessible and educational for all young adults!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning and Sensitive, March 25, 2004

By 

Jesse Penitent "zekaille" (Somewhere, Out There) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Laughter Here (Hardcover)

I was skeptical of a book for young teens and pre-teens dealing with FMG, but Williams-Garcia has written a book that is stunning in its quiet approach and sensitive handling of the material. Her ability to get inside the head of the inquisitive Akilah is so good I stopped being an adult children's librarian and became the outraged angry 5th grader trying to protect her friend. This is an important book and should get immediate and wide readership. Discussion will be necessary with the fifth graders it is aimed at, but older children should be able to handle the disturbing parts. Breathtaking.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Gentle Introduction to a Difficult Topic, May 12, 2005

By 

Mindy (St. Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Laughter Here (Hardcover)

This book presents an overwhelming topic in a very non-overwhelming way. Ten year-old Akilah finds her best friend changed when she comes back from a summer trip to Nigeria to visit her grandmother and go through a "coming of age ceremony." Eventually her friend confesses that her parents took her to an illegal doctor to be circumcised. Akilah promises not to tell anyone, but these things have a way of getting told.

Akilah tells the story from the eyes of a child, but this book is not meant for children. It could serve as a gentle introduction to the idea of Female Genital Mutilation or as a lesson in human rights to middle school students. There is an after word by the author including more facts about FGM and an invitation for kids to email her their thoughts. I would be interested in the sorts of emails she has gotten.

Williams-Garcia borders on overly didactic, but the tone of the book and the friendship between Akilah and Victoria save it from becoming overly so.

I highly recommend this book to girls age 12 and up.