WITH LOVE, MISS AMERICANAH

A Nigerian teen moves to the U.S. with her family and embarks on an unusual plan for navigating senior year.

Enore Adesuwa has decided that the best way to manage in her new high school in New York’s Hudson Valley is to study the movies recommended by Adrian, her American cousin. Unlike Esosa, her younger sister who jumps right into things, Enore always needs a plan. She’s also still processing the loss of her beloved father, and it doesn’t take long before she realizes that, despite the 10 rules she’s made for getting along (among them, avoid popular people, control your heart, don’t make enemies, and don’t drink the punch at school dances), unexpected events and circumstances will get in the way. First, there’s attention from popular and attractive Davi Santiago. He encourages Enore to audition for the school musical, which leads to her lying to her academically focused mother, who believes she’s joined math club. Enore finds herself on a collision course between her mother’s expectations and what brings her joy. In her YA debut, Igharo has crafted a lively novel that cleverly balances the portrayals of a family coping with grief and the whirlwind of high school experiences. Enore is well drawn, believable, and easy to cheer for, and her developing relationship with Davi is touching. Secondary characters and rich cultural elements add color and texture to the narrative.

Warm, well rounded, and a perfect combination of entertaining and substantive.