THE TINY THINGS ARE HEAVIER

A young Nigerian woman’s graduate school sojourn in Iowa affects things with family and friends on two continents—but mainly changes her relationship to herself.

Somkelechukwu, known as Sommy, studied to be an English teacher at home in Lagos, but her restless ambitions lead to her winning a scholarship to the fictional James Crowley University in Iowa for a master’s in literature. Readers understand early on that Sommy’s brother, Mezie, has made a suicide attempt; his refusal to speak or write to her makes a bittersweet harmony with her own awkward attempts to acculturate. Although her roommate, a fellow Nigerian named Bayo, clearly adores her, Sommy falls for Bryan, who is biracial, as well as smart, handsome, funny, and rich. She’s thrilled when he agrees to take a summer trip to meet her family and search for the Nigerian father he never knew. While the narrative includes a few wonderful set pieces, such as a trip to Illashe Beach, a visit to a school friend at her office, and a family thanksgiving service and party carefully orchestrated by Sommy’s mother, Okonkwo brings readers back to Sommy and her actions, rather than allowing the newly expanded cast of characters to take over. The issue of Mezie’s moods shows some important differences in how cultures deal with mental illness, and Sommy takes up painting, which helps her cope with depression. Some scenes, particularly those with Bryan, feel slightly flat and overlong; he may find fault with Sommy’s mistakes and behaviors, but he comes off as selfish, making a few of his own actions seem very odd. Might he be using Sommy the same way he accuses others of using her? It’s difficult to tell, but it’s a small cavil about a book that promises strong future work from its author.

A fresh bildungsroman rich in complex relationships, from familial to intimate.