Daughters Who Walk This Path

The perils of growing up female are amplified by the social and political inequalities of modern day Nigeria in Kilanko's debut novel, a coming-of-age story about Morayo, who lives comfortably with her family in the town of Ibadan, where the threat of violence lingers, seemingly around every corner. In this male-dominated setting, Morayo and her little sister Eniayo are thrilled when charming older cousin, Bros T, moves into the expanding household. With his good looks and persuasiveness, Bros T seems capable of sweet talking his way out of anything. As he gets closer to the family though, Morayo learns of the destructive potential of his charismatic smile. Unable to speak openly about the torment of Bros T to her conservative family, Morayo withdraws into a protective shell until she discovers a kindred soul in her Aunty Morenike. With a dark past of her own, Aunty is the only one Morayo feels comfortable opening up to in a repressed social climate unwilling to recognize these all-too-common struggles of female adolescence. Although Kilanko's background in social work is used to good effect, her characters' pain never becomes truly palpable, and the overly precious, wooden prose cannot withstand the more serious issues the novel broaches. (Feb.)