In this deliciously twisty YA novel, two girls (read: enemies) at a boarding school must team up to take down the boy who hurt them– perfect for fans of Ace of Spades and Do Revenge.
Uyai and Fiyin may be roommates at Blue Waters Secondary School, but they are not friends. Uyai is popular and fierce– she dominates every room she walks into. Fiyin is nerdy and quiet– she's easy to miss. Anyone who knows them (assuming they know who Fiyin is at all) would argue that, besides that shared dorm room, the two girls have absolutely nothing in common.
But they do.
Because both girls have been hurt. Humiliated. Taken advantage of. And both girls have just one boy to blame for it.
Fiyin thinks Uyai is an irresponsible mean girl. Uyai thinks Fiyin is an uptight loser. They both think the boy that hurt them deserves to suffer. But taking down one of the most popular guys in school isn't a one-woman task. If they want to get their revenge before graduation, Uyai and Fiyin will need each other's help– regardless of how they feel about each other.
After all, you don't need to be friends to be teammates. Rimma Onoseta is a Nigerian writer whose work explores identity, familial bonds, and the colonial corruption of African spirituality. She holds a degree in finance from Northeastern University and an MBA from Suffolk University. Onoseta grew up reading late into the night, under her covers, with a flashlight and snacks. She writes stories she wanted to read when she was younger, stories about young Nigerian girls who are chaotic and fierce and who question what they're taught. When she's not writing, Onoseta enjoys traveling and watching documentaries. **[PRAISE FOR HOW YOU GROW WINGS BY RIMMA ONOSETA]**
A Kirkus Prize Finalist
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the year
A SLJ Best Book of the year
A Children's Africana Book Award Honor Winner
A Rise: A Feminist Book Project honoree
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the year
Amazon August Editors' pick for Best Young Adult
* "The novel tells each sister's story in ways that are moving and show how understandable the decisions they make are, even when they can't empathize with one another…. Onoseta explores a range of social issues, including class, colorism, intergenerational trauma, and colonization, through a masterfully crafted and diverse cast of characters. This nonlinear narrative presents a universal story: girls striving to find their way in a patriarchal society. A stunning and emotional debut."
-Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Onoseta's devastatingly vulnerable debut, told nonlinearly in two teen Nigerian girls' dual perspectives, portrays a tempestuous sisterhood amid colorism, familial trauma, and financial precarity…. Onoseta uses visceral prose to sensitively depict Zam and Cheta's home life and the abuse they endured. The teens' complicated familial relationships, further ravaged by wealth disparities and societal presumptions, presents an arresting look at two girls embarking on diverging futures in a character-driven story that promises-and delivers-hope for a brighter tomorrow."
-Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "Debut author Onoseta's novel offers exceptionally rich character development…. Modern social and political issues are masterfully woven into the narrative.... An unforgettable, character-driven exploration of sisterhood, survival, and self-advocacy perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo or Ibi Zoboi."
-School Library Journal, starred review
"Riveting debut novel....The rich cultural, linguistic, and social customs of Nigerian life are on full display."
-Horn Book Magazine
"An extraordinary debut."
-The Buffalo News
"Debut Nigerian author Rimma Onoseta deftly explores classism, colorism and cycles of abuse."
-Culturess
"How You Grow Wings might be labeled a YA title, but the themes it explore
