The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander – Book Review
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Title: The Door of No Return Author: Kwame Alexander Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Release Date: September 27, 2022 
Interested in teaching The Door of No Return? Check out the LIT Lessons The Door of No Return Novel Study. |
Summary
Kofi Offin loves to swim. The swift and enigmatic river of his Upper Kwanta village allures him and piques his curiosity about life. Kofi enjoys a seemingly normal life – there’s a budding love for a girl named Ama, eagerness for the upcoming rite of passage to adulthood, a swimming contest against his cousin, and hopes that bullying around him stops. However, Kofi’s life takes a dark turn during the annual festival that brings together the villages of the Upper and Lower Kwanta. Kofi’s brother participates in the wrestling contest, which results in the sudden death of a wrestler. Kofi himself soon must fight for his life after the festival’s tragedies thrust him into a series of conflicts, including one that takes him to the edge of the vast sea and to a new land.
Review
The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander is a riveting and raw telling of a young Asante person’s life in his village and his harrowing capture by slave traders. The juxtaposition of that rich life and the slave trade’s horrors make for a powerful account. Alexander’s realistic portrayal of Kofi’s life is at once beautiful then devastating when Kofi loses it all. Just as importantly, Alexander begins the novel, the first of three, from a West African perspective that eventually looks West. This shift gives voice to Kofi and his full humanity, amplifying all that is lost as a result of the slave trade. It centers Kofi’s point of view, and the tragedy he endures will certainly echo throughout the trilogy. The Door of No Return, a novel-in-verse, is steeped in history and its catastrophic consequences, a story that remains relevant and powerful to this day.
The rich history of African empires oftentimes gets glossed over in the classroom. Not only does The Door of No Return provide educators an opportunity to explore the vast influence of these empires – the Asante in particular – but also the devastating effects of the slave trade on these cultural epicenters. While two more novels will follow, The Door of No Return can stand alone and provide teachers with ample opportunities to examine a consequential and tragic period in history from an invaluable perspective – that is, one rooted in the East rather than the West. While seemingly a small distinction, its importance is evidenced through the emotional narrative Alexander gifts readers and the enduring impact it will leave on them.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for an eARC of this book.
Classroom Applications
- Cross-Curricular Study – Use the The Door of No Return Novel Study to build background knowledge about the Asante Kingdom history, culture, and the effects of the transatlantic trading and trafficking of human beings.
- Literature Circles – Use novel for small groups or choice reading with a variety of books that focus on the West African history and the devastating effects of the transatlantic trading and trafficking of human beings.
Nonfiction Connections
The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.
- West African History & Culture
- Asante Kingdom History & Culture
- Effects of the transatlantic trading and trafficking of human beings on West Africa
Book Companions
The following are great books to pair with The Door of No Return. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.
- Copper Sun by Sharon Draper (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
- Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adyemi (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
- Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
*LIT Lessons participates in the Amazon Associate Program and earns a fee from qualifying purchases made on the Amazon.com site.
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