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Coconut: A Black Girl, a White Foster Family, and the Search for Belonging and Identity

Name: Coconut: A Black Girl, a White Foster Family, and the Search for Belonging and Identity
Price: 9.29 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (1941 reviews)

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Book Synopsis: This inspiring memoir tells the story of one woman’s self discovery while surviving poverty, loss, loneliness, maltreatment, and fighting to get an education.—A generation of Nigerian children were born in Britain in the fifties and sixties, privately fostered by white families, then taken to Nigeria by their parents.

Coconut is the story of one of those children.1963, North London. Nan fosters one-year-old Florence Ọlájídé and calls her Ann. Florence adores her foster mother more than anything but Nan, and the children around her, all have white skin and she can’t help but feel different. Then, four years later, after a weekend visit to her birth parents, Florence never returns to Nan. Two months after, sandwiched between her mother and father plus her three siblings, six-year-old Florence steps off a ship in Lagos to the fierce heat of the African sun.

Swapping the lovely, comfortable bed in her room at Nan’s for a mat on the floor of the living room in her new home, Florence finds herself struggling to adjust. She wants to embrace her cultural heritage but doesn’t speak Yoruba and knows nothing of the customs. Clashes with her grandmother, Mama, the matriarch of the family, result in frequent beatings. Torn between her early childhood experiences and the expectations of her African culture, she begins to question who she is. Nigerian, British, both?

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Are you ready to embark on a memorable journey of self-discovery? Look no further than "Coconut: A Black Girl, a White Foster Family, and the Search for Belonging and Identity." This breathtaking memoir will take you on a rollercoaster ride through poverty, loss, and loneliness, all while highlighting the power of education.

Step into the shoes of Florence Ọlájídé, one of the many Nigerian children privately fostered by white families in 1960s Britain. Experience her heart-wrenching journey of being torn between two worlds as she strives to find her place. Florence's story will captivate your heart and leave you questioning your own identity.

As you immerse yourself in Florence's narrative, you'll find yourself transported to North London in 1963. Witness her deep bond with her foster mother, Nan, and the challenges she faces being the only child with a different skin color. Experience her pain and confusion when she is abruptly taken away from the only home she has ever known.

But the story doesn't end there. Travel across continents with Florence, as she steps into the vibrant streets of Lagos, Nigeria. Feel the scorching African sun on your skin as you witness her struggle to adjust to her new surroundings. She yearns to embrace her cultural heritage but is faced with a language barrier and the pressure to conform to the customs of her ancestors.

Through the pages of "Coconut", you'll find yourself questioning your own sense of belonging and pondering what it truly means to have an identity. Florence's journey will inspire you to embrace diversity, celebrate cultural differences, and cherish the power of education.

Experience the powerful story of "Coconut: A Black Girl, a White Foster Family, and the Search for Belonging and Identity" today. Unveil the layers of your own identity and join Florence on her quest for self-discovery. Nigerian, British, both? The answers lie within.

Get your copy of "Coconut" and let the search for belonging begin!

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